Who Should I Start? Geno Smith or C.J. Stroud

Tuesday, April 8, 2:12 PM

The Las Vegas Raiders traded for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith last month before signing him to a two-year $75 million contract this week. The move united Smith back with former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, a reconnection the two are excited about. "I think there is unfinished business, and I think when people think about my story, you know, Coach Carroll was a big part of that," Smith said. "He gave me an opportunity when not many people would have. He saw the hard work that I was putting in, he saw the things behind the scenes that I do that allow me to get this opportunity." Smith enjoyed the best season of his career under Carroll in 2022, passing for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. While Smith will be on the fantasy football radar in Superflex and two-QB leagues, he'll likely be a fringe starter in single-QB setups in a rebuilding Raiders' offense. However, tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers give him formidable weapons to put together a solid passing attack.

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.