Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Anthony Richardson vs Shedeur Sanders

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. Shedeur Sanders (10.6 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Anthony Richardson as the starter and Shedeur Sanders 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

QBCleveland Browns#40

Shedeur Sanders

PPG

10.6

Games

Pass Yds

1,400

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

169

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Anthony Richardson

Shedeur Sanders

Head to Head

19.5 PPG10.6 PPG

13 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Anthony Richardson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Shedeur Sanders: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #40 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Anthony Richardson is producing at 89% of elite pace and Shedeur Sanders at 48%. That ranking gap means Shedeur Sanders carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Anthony Richardson vs Shedeur Sanders: 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 Shedeur Sanders managed 10.6 across 8 games with the Cleveland Browns. A 8.9-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.

Anthony Richardson carries a 8.9-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Anthony Richardson offers meaningful rushing upside with 580 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Shedeur Sanders (1400 passing yards, 7 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 Shedeur Sanders 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. Shedeur Sanders 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. Shedeur Sanders (age 24) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising.

Did You Know?

•Anthony Richardson outscored Shedeur Sanders by a projected 151 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Anthony Richardson played 13 games in 2025 compared to Shedeur Sanders's 8. That durability gap means Anthony Richardson 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▾

StatRichardsonSanders

PPG (Half-PPR)19.510.6

Games Played138

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)25485

Passing Yards2,7181,400

Passing TDs187

Pass Yds/Game209.1175.0

Rushing Yards580169

Rushing TDs71

Total TDs258

TDs/Game1.91.0

Age-24

Bye WeekWeek 14Week 9

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Anthony Richardson holds the PPG edge with strong output at 19.5 points per game. Shedeur Sanders averaged 10.6 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Anthony Richardson or Shedeur Sanders in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Anthony Richardson has the edge at 19.5 PPG compared to Shedeur Sanders's 10.6 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 Shedeur Sanders average in 2025?▾

Anthony Richardson averaged 19.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Shedeur Sanders averaged 10.6 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 8.9 points per game.

When are Anthony Richardson and Shedeur Sanders's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Anthony Richardson or Shedeur Sanders a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson outscored Shedeur Sanders by 8.9 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.