Who Should I Start? C.J. Stroud or Jaxson Dart

Monday, April 21, 7:07 PM

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said he'll be "taking full ownership, running the show" in new offensive coordinator Nick Calley's system and appreciates how Calley is already putting trust in him. Stroud didn't look at all like a rookie in 2023 under previous offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, but he came back down to Earth a bit in 2024 in his sophomore campaign and finished as the QB17 in fantasy while throwing for 3,727 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 17 regular-season games. Protection was the biggest issue, as the former second overall pick took a whopping 52 sacks in 2024 after being sacked 38 times in 15 regular-season games as a rookie. Stroud could be more effective again with more control of the offense, particularly before the snap, leaving him as a fine midrange QB1 bounce-back target in fantasy.

Thursday, May 15, 10:05 PM

ESPN's Jordan Ranaan writes that if all goes well with New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson as the starter and he stays healthy, rookie first-round QB Jaxson Dart will sit and redshirt in his first year in the NFL. If things don't go well and the Giants are losing, or if Wilson gets hurt, Dart is expected to find his way into the lineup. The 6-foot-2, 224-pound 22-year-old has the size and skills to succeed in the NFL, but he lacks a true wow characteristic and will probably benefit from sitting and learning in his first year in the league. The G-Men have extra QB insurance in veteran former first-rounder Jameis Winston, too, which means Dart could be the backup if Wilson gets injured or benched. Even if Dart does end up making starts in 2025, he won't really be on the redraft radar in fantasy as the Giants prioritize his long-term development.