Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Anthony Richardson vs Russell Wilson

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. Russell Wilson (14.2 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Anthony Richardson as the starter and Russell Wilson 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

QBPittsburgh Steelers#99

Russell Wilson

PPG

14.2

Games

Pass Yds

2,890

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

155

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Anthony Richardson

Russell Wilson

Head to Head

19.5 PPG14.2 PPG

13 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Anthony Richardson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Russell Wilson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Anthony Richardson is producing at 89% of elite pace and Russell Wilson at 65%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Anthony Richardson vs Russell Wilson: Who Should You Start?

Anthony Richardson and Russell Wilson are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Anthony Richardson averaged 19.5 PPG across 13 games with the Indianapolis Colts, while Russell Wilson posted 14.2 PPG in 14 appearances for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A 5.3-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 Russell Wilson (2890 passing yards, 18 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 Russell Wilson is off Week 9. 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. Russell Wilson 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. Russell Wilson (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 Russell Wilson by a projected 90 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Russell Wilson played 14 games in 2025 compared to Anthony Richardson's 13. That durability gap means Russell Wilson 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▾

StatRichardsonWilson

PPG (Half-PPR)19.514.2

Games Played1314

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)254199

Passing Yards2,7182,890

Passing TDs1818

Pass Yds/Game209.1206.4

Rushing Yards580155

Rushing TDs72

Total TDs2520

TDs/Game1.91.4

Bye WeekWeek 14Week 9

Summary

Anthony Richardson outscored Russell Wilson by 5.3 PPG in 2025 (19.5 to 14.2). 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 Russell Wilson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Anthony Richardson has the edge at 19.5 PPG compared to Russell Wilson's 14.2 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 Russell Wilson average in 2025?▾

Anthony Richardson averaged 19.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Russell Wilson averaged 14.2 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 5.3 points per game.

When are Anthony Richardson and Russell Wilson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson (IND) has a bye in Week 14, and Russell Wilson (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Anthony Richardson or Russell Wilson a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson outscored Russell Wilson by 5.3 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.