Anthony Richardson (Colts) NFL Draft Preview
Post-Draft Fantasy Impact
The Indianapolis Colts made a bold move by drafting Anthony Richardson as the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Richardson is my top-ranked rookie quarterback for fantasy football. With his impressive rushing ability, he offers a safe floor and is a viable high-end QB2 target for redraft leagues.
Richardson has both the highest ceiling and highest floor of any rookie quarterback in this draft class. I think he will put up modest passing numbers, at best, but I’m projecting him to gain 500 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
For dynasty leagues, Richardson is a safe pick with high upside. He’s a mobile quarterback who will likely scramble a lot behind a suspect offensive line, making his rushing ability all the more valuable. However, it’s worth noting that there are some risks associated with Richardson’s style of play. Mobile quarterbacks often take more hits and are at a higher risk of injury, which could potentially impact his fantasy value.
With his impressive rushing ability, if Richardson can develop his passing skills, he has the potential to be a game-changing player in the NFL. Whether you’re playing in a redraft or dynasty league, Richardson is a safe pick with high upside.
Anthony Richardson NFL Draft Preview
Anthony Richardson, the highly-touted quarterback out of Florida, is expected to go in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. In his one full season starting for the Gators, Richardson threw 2,549 yards with 17 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He scored an additional nine rushing touchdowns and ran for 654 yards on 103 carries.
Richardson finished his college career with a low 54.7 completion percentage and only 13 starts. His lack of experience, coupled with his accuracy issues, are a cause of concern for NFL teams, but the upside he possesses will make him an attractive prospect for a team that can build around his strengths.
Measurables
- 6’4” 231 lbs
- Arm Length 32.75”
- Hand Size 10.5”
Anthony Richardson prepping for his Pro Day 👀
Florida’s Pro Day is set for Thursday, March 30th.
Richardson is currently THIRD in odds to be the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/n8iFSZSv84
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) March 17, 2023
Positives
Richardson has incredible arm strength, which is considered the best in the entire draft. His ability to throw the ball deep and make tight-window throws is unmatched in this year’s draft class.
His biggest positive is his athleticism. According to Player Profiler, he has the top athleticism score of all time for a quarterback. He is an elite runner and has the ability to throw accurately on the run, which makes him a dual-threat quarterback that can keep defenses guessing. At this year’s combine, Richardson ran a 4.45 in the 40-yard dash, the fastest time ever for a quarterback of his weight.
Richardson’s draft stock rose significantly after the combine, where he broke the record for quarterbacks on both the vertical and broad jumps. This demonstrated his explosiveness and athleticism, which are traits that are highly valued in NFL quarterbacks.
Another strength of Richardson’s game is that he doesn’t panic under pressure. He has shown the ability to stay calm and composed in high-pressure situations. This bodes well for his ability to perform in clutch situations at the next level.
perspective on Anthony Richardson's size:
Anthony Richardson: 6'4”, 244 lbs
George Kittle: 6'4", 247 lbs
Derrick Henry: 6'3”, 247 lbs
Von Miller: 6'3”, 246 lbs
Ben Roethlisberger: 6'5”, 241 lbs
Cam Newton: 6'5”, 248 lbs pic.twitter.com/9MNW4SxyT5
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 4, 2023
Negatives
One area where Richardson struggles is in reading defenses and seeing blitzes. He has only made 13 starts in college, which means he lacks the experience and knowledge that other quarterbacks in the draft may possess. He also did not have to go through progressions in Florida’s offense in college, which may make it difficult for him to adjust to more complex NFL schemes.
Despite his arm strength, Richardson does have some accuracy issues that have been noted by scouts. His completion percentage in college was only 53.8%, which is quite low for a quarterback prospect. While he has shown flashes of brilliance with his accuracy, particularly on deep throws, he needs to improve his consistency if he wants to succeed at the next level.
Richardson needs to improve his footwork. This could help him with his accuracy issues, as better footwork can lead to better throws.
He also needs to work on taking some zip off the ball on short and mid-range passes, as he tends to throw too hard at times, which can lead to incompletions or interceptions.
.@MelKiperESPN says Anthony Richardson could be the best QB in this draft class 👀 pic.twitter.com/ThDDQUOeEl
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 21, 2023
Grade – B+
Richardson has an incredible upside. His physical tools are unmatched, and he has the potential to be dominant in the NFL if he can refine his skills and develop his understanding of the game. His athleticism alone makes him worth the risk, however. With the right coach to help develop his talent and take him to the next level, Richardson could thrive in the NFL. At the same time, if he isn’t able to fix his accuracy issues, Richardson will struggle to be remain a starter in the league.
There is the possibility Richardson is taken first overall by the Carolina Panthers, where he could sit for a year behind veteran Andy Dalton. While that might be a longshot, playing on a team where he isn’t the immediate starter might be an ideal situation for a promising player who needs time to develop his skill set. Wherever he lands, Richardson will bring a lot of excitement and big-time, explosive plays along with him.
Doug Burrell finished 2022 as Fantasy Nerd’s Most Accurate Expert in NFL Picks and Tallysight’s #1 ranked expert Against the Spread Expert out of 200+ experts. He is a veteran, a runner and an avid fantasy sports enthusiast since 1999. You can reach him on Twitter @dougwburrell.
