Daniel Jones Secures Starting Quarterback Job with the Indianapolis Colts

Daniel Jones Wins Colts’ Quarterback Job for the Indianapolis Colts: Fantasy & Betting Fallout

The End of the Anthony Richardson Experiment—for Now

Jones is officially the starting quarterback for the Colts, beating out Richardson heading into 2025. It’s a surprising headline, but not when you consider the context. Richardson has shown flashes of brilliance, but between inconsistency and injuries, the Colts could no longer afford to wait. Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen are under pressure to win now, and Jones offers the steadier, if less explosive, option. For fantasy football, this is a downgrade in ceiling—Richardson’s rushing upside was elite—but it provides more stability for Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., and Adonai Mitchell.

Fantasy Football Impact: Jones’ Value vs. Colts’ Weapons

Jones isn’t suddenly a QB1 candidate. He’s still a QB2 with limited weekly upside, but his presence changes the outlook for Indianapolis’ playmakers. Pittman benefits most, as Jones’ conservative style favors volume targets over deep shots. Taylor may see lighter boxes with a competent passing threat under center, boosting his case as a late-first/early-second round fantasy pick. Jones himself could be a streaming option in favorable matchups, but he’s not a draft priority. Bettors should look at Pittman reception overs and Taylor rushing overs in early markets, while fading Jones’ passing touchdowns given his track record.

Betting Angles: Colts Futures Shift

Indianapolis’ win total sits at 7.5, and naming Jones the starter likely signals the organization is playing for floor over ceiling. The decision narrows their volatility: the Colts may avoid disaster, but Jones doesn’t drastically raise their ceiling either. At +450 to win the AFC South, the Colts are long shots behind the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars, and Jones doesn’t change that dynamic. Bettors looking for value may prefer Colts overs on team passing attempts (Jones plays it safe) but lean under on team touchdowns, given his limitations in the red zone.

NFL-Wide Reflection: The QB Development Problem

The Jones-Richardson storyline also highlights a broader NFL issue: rushing young quarterbacks before they’re ready. Richardson, like many top-5 picks before him, was thrown in early and predictably struggled. Now, the Colts are pressing reset with Jones, a stopgap starter who may hold the job only until Richardson gets one more chance—or until the front office resets entirely. For bettors, this context matters: Indianapolis is betting on competency, not upside, which usually means overs on floor stats (completions, short passing yards) and unders on splash categories (TDs, explosive plays).

Betting Takeaway

Jones winning the Colts’ job stabilizes the offense, but it caps the fantasy and betting upside. He’s a low-end QB2, while Pittman and Taylor benefit most from his presence. For bettors, Colts futures remain murky—Jones raises their floor but not their ceiling. The sharpest angles are targeting player props for Pittman and Taylor while steering clear of inflated Jones markets. Long term, this move is less about Jones’ talent and more about the Colts’ urgency to stop the bleeding.

You can read all about what’s going on in the National Football League at SportsGrid.com.