Should fantasy managers take a flier on CJ Stroud?

Yahoo

2 days ago

Yahoo Fantasy analyst Matt Harmon and Establish the Run's John Daigle explain why there are pieces in place for the Houston Texans quarterback to produce for fantasy managers as a QB2. Hear the full conversation on the 'Yahoo Fantasy Forecast' podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.
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Video Transcript
I did think this was interesting while looking at, uh, you know, quarterback scrambling.
From week 8 on, he was actually QB 12 in scramble yards last year.
It's only 154, but he barely cracked like 200 over the course of the season.
So, this is the thing with Stroud, man, like, remember when he was coming into the league.
And, uh, everybody talked about, well, he doesn't really, he doesn't really scramble all that much.
He doesn't really work outside his structure except for that Georgia game.
Remember, everybody would talk about that one Georgia game, right?
And Stroud last year, in chaos, with the offensive line falling, falling apart around him, he actually did start to scramble a little bit and, and, and work out of structure because there was no structure to work in in Bobby Slovik's offense.
So there's really no, um, I don't know, mathematical way to make the CJ Stroud, like he, he's a breakout quarterback case and fantasy this year, but you know, he's, I think he's a good player.
I think he's tethered to one of the best receivers in football.
I'm really interested in their two rookie wide receivers.
I think Christian Kirk's got something left.
And honestly, because I think their run game is gonna stink this year with Joe Mixon's injury and that questions on the offensive line, I think they're gonna have to throw the football an awful lot, Dale.
So, I, I just, some interesting notes for Stroud to consider because he's not a guy who gets discussed on fantasy shows now at this point.
Anytime I mention Stroud is one of my favorite late round QBs and sleepers at the Fantasy Football Expo, which you and I just attended, I will say the smartest minds in the room did always mention and pushed back with the offensive line situation, which yes, is worrisome, and yes, I may be using an anchor theory here.
We're saying.
Just because where we changed the offensive line.
We have 4 new pieces starting this year, but maybe that's not actually good.
Maybe they just changed it and it's still going to be bad.
However, at least it's different.
And there's no arguing that CJ Stroud isn't a great quarterback.
Remember, just last year, we wanted to draft him as a top 5.
Top 6 in ADP, and now all of this he finished.
out of outside the top 24 options, and now all of a sudden he's being left for dead as a low end QB2.
I don't want to do that again, given that they did add significant draft capital with two more rookie wide receivers, and I think Christian Kirk can have success from the slot inside of Nico Collins.
So I like this entire offense.
I know it's a bet you have to hold your nose to make, but I think we're going to.
Also see what happens in week one because we are playing indoors against the Rams.
So if that's the case, if the dominoes fall correctly, this offense is gonna have no choice but to cook and push the ball downfield.
The opposite of that is Jared verse eats CJ Stroud alive and we can drop him in stream for the rest of the season.
So I still like taking a bet on CJ Stroud, but I understand everyone's concerns.
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