Open Nav
Show Navigation
Show Menu
FANTASY FOOTBALL NEWS

Bench C.J. Stroud in Fantasy?

By Matt Schauf | Updated on Mon, 21 Oct 2024, 10:42 AM EDT
C.J. Stroud Headshot

Texans QB C.J. Stroud threw for a meager 86 yards, with no TDs or INTs, in Sunday's narrow loss at Green Bay. He completed just 10 of 21 pass attempts, with half of those completions going to WR Stefon Diggs. The QB's yardage has dipped significantly through two games without WR Nico Collins.

2024 Fantasy Football Impact

Stroud averaged 277 yards per game and 7.82 yards per attempt across the first five weeks. (Collins left Week 5 early.)

In two full games without Collins: 139 yards per game and 5.35 yards per attempt.

The Texans have also leaned further toward the run when Joe Mixon's been healthy this year. According to RBSDM.com, Houston has run at fifth-highest rate vs. expectation over the past two weeks -- with Mixon back and Collins out.

The previous four weeks saw Houston pass at the sixth-highest rate vs. expectation. That span included Mixon leaving Week 2 early and missing the next three games.

Week 1 -- with Mixon and Collins both healthy -- found the Texans ranking 24th in neutral pass rate.

Stroud masked the Week 6 dips in pass rate and yardage efficiency by tossing 3 TD passes against the Patriots. He still ranked just 14th among fantasy QBs for the week (4-point TD formats).

A soft matchup with the Colts in Week 8 could give him a boost similar to Patriots week. But Stroud looks more like a low-end QB1 for even that matchup. And I'd try to not start him for a Week 9 visit to the Jets. (Unless they've all given up on the season by then.)

Matt Schauf Author Image
Matt Schauf, Editor
Matt has earned two Fantasy Pros accuracy awards for IDP rankings and won thousands of dollars as a player across best ball, dynasty, and high-stakes fantasy formats. He has been creating fantasy football content for more than 20 years, with work featured by Sporting News, Rotoworld, Athlon, Sirius XM, and others. He's been with Draft Sharks since 2011.
Premium Content Premium ContentWeek 16 DraftKings Tournament Picks

Week 16 DraftKings Tournament Picks

9:25pm EST 12/21/24

Is paying up at TE the key to winning DraftKings tournaments this week? Here are the top stacks and positional plays for Week 16.

Read More »
Premium Content Premium ContentWeek 16 FanDuel Picks

Week 16 FanDuel Picks

3:18pm EST 12/20/24

Get the FanDuel cash game and tournament picks for all of your Week 16 contests.

Read More »
Week 16 Fantasy Football Running Back Preview

Week 16 Fantasy Football Running Back Preview

2:30pm EST 12/20/24

Jahmyr Gibbs gets the backfield basically to himself after the David Montgomery injury. But he was already starting. Many other RBs will make for tougher calls ...

Read More »
Compare Plans » Compare Plans »