C.J. Stroud or Deshaun Watson: who should I start in Week 3?

What the sportsbooks price

The player markets price C.J. Stroud at 16.1 PPR points a game, built from 5 markets across 17 books. That is the 31st highest figure of the 176 players the books price.

The player markets price Deshaun Watson at 16.1 PPR points a game, built from 5 markets across 16 books. That is the 32nd highest figure of the 176 players the books price.

Where the draft room stands

Drafters have formed no consensus on C.J. Stroud: he carries no ADP, and the board ranks him 108th overall on the rest of his evidence.

In 2QB drafts he goes at ADP 75.

Drafters have formed no consensus on Deshaun Watson: he carries no ADP, and the board ranks him 109th overall on the rest of his evidence.

In 2QB drafts he goes at ADP 165.

This season through Week 2

Through Week 2, C.J. Stroud has been on the field for 100 percent of HOU snaps, dropped back 102 times and thrown 8.8 air yards an attempt.

He has been sacked or hit on 16 of 102 dropbacks and scrambled 4 times.

In Week 1 against BUF he completed 26 of 38 passes for 274 yards, threw 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions and ran 2 times for 15 yards.

In Week 2 against CIN he completed 30 of 53 passes for 353 yards, threw 0 touchdowns and 0 interceptions and ran 3 times for 29 yards.

Through Week 2, Deshaun Watson has been on the field for 100 percent of CLE snaps, dropped back 65 times and thrown 6.5 air yards an attempt.

He has been sacked or hit on 13 of 65 dropbacks and scrambled 6 times.

In Week 1 against JAX he completed 16 of 22 passes for 205 yards, threw 1 touchdown and 1 interception and ran 6 times for 38 yards.

In Week 2 against TB he completed 24 of 30 passes for 238 yards, threw 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions and ran 5 times for 24 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025 C.J. Stroud played 14 games and scored 216.5 PPR points, 15.5 a game, finishing QB21.

He threw for 3041 yards on 423 attempts with 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, and ran for 209 yards and 1 touchdown.

That came to 30.2 attempts a game at 7.2 yards an attempt.

He was on the field for 93 percent of the snaps in the games he played.

The season feed carries no line for Deshaun Watson in the last completed season.

Head to head

Their snap share this season is the same, 100 percent each.

Their target share this season is the same, 0 percent each.

Byes and availability

C.J. Stroud is off in Week 8 and Deshaun Watson in Week 11, so either can cover the other's bye.

What would change the answer

The books have them level, so the first line either book moves is the whole answer.

The draft market is the half that is missing: when the consensus sample holds these two again it can order them differently from the price, and this page will follow the sample rather than the books when it does.