Start C.J. Stroud or Deshaun Watson? Week 3

Our Week 3 call

Start Deshaun Watson over C.J. Stroud in Week 3.

De-vigged player props project Deshaun Watson at 16.9 points and C.J. Stroud at 16.9, a gap of 0.0. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip. Both numbers are scaled up from a partial market: the books have not posted every stat the position needs, so the rest is estimated from what they have.

What the books imply

Player prop markets imply 16.9 fantasy points for Deshaun Watson, with 100 percent of the markets a QB needs posted.

The books have Deshaun Watson at 190.5 passing yards, 1.5 passing touchdowns and 25.5 rushing yards, with a 19% chance to score a touchdown (15, 16, 11 and 15 books).

Player prop markets imply 16.9 fantasy points for C.J. Stroud, with 100 percent of the markets a QB needs posted.

The books have C.J. Stroud at 236.5 passing yards, 1.5 passing touchdowns and 9.5 rushing yards, with a 11% chance to score a touchdown (14, 17, 14 and 14 books).

Injury status

Deshaun Watson is not on the injury report.

C.J. Stroud is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 3

Through Week 2, Deshaun Watson played 100 percent of CLE snaps, dropped back 65 times and threw an average of 6.5 air yards per attempt.

Deshaun Watson, Week 1 against JAX: 51 of 51 snaps, 16 of 22 passes for 205 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception, 6 carries for 38 yards.

Deshaun Watson, Week 2 against TB: 58 of 58 snaps, 24 of 30 passes for 238 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, 5 carries for 24 yards.

Through Week 2, C.J. Stroud played 100 percent of HOU snaps, dropped back 102 times and threw an average of 8.8 air yards per attempt.

C.J. Stroud, Week 1 against BUF: 79 of 79 snaps, 26 of 38 passes for 274 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, 2 carries for 15 yards.

C.J. Stroud, Week 2 against CIN: 80 of 80 snaps, 30 of 53 passes for 353 yards, 0 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, 3 carries for 29 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

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

He completed 273 of 423 passes for 3041 yards, 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, and ran 48 times for 209 yards and 1 touchdown.

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

C.J. Stroud, Week 18 of 2025 against IND: 14 of 23 passes for 169 yards, 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions, 2 carries for 5 yards, 17.3 PPR points.

Their other Week 3 calls

• Start Deshaun Watson over Aaron Rodgers.
• Start Deshaun Watson over Baker Mayfield.
• Start Deshaun Watson over Bo Nix.
• Start C.J. Stroud over Baker Mayfield.
• Start C.J. Stroud over Bo Nix.
• Start Bryce Young over C.J. Stroud.