The Internet lit up this week with a red-hot debate over C.J. Stroud when the second-year signal caller was suddenly being discussed as QB1 in Dynasty drafts.
We asked our Footballguys Staff if Stroud merits that status, and the answer was a resounding "No."
But it's worth a closer look.
Stroud came out of the chute hot as a rookie, delivering a pair of 300-yard performances and three two-touchdown outings in his first four games. Stroud then exploded against the Buccaneers in Week 9 for 470 yards and five scores.
Since his epic Week 9 outing, Stroud has been locked in as a Top-10 Dynasty quarterback and often mentioned in the top five at the position.
Then came last week's trade that added veteran wideout Stefon Diggs to the Texans' receiving corps. Some began speaking of Stroud as "the" -- not "a" -- top Dynasty fantasy football quarterback.
Is he worth the QB1 spot?
Our staffers explain where they rank C.J. Stroud for Dynasty. They also let us know who they see ahead of them.
The Answers at a Glance
- Staffers Ranking Stroud QB1 - 0
- Staffers Ranking Stroud QB2 - 0
- Staffers Ranking Stroud QB3 - 1
- Staffers Ranking Stroud QB4 - 4
- Staffers Ranking Stroud QB5 - 5
- Staffers Ranking Stroud QB6 - 1
- Staffers Ranking Stroud lower - 0
Quarterbacks Ahead of Stroud
- Josh Allen was ranked ahead of Stroud 100% of the time.
- Patrick Mahomes II was ranked ahead of Stroud 100% of the time.
- Jalen Hurts was ranked ahead of Stroud 72.7% of the time.
- Lamar Jackson was ranked ahead of Stroud 72.7% of the time.
- Joe Burrow was ranked ahead of Stroud 9.1% of the time.
The Complete Answers
Sam Wagman
Stroud is definitely in my top-five dynasty quarterbacks but sits squarely at five. He's currently behind Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes II, and I'll give you the main reason:
He doesn't run.
Stroud is as gifted a passer as any of the top guys, really. His Deep Ball Completion Percentage ranked in the top five last season, he destroyed both man and zone coverage with a passer rating of above 102 against both, and he turned Nico Collins and Tank Dell into stars.
However, fantasy football wants quarterbacks to run, and Stroud simply doesn't as much, with only four games of more than four carries and 15 yards. With Joe Mixon in the building, he may run even less.