Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud threw four interceptions in the first half of the Divisional Round loss to the New England Patriots, becoming just the second QB since 1991 to throw four picks in a playoff half. The No. 2 pick in the 2023 NFL draft has rapidly regressed since his impressive rookie season. The Texans are expected to pick up his fifth-year option, but so far, the Texans are non-committal on a long-term contract extension for Stroud. Under first-year offensive coordinator Nick Caley in 2025, Stroud completed 64.5% of his passes for 3,041 yards and 19 touchdowns with eight interceptions. Despite having three playoff wins in his three seasons, Stroud has just five TDs with six interceptions and seven fumbles (two lost) in the postseason. Stroud said he was still "getting adjusted" to the new offense this year. Perhaps he'll be better in 2026 if Caley sticks around as the OC, but for fantasy purposes, Stroud has become a QB2 instead of a legitimate QB1 option.
Jan 20, 2026 12:30 PM EST
When asked about quarterback C.J. Stroud and a potential long-term contract extension, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said, "I'm not getting into that right now." Stroud will most likely have his fifth-year option picked up by Houston, but all bets are off as far as long-term extension talks go after a rough two-game performance in the playoffs this year. The 24-year-old former second overall pick in 2023 out of Ohio State threw an interception and fumbled five times (two lost) in the Wild-Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers before going 20-for-47 for 212 yards, one touchdown, and a season-high four interceptions in the loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday in the Divisional Round. Stroud burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2023, but since then, he's had two disappointing campaigns that raise questions in Houston about whether he's actually the long-term answer under center.
Jan 19, 2026 3:45 PM EST
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud completed 20 of his 47 pass attempts for 212 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions during Sunday's Divisional Round loss against the New England Patriots. He also took three sacks and rushed for 11 yards. The former No. 2 pick had an ugly game, and his turnovers proved to be the difference-maker in Houston's two-possession loss. It was previously reported that the Texans have decided to pick up Stroud's fifth-year option for 2027, and while that decision isn't official yet, Sunday's game likely won't change much. However, this frustrating performance could have some impact on whether Stroud earns a long-term extension in the future. He is now 3-3 in the playoffs through three seasons, totaling six touchdowns, six interceptions, and seven fumbles during that span. He'll look to clean up the turnovers ahead of the 2026 regular season. He should rank as a fringe top-12 fantasy quarterback heading into next summer's fantasy drafts.
Jan 18, 2026 9:09 PM EST
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud wasn't at his best on Monday night, but the Texans were still able to pull it out and beat the Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of 30-6 in the Wild-Card playoff matchup. Stroud finished the game 21-for-32 passing for 250 yards with one touchdown and an interception. The 24-year-old signal-caller also lost two fumbles. He was sacked three times for a loss of six yards and ran the ball once for no gain. Stroud fumbled the ball a third time in the second half, but thankfully, he was able to recover it. The Steelers couldn't take advantage of Stroud's miscues, as they only scored three points on his three turnovers. Stroud just didn't look comfortable in the pocket on Monday and missed a couple of easy throws that could have gone for big yardage. He'll need to play much better if Houston is going to go into New England and beat the Patriots on Sunday in the Divisional Round.
Jan 13, 2026 11:38 AM EST
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud averaged 234 passing yards per game in his five full starts since returning from the mid-season concussion that cost him three games. In that time, he threw six touchdowns to two interceptions while adding 169 yards and a score in a Week 18 win over the Colts that saw most of the team's starters pulled early. On Monday night, the Texans travel to Pittsburgh to face a Steelers defense that ranked 30th out of 32 teams against fantasy quarterbacks in the regular season. While Stroud doesn't offer the ceiling of some of the other quarterbacks in the playoff field, he is a smart, reliable passer with an underrated stable of pass catchers. He is RotoBaller's QB10 for the weekend, but given the plus-matchup, he makes for a smart start in any fantasy playoff format that allows players to be used only once.
Jan 12, 2026 3:00 PM EST
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud rested in the second half of the season finale versus the Colts after completing 14 of 23 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Once it was known that the Jaguars were up big in their game against the Titans, thus eliminating the Texans from winning the division, the team decided to give Stroud the rest of the day off with a playoff spot already locked up. Houston will travel on the road to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild-Card round. The 24-year-old signal-caller has had another solid season, completing a career-high 64.5% of his passes for 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while adding 48 carries for 209 yards and another score on the ground in 14 games. The Ohio State product has posted 7.0 yards per attempt or higher in 10 of 14 games this season. The Steelers sit in the middle of the pack against the pass in most metrics, ranking 14th in net yards per pass attempt (6.3) and 16th in dropback EPA (0.060). Stroud and the Texans may need to air it out more often Monday night, with how dominant Pittsburgh has been against the run recently, allowing a league-low 73.3 rushing yards per game over the final four weeks. In one career game versus Pittsburgh in Week 4 of the 2023 season, Stroud threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns, posting the second-highest yards per attempt (10.2) in a game of his career. Stroud projects as a quality option for fantasy managers in playoff leagues and can be trusted as a borderline QB1/QB2.
