C.J. Stroud

Houston Texans
Quarterback #7
Houston Texans
Quarterback #7
C.J. Stroud C.J. Stroud
© Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

C.J. Stroud News RotoBaller

C.J. Stroud Under Siege In Season-Ending Defeat

Quarterback C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans spent most of the Divisional Round under pressure, completing 19 of 28 passing attempts for 245 yards with neither a touchdown or a turnover in his team's season-ending defeat at Kansas City on Saturday. The Chiefs were able to get the best of Houston's offensive line, sacking the sophomore quarterback eight times and impacting a number of other throws as Houston managed only one touchdown. Though he limped off late in the game, Stroud did re-enter for the final drive. It was a largely disappointing year fantasy-wise for last season's Rookie of the Year, but he has now led Houston to a division title and a Wild Card victory in both of his first two seasons. Houston's offense goes into the offseason with needs on the offensive line and for a No. 2 receiver, as Tank Dell (knee) could be unavailable through 2025 and Stefon Diggs is a free agent.

Jan 18, 2025 7:36 PM EST


C.J. Stroud A Low-End Starting QB Option At Chiefs

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud should be considered the lowest-ranked option out of all eight starting quarterback options with his team set to take on the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round. The 23-year-old faces a Chiefs defense that ranked third among playoff teams in air yards allowed, fourth overall in blitz rate, fifth in pressure percentage, and held Houston to 19 points in a Week 16 Kansas City victory. The sophomore quarterback led Houston to a Wild Card win against the Los Angeles Chargers, but Houston's offense has averaged roughly 19 points per game since the beginning of December. Managers in playoff leagues or DFS should attempt for a better option than Stroud is a tough road matchup.

Jan 16, 2025 6:51 PM EST



C.J. Stroud Rebounds To Help Texans Advance

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud shook off an awful first-half interception to finish 22 of 33 passing for 282 yards and a touchdown in helping his team defeat the Los Angeles Chargers 32-12 in the Wild Card Round. The sophomore quarterback also ran for 42 yards, which included a 27-yard scramble in the second quarter, his longest run of the season. Despite three offensive turnovers, Houston's offense was able to do more than enough in the second half to earn a postseason victory for the second straight year. Stroud completed passes to eight different receivers, but connected with Nico Collins seven times for 122 yards and a touchdown against L.A. The victory sealed Houston's place in the next round, where they will play an opponent to be decided on Sunday.

Jan 11, 2025 8:10 PM EST


C.J. Stroud Among Last Tier Of Playoff Quarterbacks

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud should be considered among the lowest tier of starting quarterbacks for managers in playoff leagues with Houston set to play host to the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card Round. The results just haven't been there for the Texans or their second-year starter, who finished as the No. 18 fantasy quarterback, a far cry from where he was drafted in preseason. The Chargers are a mid-tier defense against fantasy quarterbacks, but Houston's offense has averaged just 15.6 points in its past five games. Los Angeles ranks fourth in the NFL in scoring percentage allowed, fifth in yards after catch allowed, and fourth in net yards per passing attempt, which is not a great omen for Stroud or a struggling Houston offense.

Jan 9, 2025 8:54 PM EST


C.J. Stroud Pulled From Sunday's Meeting With The Titans

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud completed all six attempts for 50 yards in Sunday's meeting with the Titans. He also threw a touchdown, finding Nico Collins in the first quarter for a two-yard score. The Texans are locked into a spot for the postseason, so Stroud is presumably done for the remainder of the contest. However, this shouldn't surprise anyone. Overall, the signal-caller had a good year, throwing for 3,727 yards and 20 touchdowns (12 picks) and adding 52 carries for 233 yards. Although Stroud was more productive as a rookie, injuries on the offensive side of the ball likely prohibited him from being more potent from a fantasy standpoint. With Stroud out of the contest, Davis Mills is in under center.

Jan 5, 2025 1:45 PM EST



C.J. Stroud A Risky QB2 In Regular-Season Finale

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is a fringe QB2 in Week 18 against the Tennessee Titans due to the unusual circumstances of the matchup. The Titans are an average defense against fantasy quarterbacks, but the real mystery is how long the sophomore quarterback will play. Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans has committed to playing starters, but with Houston already set as the AFC's No. 4 seed no matter what happens Sunday, the Texans don't have any incentive to go all-out against the Titans with Wild Card Weekend looming. As a result, Stroud's value in leagues that play Week 18 or DFS formats must be tied to the possibility he is pulled from the game at some point.

