Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Andy Dalton vs Anthony RichardsonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Anthony Richardson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 19.5 PPG to Andy Dalton's 9.8 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. Andy Dalton (9.8 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Anthony Richardson as the starter and Andy Dalton as depth.

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

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QBCarolina Panthers#99

Andy Dalton

PPG

9.8

Games

Pass Yds

1,925

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

QBIndianapolis Colts#99PPG LEADER

Anthony Richardson

PPG

19.5

Games

Pass Yds

2,718

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

580

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Andy Dalton

Anthony Richardson

Head to Head

9.8 PPG19.5 PPG

10 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Andy Dalton: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Anthony Richardson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Andy Dalton is producing at 45% of elite pace and Anthony Richardson at 89%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Andy Dalton vs Anthony Richardson: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. Anthony Richardson put up 19.5 fantasy points per game for the Indianapolis Colts in 2025, while Andy Dalton managed 9.8 across 10 games with the Carolina Panthers. A 9.7-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.

A 9.7-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 Andy Dalton (1925 passing yards, 10 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Andy Dalton sits Week 11 while Anthony Richardson is off Week 14. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Anthony Richardson at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Andy Dalton is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Andy Dalton (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Anthony Richardson (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 Andy Dalton by a projected 165 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Anthony Richardson played 13 games in 2025 compared to Andy Dalton's 10. 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

Andy Dalton vs Anthony Richardson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Andy Dalton	Anthony Richardson
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.8	19.5
Games Played	10	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	98	254
Passing Yards	1,925	2,718
Passing TDs	10	18
Pass Yds/Game	192.5	209.1
Rushing Yards	42	580
Rushing TDs	0	7
Total TDs	10	25
TDs/Game	1.0	1.9
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 14

Summary

Anthony Richardson outscored Andy Dalton by 9.7 PPG in 2025 (19.5 to 9.8). 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 Andy Dalton or Anthony Richardson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Anthony Richardson has the edge at 19.5 PPG compared to Andy Dalton's 9.8 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 Andy Dalton and Anthony Richardson average in 2025?▾

Andy Dalton averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Anthony Richardson averaged 19.5 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 9.7 points per game.

When are Andy Dalton and Anthony Richardson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Andy Dalton (CAR) has a bye in Week 11, and Anthony Richardson (IND) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Andy Dalton or Anthony Richardson a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson outscored Andy Dalton by 9.7 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.