Jan 6, 2026 12:34 AM EST
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is in a tough matchup on Saturday afternoon against the Chargers, but he has shown enough momentum to still be a strong option in two-QB formats or in deep leagues this week. Stroud only threw for 187 yards and a touchdown last week in a narrow win over the Raiders, but he looked much better with 260 yards and three touchdowns the previous week against the Cardinals. Stroud has led his team to four straight wins since returning from a concussion, and the Texans have won seven straight overall to put themselves in a prime position to make the playoffs. While defense and a conservative offensive strategy have been the main reasons for their success, Stroud has shown enough play-making upside to still be the No. 17 QB in RotoBaller's rankings this week, making him a solid QB2.
Dec 26, 2025 8:20 AM EST
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has helped the Texans to six straight wins and is coming off one of his best games of the season. He'll look to keep rolling in a favorable spot against the visiting Raiders on Sunday in the late wave of games. Stroud threw for three touchdowns and 260 yards last week against the Cardinals and has posted over 250 passing yards in three of his last four full games (not counting his early exit due to a concussion). Stroud is up to 15 touchdowns on the season, and he's been especially sharp at home with eight touchdowns and just one interception. The Texans' backfield is banged up with both Woody Marks (ankle) and Nick Chubb (ribs) questionable for this contest, so Stroud may have to pass a little more even if the Texans play from ahead. In this favorable spot, Stroud is ranked the No. 13 QB in RotoBaller's Week 16 rankings, making him a great start in two-QB leagues but a low-end option in single-quarterback formats.
Dec 20, 2025 8:04 AM EST
Across 11 starts this season, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has completed 65.3% of his pass attempts for 2,441 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Since returning from a concussion that forced him to miss three games from Week 10 through Week 12, the 24-year-old has played some of his best football. Over his last three outings, Stroud is averaging 246.3 passing yards per game and has thrown four touchdowns to just one interception. The Houston offense as a whole is coming off one of its best performances in Week 15 against the Arizona Cardinals, putting up close to 400 yards of total offense and 40 points. The Texans host the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 16 before a more challenging matchup in Week 17 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Stroud could have an opportunity to extend his recent run of solid play and profiles as a borderline fantasy QB1 down the stretch of the season.
Dec 19, 2025 10:11 AM EST
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is coming off one of his most efficient performances of the season against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15, completing 22 of 29 passes for three touchdowns. It marked his fourth game this season in which he completed more than 75% of his passes with at least two touchdown passes, tying for the second-most in the league. The third-year signal-caller is emerging as a strong streaming option with the Texans' offense finding its best form and an ideal Week 16 matchup on deck against the Las Vegas Raiders. While he doesn't add much value as a runner, Stroud is showing the passing upside to be worth consideration as a plug-and-play starter this week.
Dec 16, 2025 10:19 AM EST
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was surgical in Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals, completing 22 of 29 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns while adding six carries for 10 yards on the ground. Stroud threw a 57-yard touchdown to wide receiver Nico Collins on his first throw of the game and continued to operate efficiently for the rest of the game. The 24-year-old signal-caller has played well since returning in Week 13 from a multi-game absence due to a concussion. He's totalled 738 passing yards, four touchdowns, and one interception over that time. Stroud will look to continue his strong stretch of production in a plus Week 16 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Dec 15, 2025 12:50 AM EST
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud will try to help the Texans earn their sixth straight win when they host the Cardinals this week. Stroud missed the first three games of the winning streak but took back over and led the team to big wins over the Colts and Chiefs. This week, he gets a much easier matchup against the Cardinals, who have allowed 10 passing touchdowns in the last four weeks, including three games of three touchdown passes against them. Stroud has not had outstanding numbers in his two games since returning, totaling 276 passing yards against the Colts and 203 passing yards against the Chiefs. He threw only one touchdown in those two games, but he also threw only one interception and did what was needed to keep drives alive. With an easier matchup, it could be a breakout day for Stroud, but he will most likely continue to rely on his game management skills along with his strong defense and running game. Stroud is the QB19 in RotoBaller's Week 15 rankings, making him a strong second QB in most dual-QB leagues but not a great starter in single-QB formats.
