Who Should I Start? Brock Purdy or C.J. Stroud

Saturday, August 24, 3:43 AM

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy shook off a bit more rust in a 24-24 preseason tie at the Las Vegas Raiders. The 24-year-old completed nine of twelve pass attempts for 96 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception. He was sacked once and took one carry for a 14-yard gain. Overall, Purdy looked better than he did last week versus New Orleans while he took the offensive snaps in the first three San Francisco possessions on Friday night. Purdy showed rapport with fellow starters, involving Deebo Samuel and George Kittle for five of his nine completions, albeit against Las Vegas' third unit. The interception is better attributed to an excellent defensive play than any mistake by Purdy as Sam Webb deflected a frozen rope intended for a slanting Samuel, which landed in Chris Smith II's hands. The real mistake Purdy made on the play was throwing his head at Smith II's legs in a successful -- but meaningless -- attempt to end the return. Luckily, he wasn't hurt. Purdy will begin his 2024 season on September 9 against the New York Jets on the QB1/2 border for fantasy.

Sunday, August 18, 4:04 AM

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud delivered a strong performance in his second preseason game against the New York Giants, although the offense didn't score while he was on the field. Stroud led the Texans downfield on the opening drive effectively, but the team failed to convert a fourth down on the Giants' 6-yard line. Stroud showcased impressive command and appeared to be in midseason form. The Texans' strategy this year seems to focus heavily on the passing game, as they passed ten times and rushed only four times in the first quarter with starters. This approach bodes well for Stroud's fantasy prospects, indicating significant passing volume. Stroud finished the game 7-of-10 for 88 yards. If he's done for the preseason, his overall stats will be 9-of-14 for 129 yards and one touchdown. Stroud has a solid opportunity to be a top-five fantasy quarterback this year, but his lack of rushing may limit his overall ceiling.