Anthony Richardson's preseason showing highlighted upside and risk in a single evening. A five-man protection on a hot-side read helped Baltimore pressure him, ending with a pinky injury and an early exit. The moment underscored a recurring theme for Richardson: his physical gifts are immense, but the nuance of protection and sighted reads remains a work in progress as he enters his third NFL season.

Daniel Jones stepped in to finish the game for the Colts, delivering 10-of-21 for 144 yards as Richardson watched from the sideline. Coach Shane Steichen stressed consistency and the need for Richardson to stay on the field to gain live reps and sharpen timing. In fantasy terms, Richardson's ceiling remains high thanks to rushing ability, but the path there is tethered to improvement in reads, protection discipline, and durability.

For fantasy managers, the key questions center on Richardson's timetable, how quickly he can fix the hot-read misreads, and how Indianapolis schemes around protection while he develops. Ashton Dulin and the Colts' pass catchers could see more defined roles if protection stabilizes, while Daniel Jones offers a potential later-season contingency if Richardson misses time. The week-one profile will hinge on how the Colts adjust to attacking fronts and how quickly Richardson reasserts his dynamic passing/rushing mix.