Dec 12, 2025 9:47 PM EST
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has been solid in two games since returning from a three-game absence due to a concussion. Week 14 against the Kansas City Chiefs wasn't his cleanest performance statistically, as he completed just 48.4% of his passes, but he made plays for the Texans when he needed to. Before his head injury in Week 9 against Denver, the 24-year-old signal-caller was starting to get into a rhythm. In Weeks 4-8, Stroud completed 68.5% of his passes for 1,024 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions while adding 96 yards on 14 carries on the ground over four games. He averaged 21.1 fantasy points per game during that span, ranking as the QB9. Overall, the Texans' offense hasn't been efficient enough to support multiple reliable contributors in fantasy this season. Stroud profiles as a mid-range QB2 option in Week 15 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Dec 10, 2025 12:53 AM EST
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud got a big win over the Colts in his return from a concussion last week, and he'll be in another huge matchup this week against the tough Chiefs' defense on Sunday Night Football. Stroud completed 22 of 35 passes for 276 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in last week's win, but looked very sharp overall, even though his fantasy numbers weren't huge. One encouraging sign is that he did have 35 pass attempts, continuing the team's recent trend of throwing the ball more during their current winning streak. If that trend continues again this week, Stroud has good upside if he can convert touchdowns. He's the No. 21 QB in RotoBaller's Week 14 rankings, making him a low-end QB2 that does bring potential upside despite his tough primetime matchup.
Dec 6, 2025 7:45 AM EST
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud returned from his concussion last week against the Colts and led his team to a fourth straight win. After starting 0-3, Stroud's Texans are 7-5 and pushing for a playoff spot. In his return, he completed 22 of 35 passes for 276 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. In his nine games, he has racked up 1,978 yards, 11 touchdowns, and six interceptions. In their recent charge, though, the team has relied more heavily on the passing game, and Stroud has aired it out with 35+ pass attempts in each of his last three full games. He and the Texans face another critical matchup this week on Sunday Night Football against the Chiefs. It should be a great game, and Stroud and the Texans have favorable home matchups against the Cardinals and Raiders after Sunday night's road showdown. Stroud is a fringe option in single-QB leagues and a strong second QB in dual-QB leagues, as he tries to guide his team back to the postseason again this season.
Dec 4, 2025 10:44 AM EST
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud returned to the field in Week 13 after missing three games with a concussion and completed 22 of 35 pass attempts for 276 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception against the Indianapolis Colts. Across nine games this season, Stroud has completed 66.1% of his pass attempts for 1,978 yards, 11 touchdowns, and six interceptions. However, the Texans have turned to a much more pass-heavy approach in recent weeks. Over his last three full games, Stroud is averaging 41 pass attempts per contest. The high-volume approach gives Stroud an opportunity for fantasy production every week, even if Houston's offense struggles to be efficient. In deeper fantasy leagues, Stroud could be a solid streaming option at the quarterback position heading into a Week 14 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Dec 2, 2025 11:12 AM EST
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) has cleared the NFL's concussion protocol and will be ready to rejoin his team this week in a huge road game against the Colts. Stroud has missed the last three games since departing in Week 9 with a concussion against the Broncos. Davis Mills led the team to three straight wins, and they're 6-5, sitting on the edge of playoff contention. Stroud threw for 1,702 yards in his eight games with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. In his last full game, he looked very effective with 318 passing yards and two touchdowns against the 49ers. He was inconsistent in some of his early games this season and took some time to adjust to new offensive coordinator Nick Caley's system. However, he started to show off his upside just before his concussion, and he'll look to pick up where he left off in this important matchup on Sunday. He's the No. 20 QB in RotoBaller's rankings this week, making him a low-end QB2 for this week against the Colts.
Nov 28, 2025 8:51 PM EST
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) has cleared the league's concussion protocol and will return to the field in Week 13 when the Texans face the Colts in a divisional clash. With Stroud sidelined since exiting a Week 9 loss to the Broncos, the Texans have reeled off three straight wins with Davis Mills at the helm and put themselves right back in the race for the AFC South crown. While the defense has been the main catalyst for the late-season surge, receivers Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins have enjoyed arguably the best three-game stretches of their respective seasons. With that success appearing to come on the heels of a philosophical offensive shift, rather than just a quarterback change, both players should see continued involvement. Collins is RotoBaller's WR 11 for the week, while Higgins remains in flex consideration in deeper leagues against a Colts defense that still ranks as below average against the pass, despite recent improvements.
Nov 28, 2025 2:47 PM EST
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) logged another full practice on Thursday. It was the second straight day Stroud was a full participant. Stroud cleared concussion protocol and is expected to return against the Indianapolis Colts after a three-game absence. He will likely log another full session on Friday, and the final injury report should determine Stoud's official status for Sunday's contest. The 24-year-old has been solid this season, throwing for 1,702 yards, 11 touchdowns, five interceptions, while rushing for 189 yards on 29 attempts. Stroud can be used as a streamer in his first game back since Week 9, but is more of an option in superflex leagues heading into this week.
Nov 27, 2025 11:03 PM EST
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) is practicing on Wednesday and continues to take steps toward being cleared from concussion protocol this week, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Stroud has missed three consecutive games since taking a shot to the head during Houston's Week 9 loss to the Denver Broncos. The third-year quarterback remained in concussion protocol to begin the week, but the Texans are hopeful that he will return in Week 13 for a big divisional matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Stroud was playing well before going down, throwing for 318 yards in Week 8 against the 49ers, his first 300-yard game since Week 5 of last season. He would be back in play as a potential streamer in Week 13 if he is able to play.
Nov 26, 2025 2:39 PM EST