Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Anthony Richardson vs Joe FlaccoWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Anthony Richardson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 19.5 PPG to Joe Flacco's 11.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Anthony Richardson is the better fantasy play this season.

Anthony Richardson is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 19.5 PPG and 3,298 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Joe Flacco (11.3 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Anthony Richardson as the starter and Joe Flacco as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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QBIndianapolis Colts#99PPG LEADER

Anthony Richardson

PPG

19.5

Games

Pass Yds

2,718

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

580

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 14

QBCincinnati Bengals#37

Joe Flacco

PPG

11.3

Games

Pass Yds

2,479

Pass TDs

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Anthony Richardson

Joe Flacco

Head to Head

19.5 PPG11.3 PPG

13 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Anthony Richardson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Joe Flacco: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #37 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Anthony Richardson is producing at 89% of elite pace and Joe Flacco at 51%. That ranking gap means Joe Flacco carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Anthony Richardson vs Joe Flacco: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis Colts) averaged 19.5 PPG over 13 games in 2025, outscoring Joe Flacco (Cincinnati Bengals, 11.3 PPG) by 8.2 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

Anthony Richardson carries a 8.2-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Anthony Richardson offers meaningful rushing upside with 580 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Joe Flacco (2479 passing yards, 15 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

One scheduling note: Anthony Richardson is off Week 14 and Joe Flacco Week 6. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in quarterback for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Anthony Richardson at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Joe Flacco is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Anthony Richardson (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Joe Flacco (age 41) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Anthony Richardson outscored Joe Flacco by a projected 139 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Anthony Richardson scored 25 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.9 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Anthony Richardson added 580 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Anthony Richardson vs Joe Flacco: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Anthony Richardson	Joe Flacco
PPG (Half-PPR)	19.5	11.3
Games Played	13	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	254	147
Passing Yards	2,718	2,479
Passing TDs	18	15
Pass Yds/Game	209.1	190.7
Rushing Yards	580	35
Rushing TDs	7	1
Total TDs	25	16
TDs/Game	1.9	1.2
Age	-	41
Experience	-	17 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 6

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Anthony Richardson holds the PPG edge with strong output at 19.5 points per game. Joe Flacco averaged 11.3 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Anthony Richardson or Joe Flacco in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Anthony Richardson has the edge at 19.5 PPG compared to Joe Flacco's 11.3 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Anthony Richardson and Joe Flacco average in 2025?▾

Anthony Richardson averaged 19.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Joe Flacco averaged 11.3 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 8.2 points per game.

When are Anthony Richardson and Joe Flacco's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson (IND) has a bye in Week 14, and Joe Flacco (CIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Anthony Richardson or Joe Flacco a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson outscored Joe Flacco by 8.2 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.