Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

C.J. Stroud vs Lamar JacksonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Lamar Jackson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.5 PPG to C.J. Stroud's 14.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Lamar Jackson is the better fantasy play this season.

Lamar Jackson has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.6-PPG advantage is real (16.5 to 14.9), and Lamar Jackson's 23 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.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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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

QBBaltimore Ravens#16PPG LEADER

Lamar Jackson

PPG

16.5

Games

Pass Yds

2,549

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

349

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

C.J. Stroud

Lamar Jackson

Head to Head

14.9 PPG16.5 PPG

14 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

C.J. Stroud: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #23 at the position). Lamar Jackson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #16 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, C.J. Stroud is producing at 68% of elite pace and Lamar Jackson at 75%. That ranking gap means Lamar Jackson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

C.J. Stroud vs Lamar Jackson: The Full Breakdown

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans) finished the 2025 season averaging 14.9 fantasy points per game in 14 games. Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) came in at 16.5 PPG over 13 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Lamar Jackson carries a 1.6-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. C.J. Stroud threw for 3041 yards and 19 touchdowns, while Lamar Jackson posted 2549 yards and 21 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 Lamar Jackson Week 13. 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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. 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. Lamar Jackson (age 29) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Lamar Jackson outscored C.J. Stroud by a projected 27 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•C.J. Stroud played 14 games in 2025 compared to Lamar Jackson's 13. That durability gap means C.J. Stroud contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Lamar Jackson scored 23 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Lamar Jackson added 349 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.
•C.J. Stroud is 5 years younger than Lamar Jackson (24 vs 29), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

C.J. Stroud vs Lamar Jackson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	C.J. Stroud	Lamar Jackson
PPG (Half-PPR)	14.9	16.5
Games Played	14	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	209	215
Passing Yards	3,041	2,549
Passing TDs	19	21
Pass Yds/Game	217.2	196.1
Rushing Yards	209	349
Rushing TDs	1	2
Total TDs	20	23
TDs/Game	1.4	1.8
Age	24	29
Experience	2 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 13

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Lamar Jackson holds the PPG edge with solid output at 16.5 points per game. C.J. Stroud averaged 14.9 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start C.J. Stroud or Lamar Jackson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Lamar Jackson has the edge at 16.5 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 Lamar Jackson average in 2025?▾

C.J. Stroud averaged 14.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Lamar Jackson averaged 16.5 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 1.6 points per game.

When are C.J. Stroud and Lamar Jackson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is C.J. Stroud or Lamar Jackson a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Lamar Jackson outscored C.J. Stroud by 1.6 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.