Joe Flacco, Top Fantasy Waiver-Wire QB Options After Anthony Richardson's Injury
Anthony Richardson fantasy owners may need to target the waiver wire for Week 5.
The Indianapolis Colts quarterback exited his team's Week 4 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a hip injury and Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reported that he had been ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Richardson finished 3-of-4 on the day for 71 yards while adding 24 yards on three carries on the ground. Joe Flacco came into the game to replace Richardson and helped steer the Colts to a 17-3 halftime lead.
With Richardson's future status uncertain, savvy fantasy managers could look towards the waiver wire to fill roster depth. If Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is still available, he would be an excellent option to add. If he is not available, here are several other options.
Joe Flacco
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If you are a believer in the Colts offense, then going to the backup is a good option.
In Flacco, the Colts have one of the best backup options in the league. The 39-year-old has made 185 career starts, has compiled a 103-82 record and helped lead the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl XLVII title.
More notably, he signed with the Cleveland Browns late in the 2023 season and led the team to a 4-1 record and a Wild Card berth. He threw for 1,616 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions for the Browns and won the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year award.
While he may not have the same dynamic athleticism that Richardson possesses, he will bring stability to the Colts offense and can help the team stay afloat in the second-year quarterbacks absence.
Geno Smith
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While he may not be the flashiest name, the consistency that Geno Smith has brought to the Seahawks offense cannot be ignored.
He has compiled a 21-17 record as the Seahawks starter with 9,428 passing yards and 58 touchdowns. He has thrown for 787 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions in 2024 and has helped lead Seattle to a 3-0 record.
With offensive stars like DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba at his disposal, Smith should be able to keep the offense moving. He may not be a gamebreaker like Richardson but should put up consistent totals each week.
Justin Fields
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If Fields is available, he may be the best replacement for Richardson when it comes to playing style.
The 25-year-old is a dynamic runner and has been efficient as a passer in 2024 with a completion percentage of 73.3 percent.
His statistics haven't jumped off the page in 2024 as he has thrown for 518 yards with two touchdowns and an interception while adding 90 yards and a touchdown on the ground. However, he has steered Pittsburgh to a 3-0 start and could produce more as he grows more comfortable in the offense.
The issue with picking Fields up would be that he could lose his job once Russell Wilson returns from injury. However, he could keep it if the Steelers keep winning and he continues to flash potential.
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Andy Dalton
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Picking up Andy Dalton would be showing true faith in what the 36-year-old showed in Week 3.
He threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-22 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. This came for a Carolina Panthers offense that had produced just 13 points in the first two weeks combined under 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young.
He also had a similar offensive output during his one start in 2023 for Carolina and could help breathe life into the lackluster roster but also could cool off.
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