RADIO
C.J. Stroud Taking a Leap This Offseason?
Houston Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley said that he has seen quarterback C.J. Stroud "take a leap this offseason," according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Caley sees a different comfort level from Stroud and said the communication between him and new quarterbacks coach Jerry Schuplinski "has been good." "There was a lot of progress that C.J. and the offense made last year," Caley said. "We continued to get better from the start of the season to the end of the regular season and just continued to make progress from week to week. So we're going to continue to build on that. It's a new year. C.J. has done a great job out here. Looks good. Locked in." The 24-year-old took the league by storm after he was the second overall pick in 2023 out of Ohio State, throwing for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only five interceptions in 15 regular-season starts. He hasn't been nearly as good the last two years, and he threw for a career-low 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight picks in 14 regular-season starts in 2025. Stroud has clear bounce-back potential and is still in the prime of his career, making him a low-end QB2 target in superflex leagues with sleeper potential in 2026.
Source: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
Source: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
Is C.J. Stroud Currently Undervalued by Dynasty Managers?
Since bursting onto the fantasy scene as a rookie in 2023, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has struggled to live up to the hype. Across 14 games in 2025, the 24-year-old completed 64.5% of his pass attempts for 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Stroud's fantasy upside is capped by his lack of rushing ability, as he's averaged 200 rushing yards per season in his NFL career and has four career rushing touchdowns. However, there may be reason to believe that 2026 can be his most efficient year as a passer since his rookie season. Houston made some key additions to its offensive line in the offseason, signing tackle Braden Smith and left guard Wyatt Teller in free agency and then using a first-round pick in the 2026 Draft on center Keylan Rutledge. The Texans should also get healthier seasons out of wide receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell (knee) and have a pair of exciting young wideouts in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Stroud may never emerge as a fantasy superstar, but he still offers dynasty managers some upside while providing a solid QB2 floor.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
C.J. Stroud Still a Capable and Undervalued Dynasty QB2
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was once viewed as the QB2 in consensus dynasty rankings, fresh off an incredibly efficient 2023 rookie campaign in which he threw for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns to only five interceptions. Following two disappointing seasons, and last seen in arguably the worst game of his career in a Divisional Round playoff loss to the Patriots, he has fallen to QB18 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings. With the Texans exercising his fifth-year option back in April, Stroud will spend at least the next two seasons with a Houston team that has a strong enough surrounding cast to keep him fantasy relevant even without the safety of a rushing floor. Stroud has not topped 233 rushing yards through his first three years in the league, and with that type of immobility, his yearly fantasy finishes will be intrinsically linked to his touchdown totals. While he finished 2025 with only 19 passing touchdowns, he was on pace for more than 30 and was the fantasy QB14 through the first half of the year before a concussion knocked him out of a Week 9 loss to the Broncos and ultimately cost him three starts. While he is unlikely to ever return to top two dynasty status, Stroud's ceiling when things break right is still higher than his current ranking would suggest, and as a more than capable second quarterback in superflex leagues, he's become an undervalued trade target who has yet to turn 25.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
