Why Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson will win you your fantasy football league

Anthony Richardson is an athletic freak. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound quarterback is built for this league and built to score fantasy points. With a 4.43-second 40-yard dash time, Richardson brings elite speed and strength together to form a one-of-a-kind player.

In fantasy football, dual-threat quarterbacks have taken over the game. Adding a ground game makes quarterbacks nearly twice as valuable, and Richardson will have plenty of opportunities to rush the ball through the beginning of the season with All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor missing the first four games of the year.

Richardson is set to be the third-youngest quarterback to start an NFL game, so why should you start him?

Anthony Richardson has the biggest upside in fantasy football

No other player has a ceiling as high as Anthony Richardson's. After tallying 26 total touchdowns in his final college season, Richardson proved to NFL scouts that he was league ready. With nine of his touchdowns coming on the ground, the former Florida Gator showed his fantasy value in the ground game against SEC defenses throughout the season.

Richardson has drawn comparisons to a wide variety of quarterbacks, but one of the more common comparisons is former NFL MVP Cam Newton. Newton, a former Auburn Tiger, put up some of his career best numbers in his rookie year. In his first season in 2011, Newton scored the second most fantasy points of his career despite the team losing ten games on the season. Richardson should not be slept on as a fantasy prospect despite analysts predicting the Colts to have a losing record on the year.

Similar to the Colts this year, the 2011 Carolina Panthers also had a rookie head coach/quarterback duo. With so many comparisons between the Colts and 2011 Panthers, it is fair to say that we could see a Cam Newton-esque season from the rookie quarterback entering 2023.

NFL analysts have said Richardson is a "more explosive" Cam Newton, with his playmaking ability through the roof. With a cannon for an arm and elusive feet, the 21-year-old has a complete game that is rare to see at the professional level.

Popular fantasy football platforms ESPN and Sleeper have projected Richardson going in the ninth or tenth rounds of 12-man leagues. If you are feeling risky, Richardson could be the perfect selection to lead your team with high upside while focusing on more important skill-position players through the first eight rounds.

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