Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

C.J. Stroud vs Geno SmithWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

C.J. Stroud is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.9 PPG to Geno Smith's 11.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

C.J. Stroud is the better fantasy play this season.

C.J. Stroud has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.3-PPG advantage is real (14.9 to 11.6), and C.J. Stroud's 20 touchdowns show scoring upside. Geno Smith 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#23PPG LEADER

C.J. Stroud

PPG

14.9

Games

Pass Yds

3,041

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

209

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 8

QBLas Vegas Raiders#34

Geno Smith

PPG

11.6

Games

Pass Yds

3,025

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

109

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

C.J. Stroud

Geno Smith

Head to Head

14.9 PPG11.6 PPG

14 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

C.J. Stroud: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #23 at the position). Geno Smith: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #34 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, C.J. Stroud is producing at 68% of elite pace and Geno Smith at 53%. That ranking gap means C.J. Stroud carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

C.J. Stroud vs Geno Smith: The Full Breakdown

C.J. Stroud and Geno Smith 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 Geno Smith posted 11.6 PPG in 15 appearances for the Las Vegas Raiders.

A 3.3-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 Geno Smith posted 3025 yards and 19 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

C.J. Stroud has his bye in Week 8, and Geno Smith rests in Week 13. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at quarterback for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire C.J. Stroud at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Geno Smith 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. Geno Smith (age 35) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•C.J. Stroud outscored Geno Smith by a projected 56 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Geno Smith played 15 games in 2025 compared to C.J. Stroud's 14. That durability gap means Geno Smith contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•C.J. Stroud scored 20 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•C.J. Stroud is 11 years younger than Geno Smith (24 vs 35), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

C.J. Stroud vs Geno Smith: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	C.J. Stroud	Geno Smith
PPG (Half-PPR)	14.9	11.6
Games Played	14	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	209	174
Passing Yards	3,041	3,025
Passing TDs	19	19
Pass Yds/Game	217.2	201.7
Rushing Yards	209	109
Rushing TDs	1	0
Total TDs	20	19
TDs/Game	1.4	1.3
Age	24	35
Experience	2 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 13

Summary

C.J. Stroud outscored Geno Smith by 3.3 PPG in 2025 (14.9 to 11.6). 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 Geno Smith in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, C.J. Stroud has the edge at 14.9 PPG compared to Geno Smith's 11.6 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 Geno Smith average in 2025?▾

C.J. Stroud averaged 14.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Geno Smith averaged 11.6 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 3.3 points per game.

When are C.J. Stroud and Geno Smith's bye weeks in 2026?▾

C.J. Stroud (HOU) has a bye in Week 8, and Geno Smith (LV) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is C.J. Stroud or Geno Smith a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

C.J. Stroud outscored Geno Smith by 3.3 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.