Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Anthony Richardson vs Cooper RushWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Anthony Richardson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 19.5 PPG to Cooper Rush's 11.1 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. Cooper Rush (11.1 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Anthony Richardson as the starter and Cooper Rush 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

QBDallas Cowboys#99

Cooper Rush

PPG

11.1

Games

Pass Yds

1,985

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Anthony Richardson

Cooper Rush

Head to Head

19.5 PPG11.1 PPG

13 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Anthony Richardson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Cooper Rush: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Anthony Richardson is producing at 89% of elite pace and Cooper Rush at 50%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Anthony Richardson vs Cooper Rush: The Full Breakdown

Anthony Richardson and Cooper Rush are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Indianapolis Colts quarterback averaged 19.5 PPG in 2025, a full 8.4 points per game ahead of Cooper Rush's 11.1 with the Dallas Cowboys. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

A 8.4-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 Cooper Rush (1985 passing yards, 12 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Anthony Richardson has his bye in Week 14, and Cooper Rush rests in Week 7. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at quarterback for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Anthony Richardson at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Cooper Rush 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. Cooper Rush (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 Cooper Rush by a projected 143 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Anthony Richardson played 13 games in 2025 compared to Cooper Rush'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

Anthony Richardson vs Cooper Rush: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Anthony Richardson	Cooper Rush
PPG (Half-PPR)	19.5	11.1
Games Played	13	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	254	111
Passing Yards	2,718	1,985
Passing TDs	18	12
Pass Yds/Game	209.1	198.5
Rushing Yards	580	28
Rushing TDs	7	0
Total TDs	25	12
TDs/Game	1.9	1.2
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 7

Summary

Anthony Richardson outscored Cooper Rush by 8.4 PPG in 2025 (19.5 to 11.1). 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 Cooper Rush in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Anthony Richardson has the edge at 19.5 PPG compared to Cooper Rush's 11.1 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 Cooper Rush average in 2025?▾

Anthony Richardson averaged 19.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Cooper Rush averaged 11.1 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 8.4 points per game.

When are Anthony Richardson and Cooper Rush's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson (IND) has a bye in Week 14, and Cooper Rush (DAL) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Anthony Richardson or Cooper Rush a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson outscored Cooper Rush by 8.4 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.