Daniel Jones won the Colts’ Week 1 start, pushing Anthony Richardson to the sideline as Indianapolis aims for a steadier passing floor with a veteran at the helm. Richardson pushed through a rookie-year injury cloud and flashed rushing upside, but the organization preferred Jones’s experience and playoff-tested poise to anchor a season that could hinge on health and gradual accuracy improvements. The shift also shines a light on the Colts’ QB plan: a high-ceiling youngster versus a more proven, steadier option in Jones, with Week 1 looming against Miami.

Fantasy rosters should weigh the Jones–Richardson dynamic carefully. Richardson’s rushing floor remains tantalizing, but health and accuracy have limited his ceiling so far; Jones offers a lower-risk floor with an easier path to steady fantasy production if he can leverage Indianapolis’s weapons and minimize mistakes. The Colts’ decision underscores the volatility and upside of rookie quarterbacks, while Week 1 exposure to the Dolphins adds immediate test-case value for both signal-callers. Meanwhile, Gardner Minshew’s role and the Giants’ Tommy DeVito cameo echo a broader NFL QB carousel—yet the Colts lean on Jones to stabilize their offense early in a season that promises drama at the position.