Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

C.J. Stroud vs Dak PrescottWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Dak Prescott is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 18.5 PPG to C.J. Stroud's 14.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Dak Prescott is the better fantasy play this season.

Dak Prescott has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.6-PPG advantage is real (18.5 to 14.9), and Dak Prescott's 32 touchdowns show scoring upside. C.J. Stroud is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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QBHouston Texans#23

C.J. Stroud

PPG

14.9

Games

Pass Yds

3,041

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

209

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 8

QBDallas Cowboys#9PPG LEADER

Dak Prescott

PPG

18.5

Games

Pass Yds

4,552

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

177

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

C.J. Stroud

Dak Prescott

Head to Head

14.9 PPG18.5 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

C.J. Stroud: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #23 at the position). Dak Prescott: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #9 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, C.J. Stroud is producing at 68% of elite pace and Dak Prescott at 84%. That ranking gap means Dak Prescott carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

C.J. Stroud vs Dak Prescott: The Full Breakdown

C.J. Stroud and Dak Prescott are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. C.J. Stroud averaged 14.9 PPG across 14 games with the Houston Texans, while Dak Prescott posted 18.5 PPG in 17 appearances for the Dallas Cowboys.

A 3.6-PPG gap gives Dak Prescott the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. C.J. Stroud threw for 3041 yards and 19 touchdowns, while Dak Prescott posted 4552 yards and 30 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

One scheduling note: C.J. Stroud is off Week 8 and Dak Prescott Week 14. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in quarterback for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Dak Prescott at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. C.J. Stroud is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: C.J. Stroud (age 24) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising. Dak Prescott (age 32) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Dak Prescott outscored C.J. Stroud by a projected 61 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Dak Prescott played 17 games in 2025 compared to C.J. Stroud's 14. That durability gap means Dak Prescott contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Dak Prescott scored 32 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.9 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•C.J. Stroud is 8 years younger than Dak Prescott (24 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

C.J. Stroud vs Dak Prescott: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	C.J. Stroud	Dak Prescott
PPG (Half-PPR)	14.9	18.5
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	209	315
Passing Yards	3,041	4,552
Passing TDs	19	30
Pass Yds/Game	217.2	267.8
Rushing Yards	209	177
Rushing TDs	1	2
Total TDs	20	32
TDs/Game	1.4	1.9
Age	24	32
Experience	2 yrs	9 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 14

Summary

Dak Prescott outscored C.J. Stroud by 3.6 PPG in 2025 (18.5 to 14.9). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start C.J. Stroud or Dak Prescott in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Dak Prescott has the edge at 18.5 PPG compared to C.J. Stroud's 14.9 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did C.J. Stroud and Dak Prescott average in 2025?▾

C.J. Stroud averaged 14.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Dak Prescott averaged 18.5 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.6 points per game.

When are C.J. Stroud and Dak Prescott's bye weeks in 2026?▾

C.J. Stroud (HOU) has a bye in Week 8, and Dak Prescott (DAL) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is C.J. Stroud or Dak Prescott a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Dak Prescott outscored C.J. Stroud by 3.6 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.