Anthony Richardson Shines in Preseason Opener: 145 Yards, Rushing TD
Richardson went 11-of-14 for 145 yards and added 53 yards and a score on the ground — but a trade or a backup role still looms.
One clean half, but his roster spot in Indy is still up in the air.
- 11-of-14 passing for 145 yards vs Patriots
- 6 carries, 53 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
- Threw a first-drive INT (deflection off receiver)
- Fighting for the No. 2 QB job in year four
Anthony Richardson put together the kind of first half that keeps his name relevant, completing 11 of 14 passes for 145 yards while adding 53 yards and a rushing touchdown on six carries in Thursday's preseason opener against the Patriots. That's a clean, efficient stat line for a quarterback whose future in Indianapolis is anything but settled.
It didn't open pretty. On the fifth play of the Colts' first drive, Richardson was credited with an interception picked off by Patriots corner Kindle Vildor. But the pick wasn't really on him — the ball bounced off receiver Coleman Owen's hands before Vildor reeled it in. After that hiccup, Richardson settled in and did exactly what he needed to do.
What's Actually At Stake
This wasn't a routine tune-up. A trade is still on the table, and whether one happens depends entirely on Richardson doing enough this preseason to make another team bite. If nobody does, the alternative is earning the No. 2 job in Indianapolis in what would be his fourth season with the franchise. Neither path screams fantasy relevance.
The efficiency is encouraging and the legs are still the differentiator — a dual-threat quarterback who can rush for 50-plus and find the end zone always carries a higher ceiling than his arm alone suggests. The problem is opportunity. You can't build a fantasy case around a quarterback battling for a backup role or waiting on a trade to a situation we can't yet project.
Worth noting on the receiving side: Coleman Owen, the receiver whose deflection led to the interception, sits unranked and logged zero PPR points across two games in 2025. He's not on the fantasy radar, and one preseason drive doesn't change that.
The Fantasy Verdict
File Richardson under watch, not add. The tools flashed again, and the rushing upside is real, but you're drafting a snapshot of uncertainty until his role is locked in. If a trade lands him a starting gig, revisit fast — the dual-threat ceiling is genuinely draftable. Until then, let someone else spend the roster spot on a QB fighting to be a backup.
