C.J. Stroud

After finishing QB9 in fantasy during his rookie season, Stroud took a steep step back last year to QB18. Injuries to key players and a turnstile offensive line made life difficult. Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins and Tank Dell played just four games together thanks to injuries, and Stroud was pressured on 38.6 percent of his dropbacks (4th in NFL) and sacked 52 times (2nd). While his accuracy numbers more or less held steady, Stroud struggled with interceptions, unlike his first year when he threw five. He finished with 12 INTs after a particularly bad stretch in the second half when he posted a 9:8 TD:INT in the last eight games. A league-high six of his interceptions came on attempts of 20-plus yards -- after none the previous year. The Texans remade their offensive line this offseason, but it’s arguably worse without LT Laremy Tunsil, who was traded to Washington. The Texans signed mediocre veterans like Cam Robinson, Trent Brown and Laken Tomlinson, before drafting OT Aireontae Ersery in the second round. For the receivers, Diggs is gone and Dell may miss most of the season after major knee surgery in January, so the Texans drafted Jayden Higgins in the second round and Jaylin Noel in the third. Higgins is 6-foot-4, 212 pounds, with 4.47 speed, and Noel has field-stretching 4.38 speed. They also signed Christian Kirk, giving Stroud a number of quality options. A bounce-back season is possible, if he can stay upright. Read Past Outlooks