Who Should I Start? Malik Willis or C.J. Stroud

Wednesday, February 4, 9:54 AM

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst acknowledged on Wednesday that the team is likely to lose quarterback Malik Willis to a team that will at least allow him to compete for a starting job in 2026, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Willis will be an unrestricted free agent in March and should have a decent amount of suitors after he completed 85.7% of his passes for 422 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in four appearances (one start) in 2025 in his second year in Green Bay. The 26-year-old also completed 74.1% of his passes for 550 yards, three TDs, and no picks in seven games (two starts) in 2024. The former third-rounder by the Tennessee Titans also ran the ball 42 times for 261 yards and three more scores over the last two seasons. There's no guarantee he sees similar success in a new location, but Willis' fantasy stock as a QB2 option in fantasy will inevitably rise if he wins a starting job in 2026.

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.