Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Anthony Richardson vs Matthew Stafford

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Matthew Stafford is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Matthew Stafford and Anthony Richardson are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 1.1-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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QBIndianapolis Colts#99

Anthony Richardson

PPG

19.5

Games

Pass Yds

2,718

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

580

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 14

QBLos Angeles Rams#3PPG LEADER

Matthew Stafford

PPG

20.6

Games

Pass Yds

4,707

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Anthony Richardson

Matthew Stafford

Head to Head

19.5 PPG20.6 PPG

13 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Anthony Richardson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Matthew Stafford: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #3 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Anthony Richardson is producing at 89% of elite pace and Matthew Stafford at 94%. That ranking gap means Matthew Stafford carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Anthony Richardson vs Matthew Stafford: Who Should You Start?

Anthony Richardson (19.5 PPG) and Matthew Stafford (20.6 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two quarterbacks are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Anthony Richardson played 13 games for the Indianapolis Colts; Matthew Stafford suited up 17 times for the Los Angeles Rams.

A 1.1-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.

Anthony Richardson offers meaningful rushing upside with 580 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Matthew Stafford (4707 passing yards, 46 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 Matthew Stafford 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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Anthony Richardson (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Matthew Stafford (age 38) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Matthew Stafford outscored Anthony Richardson by a projected 19 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Matthew Stafford played 17 games in 2025 compared to Anthony Richardson's 13. That durability gap means Matthew Stafford contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Matthew Stafford scored 46 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.7 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▾

StatRichardsonStafford

PPG (Half-PPR)19.520.6

Games Played1317

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)254350

Passing Yards2,7184,707

Passing TDs1846

Pass Yds/Game209.1276.9

Rushing Yards5801

Rushing TDs70

Total TDs2546

TDs/Game1.92.7

Age-38

Experience-16 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 14Week 8

Summary

20.6 PPG for Matthew Stafford versus 19.5 for Anthony Richardson in 2025. The baseline favors Matthew Stafford, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Anthony Richardson or Matthew Stafford in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Matthew Stafford has the edge at 20.6 PPG compared to Anthony Richardson's 19.5 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 Matthew Stafford average in 2025?▾

Anthony Richardson averaged 19.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Matthew Stafford averaged 20.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 1.1 points per game.

When are Anthony Richardson and Matthew Stafford's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Anthony Richardson or Matthew Stafford a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Matthew Stafford outscored Anthony Richardson by 1.1 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.