Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

C.J. Stroud vs Marcus MariotaWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

C.J. Stroud is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.9 PPG to Marcus Mariota's 12.6 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 2.3-PPG advantage is real (14.9 to 12.6), and C.J. Stroud's 20 touchdowns show scoring upside. Marcus Mariota 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

QBWashington Commanders#31

Marcus Mariota

PPG

12.6

Games

Pass Yds

1,695

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

297

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

C.J. Stroud

Marcus Mariota

Head to Head

14.9 PPG12.6 PPG

14 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

C.J. Stroud: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #23 at the position). Marcus Mariota: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #31 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, C.J. Stroud is producing at 68% of elite pace and Marcus Mariota at 57%. That ranking gap means C.J. Stroud carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

C.J. Stroud vs Marcus Mariota: 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. Marcus Mariota (Washington Commanders) came in at 12.6 PPG over 10 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

C.J. Stroud carries a 2.3-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.

C.J. Stroud has his bye in Week 8, and Marcus Mariota rests in Week 7. 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

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. Marcus Mariota (age 32) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•C.J. Stroud outscored Marcus Mariota by a projected 39 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•C.J. Stroud played 14 games in 2025 compared to Marcus Mariota's 10. That durability gap means C.J. Stroud 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 8 years younger than Marcus Mariota (24 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

C.J. Stroud vs Marcus Mariota: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	C.J. Stroud	Marcus Mariota
PPG (Half-PPR)	14.9	12.6
Games Played	14	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	209	126
Passing Yards	3,041	1,695
Passing TDs	19	10
Pass Yds/Game	217.2	169.5
Rushing Yards	209	297
Rushing TDs	1	1
Total TDs	20	11
TDs/Game	1.4	1.1
Age	24	32
Experience	2 yrs	10 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 7

Summary

Based on 2025 production, C.J. Stroud holds the PPG edge with solid output at 14.9 points per game. Marcus Mariota averaged 12.6 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 Marcus Mariota in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, C.J. Stroud has the edge at 14.9 PPG compared to Marcus Mariota's 12.6 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 Marcus Mariota average in 2025?▾

C.J. Stroud averaged 14.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Marcus Mariota averaged 12.6 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 2.3 points per game.

When are C.J. Stroud and Marcus Mariota's bye weeks in 2026?▾

C.J. Stroud (HOU) has a bye in Week 8, and Marcus Mariota (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is C.J. Stroud or Marcus Mariota a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

C.J. Stroud outscored Marcus Mariota by 2.3 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.