Fantasy Football: 5 reasons Colts QB Anthony Richardson can be a top-end option
By Hunter Haas
Reason No. 4: The Colts offensive line should be better in 2023
Piggybacking off the last section, new head coach Shane Steichen butters his bread by establishing the offensive line. He loves to assert dominance and punch opposing defenses in the mouth. Quenton Nelson, Braden Smith, and Ryan Kelly are a few long-time starters on the line, all of whom suffered the worst seasons of their career in 2022.
The arrival of Steichen should give them the figurative kick in the butt to bounce back. Left tackle Bernhard Raimann showed considerable growth down the stretch last season; hopefully, that continues. Right guard is more of a question mark, but if the other four positions carry their weight, I might be able to play guard (kidding).
Reason No. 5: Shane Steichen’s history of developing young quarterbacks quickly
The Colts will look to Richardson to lead the franchise to its first postseason berth since 2020. Thankfully for the 21-year-old prospect, Steichen has a history of bringing the best out of his quarterbacks. Do Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts ring a bell?
Back in Herbert’s debut campaign, Steichen had to craft a system around the youngster on the fly. Week 1 starter Tyrod Taylor was knocked out of Week 2 action after a trainer mishap resulted in a punctured lung for the veteran. In Taylor’s absence, Herbert stepped in and posted numbers that a rookie hadn’t put up since Andrew Luck.
Once Steichen moved on to Philadelphia to serve as offensive coordinator, his wheels began turning. Under the new playcaller, Hurts led the Eagles to the playoffs in his first full year as a starter before taking them all the way to the Super Bowl in 2022. As talented as Hurts is, Steichen deserves a substantial amount of credit.
Richardson possesses even better physical attributes. Hurts and Herbert are ahead of the Colts quarterback in terms of processing and overall mechanics, so this isn’t me saying Richardson will definitely be a top-five Fantasy Football quarterback. But, given Steichen’s track record, I’m willing to bet on the upside in the middle of drafts.