Colts HC Shane Steichen said Monday that QBs Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones will split first-team reps this spring. That confirms that this is a truly open competition for the starting job -- rather than Richardson having a head start as the incumbent. The Colts have made it clear since the end of the last season that Richardson would need to earn the 2025 starting job after a disappointing 2024 campaign. The team's OTAs begin on April 21.
What They're Saying
Colts HC Shane Steichen on the QB competition: “It’ll start in the spring. They’re gonna split the (starting) reps through spring practice and going into training camp. Really, it’s gonna come down to who’s the most consistent and who’s the most productive."
2025 Fantasy Football Impact
Richardson will need to be significantly better than he was last year to win this competition. He completed just 47.7% of his passes in 2024, becoming just the third QB since 2000 with a sub-50% completion rate on 250+ attempts (joining Tim Tebow and Akili Smith). Richardson ranked dead last among 34 qualifying QBs last year in:
- completion rate
- completion rate over expected
- on-target pass rate
- INT rate
Jones is no stud, of course. But he owns a career 64.1% completion rate. And he can run -- although not near Richardson's level.
The winner of this competition will be on the fantasy radar thanks to the rushing production. Richardson still boasts easy top-10 fantasy upside, while Jones would be more of a QB2.
Early best-ball drafters can take upside swings at Richardson as part of three-QB builds. Jones is only worth targeting in Superflex drafts.
Other Winners & Losers
All of Indianapolis' skill-position players would get fantasy boosts if Jones wins the job. He's the superior passer, particularly in the short and intermediate ranges where WRs Michael Pittman and Josh Downs operate.
RB Jonathan Taylor was also more productive without Richardson than with him last year. In fact, Taylor led all RBs in both expected and actual PPR points per game in five games with QB Joe Flacco.