Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Anthony Richardson vs Geno Smith

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. Geno Smith (11.6 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Anthony Richardson as the starter and Geno Smith as depth.

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

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QBIndianapolis Colts#99PPG LEADER

Anthony Richardson

PPG

19.5

Games

Pass Yds

2,718

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

580

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 14

QBLas Vegas Raiders#34

Geno Smith

PPG

11.6

Games

Pass Yds

3,025

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

109

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Anthony Richardson

Geno Smith

Head to Head

19.5 PPG11.6 PPG

13 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Anthony Richardson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Geno Smith: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #34 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Anthony Richardson is producing at 89% of elite pace and Geno Smith at 53%. That ranking gap means Geno Smith carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Anthony Richardson vs Geno Smith: Who Should You Start?

The numbers tell a clear story here. Anthony Richardson put up 19.5 fantasy points per game for the Indianapolis Colts in 2025, while Geno Smith managed 11.6 across 15 games with the Las Vegas Raiders. A 7.9-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.

A 7.9-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 Geno Smith (3025 passing yards, 19 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Anthony Richardson sits Week 14 while Geno Smith is off Week 8. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Anthony Richardson at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Geno Smith is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Anthony Richardson (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Geno Smith (age 35) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Anthony Richardson outscored Geno Smith by a projected 134 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Geno Smith played 15 games in 2025 compared to Anthony Richardson's 13. That durability gap means Geno Smith contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•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▾

StatRichardsonSmith

PPG (Half-PPR)19.511.6

Games Played1315

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)254174

Passing Yards2,7183,025

Passing TDs1819

Pass Yds/Game209.1201.7

Rushing Yards580109

Rushing TDs70

Total TDs2519

TDs/Game1.91.3

Age-35

Experience-12 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 14Week 8

Summary

Anthony Richardson outscored Geno Smith by 7.9 PPG in 2025 (19.5 to 11.6). 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 Anthony Richardson or Geno Smith in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Anthony Richardson has the edge at 19.5 PPG compared to Geno Smith's 11.6 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 Anthony Richardson and Geno Smith average in 2025?▾

Anthony Richardson averaged 19.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Geno Smith averaged 11.6 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 7.9 points per game.

When are Anthony Richardson and Geno Smith's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson (IND) has a bye in Week 14, and Geno Smith (LV) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Anthony Richardson or Geno Smith a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson outscored Geno Smith by 7.9 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.