Start Deshaun Watson or C.J. Stroud? Week 5

Our Week 5 call

Start Deshaun Watson over C.J. Stroud in Week 5.

Market-based projections have Deshaun Watson at 16.9 points and C.J. Stroud at 14.7, a gap of 2.2.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 14.7 fantasy points for C.J. Stroud, with 100 percent of the markets a QB needs posted.

The market has C.J. Stroud at 240.5 passing yards, 0.5 interceptions and 9.5 rushing yards, with a 12% chance to score a touchdown (13, 8, 14 and 13 market sources).

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

The market has Deshaun Watson at 203.5 passing yards, 1.5 passing touchdowns and 25.5 rushing yards, with a 20% chance to score a touchdown (14, 16, 13 and 14 market sources).

That puts Deshaun Watson 2.2 points ahead of C.J. Stroud on the market projections.

Injury status

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

Deshaun Watson is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 5

Through Week 4, C.J. Stroud played 100 percent of HOU snaps, dropped back 166 times and threw an average of 10.3 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.

C.J. Stroud, Week 3 against IND: 54 of 54 snaps, 16 of 27 passes for 167 yards, 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions, 2 carries for 10 yards.

C.J. Stroud, Week 4 against DAL: 55 of 55 snaps, 21 of 29 passes for 347 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, 2 carries for 12 yards.

Through Week 4, Deshaun Watson played 100 percent of CLE snaps, dropped back 139 times and threw an average of 6.6 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.

Deshaun Watson, Week 3 against CAR: 69 of 70 snaps, 16 of 30 passes for 144 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, 9 carries for 47 yards.

Deshaun Watson, Week 4 against PIT: 64 of 64 snaps, 24 of 33 passes for 268 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception, 5 carries for 24 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.

Their other Week 5 calls

• Start C.J. Stroud over Aaron Rodgers.
• Start Bo Nix over C.J. Stroud.
• Start Brock Purdy over C.J. Stroud.
• Start Deshaun Watson over Aaron Rodgers.
• Start Deshaun Watson over Bo Nix.
• Start Deshaun Watson over Brock Purdy.