Daniel Jones will make a fantasy manager queasy if you mention drafting him. However, we need to, at a minimum, consider selecting him in best ball formats. This article is not for the faint of heart, but nailing a late round pick can be the difference maker in best ball drafts. Underdog and Best Ball drafts are in full swing, and perhaps the most crucial element in building a championship team is a unique roster. There is a plausible scenario where Jones can be that player on your roster. Simply consider the data and fantasy possibilities. We are like a broken record with this message, but again, if you have not yet begun your 2025 fantasy draft preparation, you are behind!
Why You Should Be Drafting Daniel Jones in Best Ball Drafts
Finishing as a QB1 is Within Daniel Jones’ Range of Outcomes
Daniel Jones was the overall QB9 in 2022 before he went down with the ACL injury. That season, Jones rushed for over 700 yards and had seven rushing touchdowns. Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Shane Steichen is adept at drawing up designed quarterback runs. If Jones ends up as the starting quarterback for the Colts, using him as a runner will be crucial if he is to achieve QB1 status.
We can also argue that this is the best overall receiving core that Jones has ever played with. His success in 2022 came with a wide receiving corps that consisted of Darius Slayton, Richie James, and Isaiah Hodgins. Michael Pittman leads the Colts’ wide receivers, but Josh Downs has shown his ability to flash and led the team with 72 receptions. Alec Pierce is a big-play threat, as evidenced by his 11.9 yards per target and 22.3 yards per catch. Adonai Miychell should be ready to contribute more in year two.
Watching Jones is by no means pretty, but when healthy in 2022, he averaged 18.5 fantasy points per game. He has a career 70-47 touchdown-to-interception ratio and another 15 scores on the ground. Finally, he is far more accurate than Richardson, with a career 64.1% completion rate.
Anthony Richardson has Already Suffered an Injury at OTAs
Anthony Richardson is competing to be the Colts’ starting quarterback and has since suffered an injury to his throwing shoulder. This will now prohibit him from participating in minicamp next week. Richardson has an injury history, playing in just 15 games over his first two NFL seasons.
Once you get past the injury concerns, Richardson has been subpar as a passer. His fantasy value, like Jones, is in his rushing ability. The throwing numbers are ugly. Richardson has a career 53.6% pass completion rate with an 11-13 touchdown to interception ratio. The point here is that Jones has a legitimate chance to take over as the Colts’ starting quarterback.
Daniel Jones currently goes off Underdog draft boards at pick 237 as QB34. That means he is basically free and worth a pick if nothing other than being a lottery ticket on your roster. However, if he were to win the job, you would have a potential unique difference maker on your team.
Main Image: Mark J. Rebilas – USA Today Sports
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