Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Aidan O'Connell vs Anthony Richardson

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

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. Aidan O'Connell (12.8 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Anthony Richardson as the starter and Aidan O'Connell as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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QBLas Vegas Raiders#99

Aidan O'Connell

PPG

12.8

Games

Pass Yds

2,650

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 10

QBIndianapolis Colts#99PPG LEADER

Anthony Richardson

PPG

19.5

Games

Pass Yds

2,718

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

580

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Aidan O'Connell

Anthony Richardson

Head to Head

12.8 PPG19.5 PPG

13 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Aidan O'Connell: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Anthony Richardson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Aidan O'Connell is producing at 58% of elite pace and Anthony Richardson at 89%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Aidan O'Connell vs Anthony Richardson: Who Should You Start?

Anthony Richardson and Aidan O'Connell are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Indianapolis Colts quarterback averaged 19.5 PPG in 2025, a full 6.7 points per game ahead of Aidan O'Connell's 12.8 with the Las Vegas Raiders. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

A 6.7-PPG gap gives Anthony Richardson the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Anthony Richardson offers meaningful rushing upside with 580 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Aidan O'Connell (2650 passing yards, 16 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Aidan O'Connell has his bye in Week 10, and Anthony Richardson rests in Week 14. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at quarterback for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Anthony Richardson at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Aidan O'Connell is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Aidan O'Connell (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Anthony Richardson (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 Aidan O'Connell by a projected 114 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•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▾

StatO'ConnellRichardson

PPG (Half-PPR)12.819.5

Games Played1313

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)166254

Passing Yards2,6502,718

Passing TDs1618

Pass Yds/Game203.8209.1

Rushing Yards68580

Rushing TDs07

Total TDs1625

TDs/Game1.21.9

Bye WeekWeek 10Week 14

Summary

Anthony Richardson outscored Aidan O'Connell by 6.7 PPG in 2025 (19.5 to 12.8). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Aidan O'Connell or Anthony Richardson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Anthony Richardson has the edge at 19.5 PPG compared to Aidan O'Connell's 12.8 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 Aidan O'Connell and Anthony Richardson average in 2025?▾

Aidan O'Connell averaged 12.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Anthony Richardson averaged 19.5 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 6.7 points per game.

When are Aidan O'Connell and Anthony Richardson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Aidan O'Connell or Anthony Richardson a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson outscored Aidan O'Connell by 6.7 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.