Is Anthony Richardson a Top-Five Fantasy Football Quarterback in 2024?

The Indianapolis Colts surprised the football world by selecting Anthony Richardson over Will Levis during the 2023 NFL Draft. Most draft experts had Levis going off the board after Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud.

The former Florida Gator proved those projections wrong after playing exceptionally in his first three NFL games. He scored multiple touchdowns in those games, including four rushing scores out of 136 yards from the ground.

Unfortunately, injuries hampered his promising start. In addition to the concussion that sidelined him in Week 3, he suffered a Grade 3 AC joint sprain on his throwing shoulder. Since it became a season-ending injury that required surgery, Richardson's rookie campaign is over after four games. However, his efforts didn't go in vain, as ESPN's Field Yates included him among his top ten fantasy football quarterbacks for 2024.

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Anthony Richardson Fantasy Football Rankings

Richardson finished his rookie season with 50 completions for 577 passing yards and three touchdowns. While Young and Stroud's 2023 numbers dwarf those totals, Yates has Richardson third overall among quarterbacks for the 2024 fantasy football season.

Anthony Richardson is rising up @FieldYates rankings 📈 pic.twitter.com/SjxtsfkZ7C

— ESPN Fantasy Sports (@ESPNFantasy) June 19, 2024

Richardson's versatility makes him a reliable option for racking up fantasy points weekly. While he attempted an average of 21 passing attempts last year, his running ability presents a limitless upside to his potential.

However, ranking him before Stroud, Lamar Jackson, Brock Purdy, and Patrick Mahomes speaks volumes of Yates' trust for a breakout season. But when healthy, Richardson can become a special player.

Anthony Richardson Fantasy Outlook

Richardson dealt with shoulder soreness two weeks ago during the Colts' organized team activity. However, he said that it shouldn't be a cause for concern.

Shane Steichen's offense helped Jalen Hurts become an All-Pro quarterback. He had the same thing going last season, as evident in Richardson's early success. The Colts might have been a playoff participant without Richardson's injury.

After giving a preview of his talents in his brief stint last year, Richardson is ready to establish himself as the Colts' next franchise quarterback after Andrew Luck. However, if Yates ranked Richardson third overall, RotoBaller's Nick Mariano has the second-year quarterback just outside the top five.

Give me a fully healthy season of Anthony Richardson please. 🔥🔥pic.twitter.com/rpgxgDVNvO https://t.co/Ug559wKAUq

— A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) June 15, 2024

Mariano projects Richardson as the sixth-best fantasy football quarterback and 50^th overall, regardless of position. His projected stats for 2024 are 4,315 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. Those are attainable numbers, considering the Colts drafted wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to boost their passing attack.

After all, while he had a 59.5 completion percentage, PlayerProfiler placed his true completion percentage at 64.5 percent. His percentage when pressured jumps to 70 percent.

Richardson's ADP of 52.2 makes him a potential high-value player in the middle rounds. If he remains healthy, you're in for a treat if he's on your team. He has the makings of being a QB1 in any fantasy football format, especially since he has one of the easiest schedules in 2024.

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