Jan 3, 2025 4:00 PM EST


C.J. Stroud Banged Up Heading Into Week 18

Although Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said he's banged up after the Week 17 blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day last Wednesday, he was able to practice on Monday and appears ready to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Tennessee Titans on Sunday. The Texans are already locked into the No. 4 seed in the AFC for the postseason, but head coach DeMeco Ryans plans to play his healthy starters after the team got embarrassed last week. However, how long Stroud and other key starters such as wide receiver Nico Collins and running back Joe Mixon stay in the game on Sunday remains to be seen. Stroud, who was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, has been sacked 52 times (second-most in the NFL) and has had a rocky sophomore season. He won't be a recommended starting DFS QB in Week 18 with the potential to be pulled early on.

Jan 1, 2025 12:17 PM EST


C.J. Stroud And Other Texans Starters Will Be A Full-Go Vs. Titans

Per Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, quarterback C.J. Stroud and the rest of the team's starters will play in this weekend's divisional clash with the Tennessee Titans. "Everybody has to be ready to go, and that's where we are," said Ryan. "Everyone will be out there playing." Ok then. Evidently, the Texans will be out in full force for the season's final week. Despite locking up the AFC's fourth seed, the second-year coach will run out his first-string unit in Week 18 after an embarrassing 31-2 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day. With the game holding no meaning for either team, it's possible that the starting squad could get a little rest anyway. Still, seeing the team's best product on the field for at least some of the action will be nice. The Texans will travel to Nashville to take on their division foes.

Dec 30, 2024 2:48 PM EST


C.J. Stroud Off Target In Big Loss To Ravens

C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans delivered a dud in Week 17, finishing 17-for-31 for 185 yards with no touchdowns and an interception as the Houston offense failed to score in a 31-2 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The sophomore was off target on a number of throws, and he was done no favors by a Texans offensive line that allowed five sacks and paved the way for only 58 rushing yards. The young quarterback and the Houston offense couldn't establish much of anything as Baltimore completely dominated the game from the outset. Stroud now has an 8:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio in the past six games, during which he hit 250 passing yards only once. Houston will look for better as it concludes the regular season in Week 18 at Tennessee.

Dec 25, 2024 8:33 PM EST


Decent Matchup, But Bad Circumstances For C.J. Stroud

On one hand, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has a nice matchup on Christmas Day against a Baltimore Ravens passing defense that has struggled this year. But on the other, the circumstances surrounding the second-year quarterback leave a lot to be desired. Two of his top three receivers in Tank Dell (knee) and Stefon Diggs (knee) are out for the year, his patchwork offensive line will face a Ravens unit that has the second-most sacks in the league, his running game will face the best rushing defense in the NFL, and the Texans very well could be running on fumes with a third game in 11 days. Though Baltimore ranks an attractive 27th against fantasy quarterbacks, Stroud hasn't had a top-10 finish since Week 4. He should be saved only for Superflex formats.

Dec 23, 2024 7:07 PM EST


So-So Performance From C.J. Stroud At Kansas City

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud delivered a decent if unspectacular performance in a 27-19 loss to Kansas City, completing 23 of 39 passes for 244 yards to go with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 23 yards on two carries. The sophomore quarterback threw touchdown passes to tight end Dalton Schultz and wide receiver Tank Dell, but the two picks were a drag on the day, and he failed to hit 300 passing yards for the 10th straight game as Houston's offense can't quite seem to take the next step. Stroud and the Texans will have a quick turnaround with a Christmas Day game against a struggling Baltimore pass defense in Week 17.

Dec 21, 2024 4:10 PM EST


C.J. Stroud Relegated To Superflex Role Versus Chiefs

The struggling Houston Texans' passing game combined with the blitz-happy Kansas City Chiefs should have fantasy managers dialing back expectations for quarterback C.J. Stroud in Week 16. The second-year quarterback has been sacked the fifth-most times in the league this year, which is not a great sign against a Kansas City defense that knocks down quarterbacks and blitzes at the second-highest rate in the NFL. Last year's Rookie of the Year hasn't logged a top-10 quarterback finish since Week 4 or passed for 300 yards since Week 5. The fantasy playoffs and a game at the defending champs probably is not the time or place to bet on a rebound for managers in one-QB formats.

Dec 19, 2024 7:20 PM EST


Low-Volume Day For C.J. Stroud Against Fins

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had an efficient but low-volume game against the Miami Dolphins, completing 18 of 26 passes for 131 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in a 20-13 victory. He also ran six times for four yards and lost a fumble. The entire Houston offense had a slow day, managing only 181 total yards, but the second-year quarterback tossed a pair of six-yard touchdowns to wide receiver Nico Collins to secure the win. It was yet another Sunday in which Houston offense left a lot to be desired, but they ultimately end the week at 9-5. Stroud and the Texans will travel to Kansas City for a Saturday showdown in Week 16.

