Who Should I Start? Jordan Love or C.J. Stroud

Wednesday, February 4, 9:46 AM

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said that quarterback Jordan Love didn't require any surgeries after the 2025 season, according to Jason B. Hirschhorn of NFL.com. Love had surgery on his left thumb during training camp last summer and injured his left (non-throwing) shoulder during the season, but he'll head into training camp this year fully healthy. The Packers made it to the postseason in 2025, but Love was outside the top-12 QBs in overall fantasy points in his fifth year in the NFL, completing 66.3% of his passes for 3,381 yards, 23 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 15 starts. The 27-year-old was solid but unspectacular as the leader of the Packers' offense. It's great news that he won't be rehabbing any injuries this offseason, but as far as fantasy rankings go for 2026, Love will be more of a high-end QB2 target than a No. 1 QB as he heads into his sixth NFL campaign.

Tuesday, January 20, 12:30 PM

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud threw four interceptions in the first half of the Divisional Round loss to the New England Patriots, becoming just the second QB since 1991 to throw four picks in a playoff half. The No. 2 pick in the 2023 NFL draft has rapidly regressed since his impressive rookie season. The Texans are expected to pick up his fifth-year option, but so far, the Texans are non-committal on a long-term contract extension for Stroud. Under first-year offensive coordinator Nick Caley in 2025, Stroud completed 64.5% of his passes for 3,041 yards and 19 touchdowns with eight interceptions. Despite having three playoff wins in his three seasons, Stroud has just five TDs with six interceptions and seven fumbles (two lost) in the postseason. Stroud said he was still "getting adjusted" to the new offense this year. Perhaps he'll be better in 2026 if Caley sticks around as the OC, but for fantasy purposes, Stroud has become a QB2 instead of a legitimate QB1 option.