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

Sunday, March 16, 12:16 PM

Former Dallas Cowboys free-agent quarterback Cooper Rush agreed on Sunday to a two-year deal worth up to $12.2 million with the Baltimore Ravens, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Rush now becomes the new backup to starter Lamar Jackson. The 31-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan debuted in the NFL in 2017 with the Dallas Cowboys and has spent all seven of his seasons in the league with Dallas. Rush saw his most run in 2024 after Dak Prescott suffered a season-ending torn hamstring. The veteran signal-caller played in 12 games (eight starts) and completed 60.7 percent of his 308 pass attempts for 1,844 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. Rush has 3,463 career passing yards with 20 TDs and 10 interceptions in 38 games played (14 starts). He's unlikely to see the field much in Baltimore, with Jackson missing one game in the last two seasons.

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.