Colts shock fantasy managers by naming Daniel Jones Week 1 starter over Anthony Richardson, a veteran with Giants and Vikings pedigree stepping in as Indy kicks off the season. Jones brings steadiness and decision-making that could stabilize Indianapolis right away, while Richardson waits in the wings after a camp that highlighted big-arm potential and dual-threat ability.

For fantasy folks, the Week 1 split offers a clear Jones floor and Richardson upside once he seizes an opportunity. Indy has struggled to unlock Richardsons ceiling, but the long arc remains rich with upside if the Colts unlock the offense and allow him to contribute later in the season. The story sets up a pivotal development arc to monitor for dynasty and keeper leagues.

Six late-round lottery tickets headline Thunder Dan Paylo's 2025 fantasy football sleepers, with clear paths to breakout if things break right in the offense. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Woody Marks, Dont'e Thornton Jr., Elijah Arroyo, Adonai Mitchell, and Isaac TeSlaa are highlighted as high-upside targets you can realistically snag in the final rounds for upside rather than roster fill.

Strategy centers on exploiting depth-chart openings: Croskey-Merritt could gain touches if Washington moves on from Brian Robinson Jr.; Marks steps in as a potential early-down/backup weapon for Houston; Thornton Jr. profiles as a big-field WR who could emerge as Raiders’ WR2; Arroyo offers big-play upside at tight end with Noah Fant gone; Mitchell and TeSlaa carry upside as late-round bets in Indy and Detroit, respectively, if their quarterbacks improve or injuries create opportunities.

The piece stresses the draft’s middle rounds as the frontier, where knowing top handcuffs and rookie depth charts matters. Autodraft aside, these sleepers form a cohesive late-round group that could anchor fantasy rosters in weeks to come, especially in best-ball and superflex formats, where volatility can translate to weekly rewards.

Daniel Jones will start for the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins, shifting Anthony Richardson into an unsettled role to begin the season. Indy’s decision comes after a one-year, $14 million pact with Jones and follows Richardson’s limited sample in camp and preseason, including a pinky dislocation that briefly sidelined him. Richardson has shown improvement, yet the organization appears to want a steadier passer to open the offense, at least early in the year.

Richardson publicly respected the decision while acknowledging his own progress. The Colts emphasized health as a factor in Richardson’s slower development and signaled that Jones isn’t on a short leash. For fantasy managers, this raises the risk around Richardson’s immediate fantasy value and makes Jones a safer Week 1 streaming option. The Miami test is challenging, but Indy’s plan blends Jones’s ball-management with Richardson’s high-end upside should he reclaim snaps later in the season.

Daniel Jones won Week 1 starter duties for Indianapolis, shifting the Colts’ quarterback plan after Anthony Richardson’s ascent as a top-5 pick. The decision, framed by nuanced on-field operation and protection dynamics, signals Indy’s willingness to pace Richardson’s development and protect the long-term investment. Richardson’s protracted timeline, injury history, and the team’s previous benching episodes linger as context for his future with the franchise.

Trade-market chatter is inevitable: Richardson’s ceiling could tempt contenders, but Indy’s leverage remains limited by contract control and riser expectations. The Saints loom as a potential suitor, while Jones’s reclamation path in a solid roster positions him to leverage stability for fantasy-relevant targets. For fantasy managers, Richardson’s rushing juice keeps him intriguing, but Week 1’s pivot highlights the unsettled path to a reliable yearly ceiling in Indy.

Adam Koffler unveils seven dark-horse league-winners for the 2025 fantasy season, all with ADP outside the top 90. The crew includes Ricky Pearsall, Matthew Golden, Emeka Egbuka, Drake Maye, JJ McCarthy, Rashid Shaheed, and Tyler Warren. These sleepers aren’t aiming for a weekly top-3 ceiling, but their paths to league-winning production are plausible if opportunity materializes and situations break their way in 2025.

Pearsall could inherit a sizable target share in San Francisco if Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk miss time, while Golden lands in a Packers WR room starved for playmakers and should see volume early. Egbuka steps into a Buccaneers attack that could lean on him with Godwin sidelined, and Maye’s dual-threat skills add a potent floor-ceiling mix in New England’s revamped offense. McCarthy’s rushing-boosted ceiling in Minnesota’s fast-paced system is intriguing, Shaheed’s fit in New Orleans’ more design-heavy pass game stands out, and Warren offers intriguing rookie TE upside in Indianapolis.