There are four main quarterback competitions happening in the offseason, and all can be bet on. We started the season with five. However, after Rodgers signed with the Steelers, that one is all but wrapped up. We’ll be breaking down each competition this month and who you should bet on to start. We started our series in New Orleans. Let’s take a look at the Colts’ Week 1 starting quarterback odds and who you should bet.
Colts’ Week 1 Starting Quarterback Odds
First, let’s talk about the players competing for the Colts’ Week 1 starting quarterback spot. The Colts have one returning quarterback in Anthony Richardson. We’ll talk more about him in a bit. However, he was drafted by the Colts to be their next franchise quarterback. Unfortunately, he has not been that yet.
This year, they brought in some competition to push him a little bit harder in Daniel Jones. After several years of ups and downs with the Giants, Jones found himself on the Vikings at the end of last year after being cut. Jones reportedly had a similar offer from the Vikings to stay. However, he felt his chances of getting playing time were better on the Colts.
Finally, a guy we won’t spend a lot of time talking about today, the Colts drafted quarterback Riley Leonard. Leonard started his collegiate career with Duke, starting a total of 21 games over three years. He then transferred to Notre Dame, where he started 16 games and led them to the National Championship game, where they lost to Ohio State.
Leonard ended with 2,861 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, and eight interceptions last year. He also ran for 906 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. In his career, he finished with 7,311 passing yards, 45 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. He also added 2,130 rushing yards and 36 rushing touchdowns.
The dual-threat quarterback is considered more of a project quarterback to start. However, with the injury history of both Richardson and Jones, he could see some playing time this year, potentially.
Anthony Richardson (-260)
Anthony Richardson was drafted by the Colts with their fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Multiple scouts thought he may need some time to develop his arm at the professional level. However, he was their starter in 2023 and started the season looking pretty decent. He threw for 577 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 136 yards and four touchdowns.
However, in the fourth game, he was injured and missed the rest of the season. In 2024, he got 11 more starts. In those starts, he threw for 1,814 yards and had a 47.7 completion percentage. He threw eight touchdowns to 12 interceptions. He ran for 499 yards and ten touchdowns. Between injuries and poor performance, Richardson was benched for Joe Flacco.
There are several questions surrounding Anthony Richardson and his success with the Colts. Whether he can stay healthy is one of the main questions. However, we also have to ask, can he succeed at this level of football, or does he need a chance of scenery?
Richardson is the current favorite to win the starting job at -260, likely due to his experience with the team and the fact that they drafted him fourth overall and aren’t ready to give up on him yet. However, Richardson is already dealing with a shoulder injury. This is the same injury that Peyton Manning had, and it takes time to heal. Rushing back to throwing can make it a lot worse.
Richardson’s injury makes it really hard to bet on him at -260. This leaves the room open for the underdog to come in and control the offense.
Daniel Jones (+190)
That underdog would be Daniel Jones. Referred to as “Danny Dimes” by some or “Dan ‘MF’in’ Jones” to me, Jones is in a unique situation. Selected as the sixth overall player in the 2019 draft by the Giants, Jones’s fresh start on a new team may be just what he needs.
Jones never had a year at Duke that stood out as being elite. The most passing yards he had were in his redshirt freshman year, where he had 2,836 passing yards. His last year of college, he threw for 22 touchdowns, his career high. In 2017, sandwiched between the most passing yards and most passing touchdowns years, he ran for the most yards with 518 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
Jones started 12 games in his rookie year in 2019 and looked pretty decent. He threw for 3,027 yards and 24 touchdowns. His best year came in 2022 when he threw for 3,205 yards and rushed for 708 yards. It was the only season he started all 16 games. Between injuries and poor performance, Jones has only one season where he played the full slate, much like Richardson.
He started 10 games for the Giants last year before they eventually cut him. This fresh start for him should be an interesting one. I think it is important to circle the fact that he picked the Colts because he felt it was his best chance at starting games. Jones is determined to prove himself, and at +190 behind a quarterback who’s already injured, this may be a no-brainer.
Who Will Be The Colts’ Week 1 Starting Quarterback
After looking at the two guys battling for the job, who will be the Colts’ Week 1 starting quarterback? I wouldn’t be surprised to see Richardson and Jones both play this year. However, due to Richardson already dealing with an injury, I think Jones will get a leg up and start Week 1.
Although if the injury pushes Richardson’s odds to be a dog, it may be worth a sprinkle as well. The franchise has shown multiple times that they are committed to him, and this will be one of his last chances to prove himself. They may just be willing to give him that chance.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if all three quarterbacks get a shot at some point this year due to their injury history. However, as of right now, I think the best bet is to take Danie Jones as the Colts’ Week 1 starting quarterback at +190.
