As a loud and proud member of Team Stroud, it's only right to exercise top-five inclusivity on the Texans quarterback entering 2024 fantasy drafts.
Coming off a storybook rookie campaign in which he profited massively for salary cap and snake drafters alike, C.J. Stroud took the league by storm. An undeniable QB1 in many areas, the 2023 No. 2 overall pick ranked top-12 among all NFL passers in aDOT (9.5, QB4), total air yards (4,493, QB8), expected points added (QB4), deep-ball completed percentage (QB5) and fantasy points per game (18.7, QB7).
What was most impressive about his spectacular surface production? The 22-year-old finished outside the position's top 18 in adjusted completion percentage (QB26), red-zone completion percentage (QB22) and clean-pocket percentage (QB19) — rankings that suggest he has plenty of room to grow.
Gains should be anticipated in Year 2.
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With Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon joining a Houston offense that already features productive holdovers Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz, Stroud is likely to emphatically stiff-arm a feared sophomore slump. Throw in his opportunistic rushing ability (39-167-3 in '23), and he’s a viable NFL MVP candidate.
For fantasy devices, don’t be surprised if Stroud joins Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson in the race for top positional honors.
Yes, the Texans offensive line is projected (before the NFL Draft) to be a bottom-quarter unit. ESPN fearless forecaster Mike Clay ranked the unit No. 23 overall, a few spots below its No. 19 finish in pass-blocking efficiency last year, according to Pro Football Focus.
Still, whether investing in his services via the betting market (+1000 to win MVP at BetMGM) or best-ball fantasy drafts (76.71 ADP, QB7), Stroud is a likely in-the-black investment.