Who Should I Start? Justin Fields or C.J. Stroud

Sunday, August 10, 1:34 AM

New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields completed 3-of-4 passes for 42 yards in Saturday's 30-10 road win over the Green Bay Packers. He added 14 yards and a touchdown on two carries. Fields looked comfortable in New York's preseason opener, displaying his dual-threat ability on an 11-play, 79-yard touchdown drive capped with a 13-yard scamper. The former first-round pick didn't exactly open it up, with all four of his targets coming within ten yards of the line of scrimmage. Nonetheless, it's an encouraging debut for him, although it's worth noting that he didn't look to be running at his full capacity quite yet. Expect the Ohio State product to get a longer leash in his team's next outing, which comes against their cross-town rivals, the "hosting" New York Giants, next Saturday.

Wednesday, July 16, 2:47 PM

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had a sophomore slump following his fantastic rookie season in 2023 out of Ohio State. After throwing for more than 4,100 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 15 games in Year 1, he regressed to just over 3,700 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 picks in Year 2. Entering 2025 in what could set him up for a lucrative contract extension, Stroud has trained hard to improve his physical fitness. "I've been working really hard on getting my body right -- losing body fat, trying to be faster, stronger," Stroud said. "And it went really well. ... [Working] pocket mobility, running out the pocket, throwing the rock. Everything kind of works hand in hand." Last season, Houston's offensive line struggled mightily, and Stroud was sacked 63 times, good for the second-most in the NFL behind only Caleb Williams (68). The offensive line could remain an issue after the team traded away franchise left tackle Laremy Tunsil, but sacks are often largely a quarterback stat, too. If Stroud can become more dynamic operating inside and outside of the pocket, it could create more downfield opportunities for pass-catchers Nico Collins, Christian Kirk, and Jayden Higgins, among others.