Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Anthony Richardson vs Mac JonesWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Anthony Richardson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 19.5 PPG to Mac Jones's 11.8 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. Mac Jones (11.8 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Anthony Richardson as the starter and Mac Jones 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

QBSan Francisco 49ers#33

Mac Jones

PPG

11.8

Games

Pass Yds

2,151

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Anthony Richardson

Mac Jones

Head to Head

19.5 PPG11.8 PPG

13 GP11 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Anthony Richardson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Mac Jones: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #33 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Anthony Richardson is producing at 89% of elite pace and Mac Jones at 54%. That ranking gap means Mac Jones carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Anthony Richardson vs Mac Jones: 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 Mac Jones (San Francisco 49ers, 11.8 PPG) by 7.7 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 7.7-PPG gap gives Anthony Richardson the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Anthony Richardson offers meaningful rushing upside with 580 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Mac Jones (2151 passing yards, 13 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 Mac Jones Week 8. 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. Mac Jones 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. Mac Jones (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Anthony Richardson outscored Mac Jones by a projected 131 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Anthony Richardson played 13 games in 2025 compared to Mac Jones's 11. That durability gap means Anthony Richardson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•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 Mac Jones: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Anthony Richardson	Mac Jones
PPG (Half-PPR)	19.5	11.8
Games Played	13	11
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	254	130
Passing Yards	2,718	2,151
Passing TDs	18	13
Pass Yds/Game	209.1	195.5
Rushing Yards	580	60
Rushing TDs	7	0
Total TDs	25	13
TDs/Game	1.9	1.2
Age	-	27
Experience	-	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 8

Summary

Anthony Richardson outscored Mac Jones by 7.7 PPG in 2025 (19.5 to 11.8). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Anthony Richardson or Mac Jones in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Anthony Richardson has the edge at 19.5 PPG compared to Mac Jones's 11.8 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 Mac Jones average in 2025?▾

Anthony Richardson averaged 19.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Mac Jones averaged 11.8 PPG over 11 games. That is a difference of 7.7 points per game.

When are Anthony Richardson and Mac Jones's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson (IND) has a bye in Week 14, and Mac Jones (SF) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Anthony Richardson or Mac Jones a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson outscored Mac Jones by 7.7 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.