C.J. Stroud Fantasy Outlook 2025: Should you draft Texas QB after lackluster 2024 season?

C.J. Stroud regressed a bit in fantasy football last year in his second season with the Houston Texans. He finished the year ranked as the overall QB18 after finishing as the QB11 during his rookie season.

Here's where his fantasy outlook for 2025 currently stands as he looks to bounce back.

Should you draft Texans QB C.J. Stroud in 2025?

C.J. Stroud's fantasy outlook (Source: Getty)

C.J. Stroud regressed in just about every statistical category last year with the Houston Texans as compared to his excellent rookie season. He still helped the team make it to the NFL Playoffs, but his fantasy value took a major hit but finishing seven places lower.

The issue with Stroud's fantasy outlook for the 2025 season is that he lacks significant upside, especially considering his profile as a pocket-passer. He has little-to-no rushing upside, which severely caps his overall ceiling. This essentially makes him a QB2 in most fantasy football leagues this year.

C.J. Stroud's fantasy outlook in 2025

Where Stroud will carry most of his value in the 2025 fantasy football season is in 2QB and Superflex formats. The upside isn't quite there for him to be locked in as a QB1 in traditional leagues, but his safe floor makes him a desirable target in multi-quarterback lineups.

The Texans have an offense loaded with various weapons, headlined by Nico Collins as Stroud's top target. They also added Christian Kirk in free agency to go with Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins in the 2025 NFL draft. Despite losing Stefon Diggs during the offseason, a legitimate case can be made that Stroud will be working with even better pass-catchers than he was last year, which could boost his fantasy value.

Is C.J. Stroud a good pick in fantasy football this year?

Managers playing in any fantasy football format that utilizes more than one quarterback in their starting lineups should feel safe picking Stroud this year. His production across two seasons so far, paired with a loaded offense in Houston, suggests that his floor inside of the QB2 range appears to be extremely safe.

Where Stroud becomes much riskier is in traditional formats that allow managers to start just one quarterback. He is not a reliable option to be an every-week starter in these leagues, but can be utilized as part of a committee and as a weekly streamer. He can theoretically be successfully paired with another mid-ranged quarterback in fantasy drafts to give managers matchup-based streaming options.

Where should you draft C.J. Stroud this year?

Stroud vs Love vs Tagovailoa

Stroud currently ranks as the QB19 in 2025 fantasy football drafts this year, according to Fantasy Pros. He can realistically be targeted in the tenth round or later in traditional 1QB formats, but in Superflex or 2QB leagues, he is likely to be picked somewhere around the fifth round.

Sportskeeda's Who Should I Draft tool recommends picking Stroud in favor of some other quarterbacks with a similar ADP, such as Jordan Love and Tua Tagovailoa. All three of them appear to have a similar ceiling, but Stroud's projected floor makes him the preferred pick in fantasy football this year.