C.J. Stroud vs Davis Mills: Who Should You Start?
C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. C.J. Stroud averaged 15.5 PPG across 14 games with the Houston Texans, while Davis Mills posted 11.6 PPG in 6 appearances for the Houston Texans.
A 3.9-PPG gap gives C.J. Stroud 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 Davis Mills posted 915 yards and 5 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.
One thing to note: both players share a Week 14 bye. That means you need a backup plan at quarterback for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.
