Anthony Richardson Wins Colts QB2 Job and Adds Betting Insurance
The Colts made a quiet roster move that matters more to bettors than it will to most fans. Anthony Richardson is officially Indianapolis' No. 2 quarterback behind Daniel Jones, beating out rookie Riley Leonard for the backup job. On the surface, that is a depth-chart note. In betting terms, it changes how the market should view Indianapolis if Jones misses time, even for a half.
That matters because sportsbooks price quarterback uncertainty aggressively. A team with an experienced, high-upside backup usually takes a smaller hit in point spreads, team totals, and weekly derivative markets than a team turning to an untested option. Richardson has not been a polished NFL passer, but he gives the Colts a live-arm, run-heavy profile that at least keeps their offense functional if the starter goes down.
- Richardson was named Indianapolis' primary backup on Thursday.
- He beat out Riley Leonard for the QB2 role behind Daniel Jones.
- In preseason action, Richardson completed 21 of 33 passes for 249 yards and added 68 rushing yards with a touchdown.
- Leonard finished 20 of 42 for 199 yards with two interceptions.
- The Colts open the season Sept. 13 at home against the Ravens.
Richardson's path here has not been clean. After being drafted fourth overall in 2023, he flashed elite tools but struggled to hold down the job, posting 11 touchdown passes against 13 interceptions across 17 career games. He also reportedly requested a trade back in February, which made his long-term fit in Indianapolis look shaky. Now he stays, and more importantly for bettors, he stays one snap away from relevance.
Head coach Shane Steichen said Richardson showed growth during camp, and the preseason numbers back up the decision. Richardson was more efficient than Leonard, more dangerous as a runner, and simply gives the offense more ways to survive. Leonard may still have developmental value, but if you are pricing a game today, Richardson is the better emergency option.
That does not mean bettors should overreact. Richardson is still volatile. His career sample says drives can swing fast from explosive to messy. But volatility cuts both ways, and that is where this news gets interesting for anyone betting Colts games week to week.
Betting Angle
If Daniel Jones is healthy, this move will not shift Indianapolis' Week 1 number in a meaningful way. But if Jones were limited, scratched, or knocked out in-game, the market should treat the Colts differently now that Richardson is QB2. With Leonard as the likely backup, a starter injury might have been worth roughly 2.5 to 3 points to the spread. With Richardson next in line, that downgrade could land closer to 1.5 to 2 points, depending on opponent and matchup.
It also affects totals and player props. A Richardson-led offense would likely mean more designed runs, fewer pure dropbacks, and wider outcomes. Expect his rushing yards prop to open aggressively if he ever gets a start, while Colts wide receiver reception props could become less attractive due to lower pass volume. Against strong defenses like Baltimore, his presence could also pull a full-game total down a tick while making his own rushing props more interesting than his passing overs.
For futures bettors, this is modestly positive for Colts win total protection. Not enough to buy blind, but enough to say Indianapolis is better insulated than it was with Leonard penciled in behind Jones.