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C.J. Stroud 2023 NFL Player Outlook: Rookie Quarterback Likely To Face Plenty Of Growing Pains
2 years agoHouston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, the third overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, should be the favorite to land the starting role for the Texans over Davis Mills and Case Keenum, but that doesn't mean he'll be someone who makes an immediate impact in fantasy. At Ohio State last year, Stroud completed 66.3% of his passes for 3,688 yards and 41 touchdowns, but he was also throwing to an elite receiving unit with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, and the year before in 2021, he had Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and a healthy Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He won't be surrounded by that kind of talent in Houston, which likely means a lot of early struggles as he adjusts to life in the NFL. Stroud's long-term outlook is solid, but that long-term outlook assumes improvements in his supporting cast that won't come in 2023. While he should flash his potential, RotoBaller has Stroud ranked as its QB26 in fantasy. If you want to bet on his upside, he's an intriguing late pick in superflex leagues, but it's hard to see a path for Stroud to finish as a top-12 quarterback this season.
