Who Should I Start? C.J. Stroud or Riley Leonard

Friday, December 26, 8:20 AM

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.

Sunday, January 4, 7:00 PM

Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Riley Leonard was productive during his first career start against the Houston Texans in Week 18. Leonard completed 21 of 34 passing attempts for 270 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. The sixth-round pick also rushed three times for 21 yards and another score. Leonard also lost two fumbles, so he'll need to work on his ball-handling in the offseason. The quarterback situation is unclear heading into the offseason. Daniel Jones (Achilles) looked solid this season, but he is a pending free agent and recovering from a significant injury. Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) barely played in 2025, and it's unclear if the Colts view him as part of their future. Philip Rivers played a few games down the stretch for the Colts, but he will now retire for the second time. Leonard is worth a stash in dynasty formats, but he probably isn't viewed as the franchise QB in Indy.