C.J. Stroud Remains a Worrisome Performer

2025 Fantasy Football Impact

You can excuse some INTs, but Stroud threw a bad one early in the third quarter. From an off-balance position in a harried pocket, he floated a pass in Nico Collins' general vicinity down the middle of the field. But Seahawks CB Josh Jobe was the only guy who really had a shot at catching it. (He did.)

That play came on a second-and-6 from the Houston 29-yard line, on the second play of the half, with his team down merely 14-6.

Basically, there was no reason Stroud needed to throw that ball. And clear reason for him to not do so.

The QB showed similarly poor decision making on the team's first possession, when he drifted backward on third-and-13 to eventually take an 18-yard loss on a sack -- a play that nearly produced a safety for the Seahawks.

Instead, Houston punted from its own 1, set up Seattle to start in Texans territory, and allowed the Seahawks to score their first TD five plays later.

Much More Bad Than Good

That aforementioned (seeming) turnaround ahead of the bye came against a Tennessee defense that scares no one, and then a Baltimore D that was missing multiple starters (and has also struggled even at full strength).

Stroud has ultimately given us a lot more to worry about than like so far in his third season. And he lost WR Nico Collins to a concussion in the fourth quarter.

Add that to an offense that was already missing WR Christian Kirk and still doesn't know when RB Joe Mixon will return. The Texans just don't look like an offense you should tap more than you need to for fantasy purposes.

Dynasty Impact

Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold are showing teams what can go wrong when you give up too early on a young QB. But fantasy managers can't be optimistic on Stroud at the moment.

Does that make him a sell? Not really. Why not? Well ... what do you think you're gonna get for him right now?

That impressive rookie year remains a reason for some optimism. But it's also moving further away each week.

Perhaps an OC change will help, and such a move seems likely at least after this season (if not earlier).

But for now, you can basically just cross your fingers and try to avoid starting Stroud week to week.