Colts Won't Name a No. 2 QB Yet as Richardson, Leonard Battle On
Shane Steichen has no timetable for the backup call. Daniel Jones is the QB1 you actually care about — and he's fading, down 5.1 fantasy pts over his last five games.
QB2 by rank but trending down; monitor the depth chart before drafting.
- Steichen: no timetable on naming the backup QB
- Leonard runs 2nd-team offense in first half Saturday
- Richardson plays 3rd team in second half
- Daniel Jones ranks #32 overall, #15 at QB (our model)
- Jones down 5.1 fantasy pts vs season avg last 5 games
Shane Steichen isn't in a hurry. Asked Thursday about who slots in as Indianapolis' No. 2 quarterback, the head coach said he has no timetable and plans to let the competition run — pointing to two more weeks of camp and Saturday's preseason game before anyone gets an answer. Anthony Richardson, the 2023 first-rounder, and Riley Leonard, a 2025 sixth-round pick, are both still auditioning.
The reps this weekend tell you where things stand. Leonard leads the second-team offense in the first half; Richardson, who started last week, drops to the third team in the second half. Daniel Jones isn't expected to play in the preseason at all, which is the whole point for fantasy purposes — Jones is the starter, and this backup derby doesn't touch him. Steichen praised both younger passers, noting ups and downs but flashes worth getting excited about.
Here's why the QB1 job matters more than the No. 2 scramble: our model ranks Jones #32 overall and #15 at the position. That's low-end QB1 territory in superflex and a streamer everywhere else. He put up 246 PPR points across 13 games in 2025 — 3,101 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, zero interceptions, plus 164 rushing yards and 5 rushing scores. The dual-threat profile is real.
The Fantasy Fallout
The concern is direction. Jones is down 5.1 fantasy points per game versus his season average over his last five outings (2025) — a meaningful dip for a passer whose ceiling was already capped by a modest touchdown rate. The clean turnover number is nice, but 19 passing TDs won't win you weeks if the rushing production tails off.
For managers, this is a WATCH situation. The Richardson-versus-Leonard fight is noise for your roster — neither is a startable asset while Jones is healthy and holding the job. Draft Jones as a matchup-based QB2 with rushing upside, not as a set-and-forget starter, and keep one eye on that backup decision. If Jones' form keeps sliding and the Colts feel pressure to make a change, this depth chart could get very relevant, very fast.