Dec 15, 2024 4:24 PM EST


Superflex Only Matchup For C.J. Stroud Against Miami

The Miami Dolphins have been one of the toughest matchups in the NFL for fantasy quarterbacks, which means C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans should only be started in Superflex leagues in Week 15. The Dolphins rank third overall against fantasy quarterbacks, while last year's Offensive Rookie of the Year has finished outside of the top 10 at his position nine games in a row. Stroud now ranks a disappointing 19th among fantasy quarterbacks, and faces a Miami defense among the league's best in air yards allowed (fifth), passing touchdowns allowed (tied for fifth), and average depth of target (first). Now that most fantasy leagues are down to elimination games, managers who roster Stroud in one-QB formats should look to avoid this matchup.

Dec 13, 2024 6:33 PM EST


Unremarkable Day For Houston’s C.J. Stroud

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had a moderately productive day against one of the NFL's worst defenses, finishing 22-for-34 for 242 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in a 23-20 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also rushed for eight yards in the win. The Texans managed only two field goals in the first half and were outgained overall, but ultimately did enough to build and protect the lead. The second-year quarterback has been decent overall, but for fantasy purposes, has delivered only a couple game-changing weeks. Stroud and the Texans will look to make their final playoff push after a Week 14 bye.

Dec 1, 2024 4:25 PM EST


Slumping C.J. Stroud Faces Great Matchup In Week 13

The Jacksonville Jaguars present a great slump-busting chance for Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who is a fringe QB1 candidate in the Week 13 matchup. Last year's Offensive Rookie of the Year has been a fantasy disappointment relative to where he was drafted, throwing just 14 touchdowns and ranking behind the likes of Sam Darnold and Bo Nix. To the credit of the second-year quarterback, a poor pass-protecting offensive line that has allowed more yardage lost to sacks than anyone in the NFL certainly has been a major factor. The Jags, however, rank 32nd against fantasy quarterbacks, allow the fourth-most air yards, second-most yards after catch, and have the second-worst pressure percentage in the league. This week is a prime candidate for Stroud to turn things around.

Nov 29, 2024 10:22 PM EST


Another Up-And-Down Game For C.J. Stroud

A promising start ended with an ugly defeat for Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who finished 20-for-33 for 247 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in a 32-27 loss to Tennessee. He also added 18 rushing yards, which accounted for nearly half of Houston's 40 rushing yards as a team. The second-year quarterback threw first-half touchdowns to tight end Cade Stover and receiver Nico Collins, but went on to throw two picks, and his attempt at a game-tying drive ended with a safety. Houston continues to be mercurial as an offense, but still holds the lead in the AFC South. Luckily, Stroud has a plus matchup with Jacksonville in Week 13.

Nov 24, 2024 5:12 PM EST


C.J. Stroud Relegated To Superflex Option In Week 12

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud should mostly be kept to Superflex duty as his team takes on the solid Tennessee Titans defense in Week 12. The Ohio State product has had an up-and-down second season, ranking a disappointing 17th among fantasy quarterbacks after his breakout rookie campaign. Part of the struggle has been pass protection, as Houston has allowed the third-most sacks in the league. Tennessee, despite its 2-8 record, has allowed the fewest air yards in the league and has been a competent defense. Stroud has his top playmaker back in receiver Nico Collins, but with this matchup, managers in 1QB formats should be weighing their other possible options.

Nov 22, 2024 6:22 PM EST


No Touchdowns For C.J. Stroud In Texans’ Win

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud completed 23 of 34 passing attempts for 257 yards with no touchdowns and an interception in a 34-10 victory at Dallas on Monday. The second-year quarterback saw the return of top wide receiver Nico Collins, but running back Joe Mixon did most of the offensive damage by scoring three touchdowns. Stroud completed passes to eight receivers in the game, but has now thrown just two touchdown passes in his past five games. The Houston signal-caller will look for a better performance in a solid matchup in Week 12 when the Texans take on the floundering Tennessee Titans.

Nov 19, 2024 12:03 AM EST


C.J. Stroud Back In QB1 Range Against Dallas

After a challenging past month, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud meets the struggling Dallas Cowboys at a great time. Last year's Offensive Rookie of the Year averaged under 200 yards during his past four games, during which he had just two passing touchdowns and two interceptions. Opposing defenses have exposed the Texans' pass protection for a dozen sacks in the past two weeks, obviously limiting Stroud's ability to deliver production. Now, however, comes a Dallas defense that ranks 26th against fantasy quarterbacks and is bottom-five against the run. Given Dallas' team-wide struggles, Stroud is starting-caliber in Week 11.

Nov 16, 2024 7:04 PM EST