Who Should I Start? Dak Prescott or C.J. Stroud

Monday, August 18, 6:32 PM

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will not play in the team's preseason finale on Friday against the Atlanta Falcons, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. The Cowboys want to see more from backup Joe Milton III. Prescott will end up sitting for the entire preseason after playing in only eight games a year ago due to a torn hamstring. The 32-year-old veteran is fully healthy now after having surgery, but the Cowboys want to keep him on ice until the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sept. 4 against the division-rival and reigning Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles. Prescott enters the 2025 campaign as one of the better picks at the position for a bounce-back season if he can stay healthy after the Cowboys gave him another aerial weapon in receiver George Pickens. He is on the QB1/2 borderline for fantasy purposes.

Monday, August 18, 8:49 AM

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud played just two series on Saturday against Carolina, but he looked sharp, completing 6-of-8 pass attempts for 44 passing yards and a touchdown to Nico Collins. He wasn't satisfied with his preseason debut, though, expressing frustration that he missed Collins on a deep ball on the team's first possession, which ended in a punt. Stroud only played two series, but did enough to put his Texans ahead in a game they went on to win 20-3. After winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, Stroud struggled a little bit last season, throwing for 3,727 yards and 20 touchdowns but also throwing 12 interceptions. With new offensive coordinator Nick Caley taking over from Bobby Slowik, Stroud will look to bounce back and be a fantasy factor again this season. He's a QB2 with upside coming into the season, but he has the potential to be a borderline QB1 if he can return to his 2023 form with better protection than he had last year.