Daniel Jones Cleared for 7 on 7 ... But Does That Change Anything?

What They're Saying

HC Shane Steichen shared a positive message on Jones' recovery.

"To get him out there in 7-on-7 was huge, to get him in the fold, running plays with the guys," Steichen said via ESPN. "We'll keep that trend going, probably through the end of OTAs and then, obviously, get him into team stuff at training camp. It's spring, we don't play for a while, so we've got to be smart with his injury. But he's making great progress."

The ESPN report adds that the Colts "believe Jones is on schedule, perhaps even slightly ahead of schedule" in his recovery. The team is "hopeful" that Jones can play Week 1, a sentiment that the QB shared last week.

2026 Fantasy Football Impact

Jones getting cleared for 7-on-7 work doesn’t change our fantasy stance, as he was already projected for a full season of starts.

The backup spot remains unsettled, with Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson competing behind Jones. Richardson could carry early-season fantasy value if Jones isn’t ready, thanks to a rushing ceiling that has helped him reach 23 fantasy points in 40% of his career starts. That's clear QB1-level fantasy output.

For now, though, neither backup contender is worth chasing in early drafts. Jones, meanwhile, sits outside the top 20 of our QB rankings. He's not a name to chase in 1-QB setups.

Other Winners & Losers

Tyler Warren would love to see Jones back at 100%. In games with Jones, Warren finished TE7 in PPR points per game (TE5 in expected PPG). That sample includes a strong 20.4% target share.

In five games without Jones, Warren posted PPR finishes at TE29, TE30, TE24, TE16, and TE21.

Our ADP Market Index shows Warren as a value pick according to Underdog ADP.