Who Should I Start? Cooper Kupp or C.J. Stroud

Monday, September 15, 3:30 PM

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp caught seven of nine targets for 90 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. After a quiet Week 1, Kupp looked like the player we know and love, and quarterback Sam Darnold repeatedly looked his way on third down. This feels like a performance that we can get used to as fantasy managers. Kupp did not display significant signs of slowing down in 2024. There is no reason to believe that he is completely toast as a player. As the Seahawks become more comfortable with their new offense, the wealth should spread to each of the team's top two wide receivers. Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Kupp is firmly on the flex radar moving forward. He could creep even higher as the offense continues to improve.

Sunday, September 14, 6:08 AM

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is hoping for a bounce-back season after a down year in 2024, but the new season didn't start well in the Texans' 14-9 loss to the Rams in Week 1. Stroud was limited to just 188 passing yards while completing 19-of-27 passes. He was under pressure from the Rams' strong pass rush most of the day and wasn't able to create enough big plays down the field. His interception came on a pass that was snatched out of the hands of his receiver, so it wasn't really on him. However, he didn't make enough big plays or lead any touchdown drives. Even with new offensive coordinator Nick Caley in command, the issues from last season were evident once again in Week 1. Stroud and the Texans will look to get on track against the Buccaneers in the first game of Monday Night Football's doubleheader, but with how rough the Texans' offense looked, it's hard to support Stroud as a QB1. In the RotoBaller rankings, he's QB17, making him a decent QB2 but a long shot to start in standard, single-QB leagues.