Is CJ Stroud A Good Fit For The Texans? Fantasy Football Outlook

May 4, 2023

Is CJ Stroud the quarterback Houston Texans fans are waiting for? What will his fantasy value be in 2023?

There was much speculation on what the Houston Texans would do with the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Some experts say they are trading the selection if the offer is reasonable. There were also rumors that they won’t select a quarterback at number two.

Eventually, they went for the quarterback, and the thought process was straightforward: choose the play-caller the Carolina Panthers won’t get at number one. That’s how the Texans fulfilled several mock drafts by picking former Ohio State standout C.J. Stroud.

There isn’t much competition for him in Houston’s quarterback depth chart, making him the projected Week 1 starter. After all, they wouldn’t draft him that high if they didn’t intend to play him at once.

His ball placement will help him rack up passing yards, leading to a potential uptick in stats for Robert Woods and Nico Collins. Returning player John Metchie III can also form an exciting quarterback-receiver duo with Stroud.

Stroud has shown the ability to go through his progressions, making it more likely for him to distribute receptions to most receivers. More importantly, his 69.3 completion percentage with the Buckeyes makes him the most accurate passer in this year’s quarterback class.

Will C.J. Stroud be Successful in Houston?

An argument can be made that Stroud enjoyed success at Ohio State because he threw to an elite receiving corps. He had wideouts like Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba to work with.

He has the ability to make the Texans a playoff contender again. But to take the next step, he must be willing to take off on his feet if the opportunity arises. In their division alone, he must compete against Kwity Paye, DeForest Buckner, Shaquille Leonard, Jeffery Simmons, Harold Landry III, and Travon Walker.

Stroud showed much reluctance in using his feet to extend plays at Ohio State. But when those pass rushers mentioned above get a shot to sack him, he must not hesitate to take off and save the play.

If he uses his mobility to some extent, the rushing yards he can accumulate make him a steady source of fantasy football points. But converting those yards into wins will be a tall order.

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