RADIO
C.J. Stroud 2026 Fantasy Football Outlook: Should Improve, But Unlikely To Replicate Rookie Success
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has a solid arsenal of pass-catching weapons to throw the ball to. That didn't seem to change a lot last year -- he still struggled to perform well. Wide receiver Nico Collins continues to play at an elite level, and second-year WRs Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins will likely be improved after they got off to slow starts in their rookie seasons. WR Tank Dell (knee) should return at some point, but may never be his old self. Stroud has struggled to play consistently, even in his rookie year, where he relied on explosive plays to pump his passing numbers. The starter has struggled behind a poor offensive line. To his credit, that should improve, but the underlying metrics aren't pretty. And Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley bafflingly didn't make heavy use of pre-snap and mid-snap motion, which hurts the offense. The optimistic scenario for Stroud feels like that of a high-end QB2, which makes him not a priority for non-superflex fantasy leagues.
