Start Josh Allen or C.J. Stroud? Week 9

Our Week 9 call

Start Josh Allen over C.J. Stroud in Week 9.

Market-based projections have Josh Allen at 22.4 points and C.J. Stroud at 16.9, a gap of 5.4. Drafters take Josh Allen at ADP 31 and C.J. Stroud at 185.

What the market projects

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

The market-based projection for C.J. Stroud is 248 passing yards, 1-2 passing touchdowns, 8 rushing yards and 0.1 rushing touchdowns (9, 9, 9 and 9 market sources).

Player markets imply 22.4 fantasy points for Josh Allen, with 100 percent of the markets a QB needs posted.

The market-based projection for Josh Allen is 237 passing yards, 1-2 passing touchdowns, 0-1 interceptions, 31 rushing yards and 0.8 rushing touchdowns (6, 6, 5, 6 and 8 market sources).

That puts Josh Allen 5.4 points ahead of C.J. Stroud on the market projections.

Week 9 matchups

C.J. Stroud and HOU visit LAC on Sunday at 4:05 PM ET.

LAC allowed 14.3 fantasy points a game to QBs this season over 7 games, the 8th fewest in the league.

Quarterbacks threw for 208 yards and 1.1 touchdowns a game against LAC, with 0.9 interceptions a game.

Josh Allen and BUF visit MIN on Monday at 8:15 PM ET.

MIN allowed 8.9 fantasy points a game to QBs this season over 7 games, the fewest in the league.

Quarterbacks threw for 180 yards and 0.6 touchdowns a game against MIN, with 1.1 interceptions a game.

By points allowed to the position, C.J. Stroud has the softer matchup.

Injury status

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

Josh Allen is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 9

Through Week 7, C.J. Stroud played 100 percent of HOU snaps, dropped back 266 times and threw an average of 9.3 air yards per attempt.

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.

C.J. Stroud, Week 5 against TEN: 66 of 66 snaps, 26 of 34 passes for 261 yards, 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions, 4 carries for 7 yards.

C.J. Stroud, Week 6 against JAX: 63 of 63 snaps, 24 of 34 passes for 312 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception, 1 carry for 5 yards.

C.J. Stroud, Week 7 against NYG: 61 of 61 snaps, 17 of 28 passes for 153 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, 2 carries for 4 yards.

Through Week 8, Josh Allen played 99 percent of BUF snaps, dropped back 237 times and threw an average of 9.0 air yards per attempt.

Josh Allen, Week 4 against NE: 59 of 59 snaps, 23 of 33 passes for 253 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception, 5 carries for 4 yards.

Josh Allen, Week 5 against LAR: 64 of 64 snaps, 12 of 19 passes for 210 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception, 10 carries for 121 yards.

Josh Allen, Week 6 against LV: 68 of 68 snaps, 23 of 33 passes for 255 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, 2 carries for 4 yards.

Josh Allen, Week 8 against BAL: 78 of 82 snaps, 21 of 34 passes for 289 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception, 7 carries for 30 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.

In 2025, Josh Allen played 17 games for BUF and scored 374.6 PPR points, 22.0 a game, finishing QB1.

He completed 319 of 460 passes for 3668 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and ran 112 times for 579 yards and 14 touchdowns.

He was on the field for 98 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 9 calls

• Start C.J. Stroud over Baker Mayfield.
• Start Bo Nix over C.J. Stroud.
• Start Brock Purdy over C.J. Stroud.
• Start Josh Allen over Brock Purdy.
• Start Josh Allen over Caleb Williams.
• Start Josh Allen over Dak Prescott.