C.J. Stroud vs Marcus Mariota: Who Should You Start?
Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans) finished the 2025 season averaging 15.5 fantasy points per game in 14 games. Marcus Mariota (Washington Commanders) came in at 12.0 PPG over 11 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.
C.J. Stroud carries a 3.5-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 Marcus Mariota posted 1695 yards and 10 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.
