Who Should I Start? Kyren Williams or C.J. Stroud

Tuesday, August 5, 12:05 PM

The Los Angeles Rams and running back Kyren Williams agreed to a three-year, $33 million extension on Tuesday, including $23 million in guarantees, according to agents Drew and Jason Rosenhaus. Williams gets rewarded with a new deal after topping 1,000 yards rushing in each of the last two seasons with the rams. Last year in 16 regular-season starts, the 24-year-old had a career-high 316 carries for 1,299 rushing yards and a career-best 14 rushing touchdowns, adding a career-high 34 receptions on 40 targets for another 182 yards and two scores. The numbers were great for fantasy purposes, but Williams wasn't as efficient as his Pro Bowl season in 2023, and second-year RB Blake Corum could see more involvement in 2025. It will be hard for Williams to ever be as efficient as he was in 2023 if Corum becomes more involved. He's on the RB1/2 borderline in RotoBaller's rankings.

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.