RADIO
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) suffered a brutal head injury in the team's 30-6 loss to the New York Jets in Week 14. As a result, Stroud did not play in Week 15 against the Tennessee Titans.
When Stroud left Week 14 early, he was immediately placed in the concussion protocol. Most players don't return one week following a concussion, and the rookie quarterback was no exception.
So, is Stroud still injured or healthy? Will he play in Week 16? Let's dive in.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
C.J. Stroud Injury Update for Fantasy Football
It remained unlikely all last week that Stroud would play in Week 15. He didn't practice in any capacity Wednesday through Friday and faced an uphill battle to play on Sunday. The rookie hit his head hard on the turf against the Jets in Week 14, so missing last week's contest was no surprise.
On Monday, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said Stroud is still in the concussion protocol. Ryans also said the team will see how the quarterback progresses through the week to see if he can play against the Cleveland Browns in Week 16.
NFL players have five steps to clear the concussion protocols before returning back to the field. It's unclear which step Stroud is currently on. But the rookie will need to practice in some capacity this week to play this weekend.
C.J. Stroud Fantasy Football Outlook
Stroud has been a surprise fantasy superstar in his first season. He's averaging 19 fantasy points per game and currently ranks as the QB10 on the season. Before his poor game in Week 14 against the New York Jets, the 22-year-old quarterback was top-five at the position.
If Stroud is cleared from the concussion protocol and plays in Week 16, he will likely be a low-end QB1 option against a stout Browns defense. Cleveland has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this year at just 13.8 fantasy points.
Despite the tough matchup, though, it would be hard to sit Stroud in the second round of the fantasy playoffs. Before Week 14, he finished as a top-15 quarterback in five straight games from Week 9 to Week 13, including a QB1 finish in Week 9 that saw him throw for 470 yards and five touchdowns. If active, he's still a solid start in single QB leagues with more than 10 teams and a must-start in Superflex formats.
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
More Fantasy Football Analysis
