C.J. Stroud is one of the NFL‘s rising stars.
At just 23 years old, he’s already one of the best quarterbacks in the league. The Houston Texans star also is a no-doubt QB1 in fantasy football. But does that mean he’s an untouchable asset that isn’t worth bringing up in trade discussions? Definitely not.
Let’s take a closer look at Stroud’s fantasy value after he threw for 331 yards and one touchdown in Sunday’s win over the Buffalo Bills.
Should Fantasy Managers Buy Low or Sell High on C.J. Stroud?
Stroud is a tricky player to evaluate.
On the one hand, his incredible talent — and the elite weapons at his disposal — give him a high fantasy floor. Stroud has eclipsed 300 passing yards in eight of his 20 career games, and he threw 2+ touchdowns in six of those contests.
However, despite his high-end athleticism, Stroud doesn’t offer much value as a rusher.
Stroud has just 68 rushing yards through five weeks, good for 17th among all QBs. He ranks behind Will Levis, Baker Mayfield, and Bo Nix, among others.
So, if Stroud is going to put up huge fantasy numbers, he’ll need to do so with his arm. And with NFL defenses fueling a recent decline in league-wide passing stats, it’s fair to wonder whether Stroud will deliver many elite fantasy performances this season.
CJ stroud lead Stefon Diggs perfectly with great touch.. while avoiding two defenders and as a JUMP PASS
Might be a top 5 CJ throw pic.twitter.com/fXzLwNc85e
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) October 7, 2024
With that in mind, there are a couple of ways to approach Stroud from a fantasy football perspective.
If you own Stroud, you absolutely should dangle him in trade talks. See if you can find a fantasy manager who falls in love with the name but doesn’t get too in the weeds on the numbers. So long as you don’t leave yourself without a viable QB, use Stroud as a trade chip to fill other holes on your roster.
Just don’t get crazy. Stroud still is a QB1, and you shouldn’t give him away for a mediocre return.
On the other side, if you’re looking to upgrade at quarterback, contact a Stroud owner and see if you can capitalize on their early season disappointment. Stroud currently is the 11th-ranked QB in ESPN fantasy leagues, and there surely are some short-sighted managers who are ready to hit the panic button.
But you also shouldn’t get crazy. Don’t be afraid to extend yourself a little bit to acquire Stroud, but don’t consider parting with a top-tier running back or receiver.
