Gardner Minshew

What looked like it was going to be a magical rookie season is officially over for Anthony Richardson before it really took off. The initial thought was hope that Richardson would be able to rehab his shoulder and return after taking 4-6 weeks off. Evidently, it was decided that the best option long-term would be to have the surgery early and begin rehabbing for 2024 as soon as possible.

There is no reason to believe that Anthony Richardson’s injury will have negative long-term consequences for his career, or his dynasty value. By opting for surgery now, the Colts will have the entire 2023 offseason with their QB1 instead of risking missed time with a delay. The injury to Anthony Richardson may open a small buy window in dynasty from a panicking GM.

Gardner Minshew will take the reigns as the Colts QB1 for the rest of the season, which seems to elevate the floors of the Colts’ pass catchers. Michael Pittman averages 12.5 targets, 9 receptions, 93 yards, and 16.75 PPR points in Minshew’s two starts, up from 8.75 targets, 5.5 receptions, 55 yards, and 13 PPR PPG. Second-fiddle Josh Downs also jumps from 5.25 targets, 3.75 receptions, 49.5 yards, and 8.7 PPR PPG all the way up to 10 targets, 6.5 receptions, 39 yards, and 13.4 PPG. Continue to start your Colts with confidence.

Unfortunately, it’s becoming all too common to read reports of Richardson dealing with injuries. The star rookie has shown flashes of brilliance when healthy, but has only played 100% of the offensive snaps for the Colts in one game this season. While his leg injury in week 1 and concussion in week 2 didn’t cause him to miss extended time, it sounds like this latest shoulder injury will cause him to miss multiple games and could even result in him being placed on short-term IR.

For Fantasy Managers who are rostering Richardson, we urged you to find an insurance policy for the physical rookie after his concussion in week 2. At this point, finding a suitable replacement QB for Richardson over the next month should be a top priority for any contending team. Gardner Minshew will be filling in for Richardson moving forward, but he isn’t an ideal replacement for fantasy purposes.

For the other Colts offensive players, this news means a slight bump in their value going forward. Minshew is more reliant on his arm than Richardson, and Michael Pittman has displayed strong chemistry with Minshew, along with rookie Josh Downs. Colts running backs Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss are also at less of a risk to have Minshew steal goal-line rushing opportunities, and they should be leaned on heavily to support the offense while Richardson is out.