High-Stakes Draft Sees Anthony Richardson Go QB1 In Latest Circa Championship Draft
In the latest Circa Las Vegas Fantasy Championship draft on Saturday night, managers witnessed the first real shock of the 2024 fantasy football season. Indianapolis Colts dual-threat quarterback Anthony Richardson was drafted as the overall QB1.
The second-year signal-caller shockingly came off the board at 5.8 a near full round ahead of Josh Allen (6.6) as well as two rounds ahead of Patrick Mahomes (7.2), C.J. Stroud (7.6) and Jalen Hurts (7.9).
Betting Movement Series: Big Expectations For Rookie RB | Elite RB Vegas is Fading | RB Ascending Up Early Draft Boards | WR Who May Struggle To Fulfill ADP value
Is a player who has only played in four career NFL games worthy of being drafted first among all quarterbacks in re-draft leagues in 2024?
Let’s dive in.
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Richardson Goes QB1
Obviously, fantasy managers are high on Richardson after seeing him throw for three touchdowns while also rushing for four touchdowns prior to suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 5 against the Titans.
The talented quarterback has seen his stock rise this summer owning an ADP of 74.2 / QB4. Last month, Richardson was the overall QB6 but has since moved ahead of both C.J. Stroud and Joe Burrow. However, this past weekend the hype reached a fever pitch when the former Flordia Gator stand-out came off the board ahead of arguably the best players at the position.
Richardson has fantasy managers all-in as their QB1 due to his recent comments that he will not shy away from running the ball despite being injured last season on a rushing attempt.
“My legs have always been one of my superpowers,” said Richardson recently. “So, trying to take that away from me, I don’t think that’s a good thing for this offense. It’s just more so me playing a little bit smarter and learning how to take care of myself and my teammates. Knowing when to make the right play and knowing when to try to get the extra few yards. Don’t take my legs away, but just be more smart.”
#Colts QB Anthony Richardson on HC Shane Steichen trusting him to make the right reads as a runner:
“My legs always been one of my superpowers. So, trying to take that away from me, I don’t think that’s a good thing for this offense.”
Adds that Jonathan Taylor will help, too. pic.twitter.com/Hs3n85n0pA
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) July 25, 2024
WHAT ARE THE ODDSMAKERS SAYING?
Despite only a small size, oddsmakers are bullish on Richardson in betting markets listing him with a passing yards betting projection of 3200.5 at DraftKings. The biggest move involving Richardson involves his passing touchdown number which opened at 15.5 but has since steamed to 18.5. His rushing yards betting demand has risen from 500.5 to 550.5 while his rushing touchdown number has held steady at 7.5
“Despite intriguing rushing talent, I am not willing to draft Richardson ahead of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen or Jalen Hurts.” – Frankie Taddeo
In comparison, Josh Allen has betting projections of 3750.5 passing yards, 27.5 passing touchdowns, 480.5 rushing yards, and 9.5 rushing touchdowns. Despite only having a betting rushing yards projection of 329.5, Patrick Mahomes owns the highest passing yards demand of 4350.5 as well as the highest passing touchdowns number at 34.5. Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts owns a passing yards number of 3600.5, 22.5 passing touchdowns, 550.5 rushing yards, and 9.5 rushing touchdowns projection.
Purely from a statistical betting perspective, it is very hard to defend drafting Richardson ahead of any of the top three options.
Anthony Richardson has two rushing TDs less than six minutes into the game!
📺: #INDvsHOU on FOX⁰📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/FhXtx7w3wW pic.twitter.com/QfJYDVcoD2
— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2023
There may be no bigger boom or bust pick at the quarterback position in 2024 than Richardson. His current ADP at the FFWC of QB4, behind only Allen, Hurts and Mahomes seems a bit high to me. While being in the same tier as Jackson, Stroud, Burrow, Love, and Prescott I will certainly own shares of A-Rich, but I will not be investing premium round draft capital nor will I ever draft him ahead of Allen, Hurts, or Mahomes.
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