Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Anthony Richardson vs Gardner MinshewWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Anthony Richardson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 19.5 PPG to Gardner Minshew's 12.4 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. Gardner Minshew (12.4 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Anthony Richardson as the starter and Gardner Minshew 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

QBLas Vegas Raiders#99

Gardner Minshew

PPG

12.4

Games

Pass Yds

2,420

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

125

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Anthony Richardson

Gardner Minshew

Head to Head

19.5 PPG12.4 PPG

13 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Anthony Richardson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Gardner Minshew: 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 Gardner Minshew at 56%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Anthony Richardson vs Gardner Minshew: 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 Gardner Minshew managed 12.4 across 12 games with the Las Vegas Raiders. A 7.1-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.

Anthony Richardson carries a 7.1-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 Gardner Minshew (2420 passing yards, 14 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: Anthony Richardson sits Week 14 while Gardner Minshew is off Week 10. 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. Gardner Minshew 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. Gardner Minshew (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 Gardner Minshew by a projected 121 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Anthony Richardson played 13 games in 2025 compared to Gardner Minshew's 12. 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 Gardner Minshew: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Anthony Richardson	Gardner Minshew
PPG (Half-PPR)	19.5	12.4
Games Played	13	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	254	149
Passing Yards	2,718	2,420
Passing TDs	18	14
Pass Yds/Game	209.1	201.7
Rushing Yards	580	125
Rushing TDs	7	1
Total TDs	25	15
TDs/Game	1.9	1.3
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Anthony Richardson holds the PPG edge with strong output at 19.5 points per game. Gardner Minshew averaged 12.4 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 Gardner Minshew in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Anthony Richardson has the edge at 19.5 PPG compared to Gardner Minshew's 12.4 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 Gardner Minshew average in 2025?▾

Anthony Richardson averaged 19.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Gardner Minshew averaged 12.4 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 7.1 points per game.

When are Anthony Richardson and Gardner Minshew's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson (IND) has a bye in Week 14, and Gardner Minshew (LV) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Anthony Richardson or Gardner Minshew a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson outscored Gardner Minshew by 7.1 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.