Start C.J. Stroud or Kirk Cousins? Week 5

Our Week 5 call

Start C.J. Stroud over Kirk Cousins in Week 5.

Market-based projections have C.J. Stroud at 14.7 points and Kirk Cousins at 14.4, a gap of 0.2. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip.

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 14 market sources).

Player markets imply 14.5 fantasy points for Kirk Cousins, with 100 percent of the markets a QB needs posted.

The market has Kirk Cousins at 232.5 passing yards, 1.5 passing touchdowns and 0.5 rushing yards, with a 6% chance to score a touchdown (15, 16, 9 and 14 market sources).

That puts C.J. Stroud 0.2 points ahead of Kirk Cousins on the market projections.

Injury status

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

Kirk Cousins 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, Kirk Cousins played 100 percent of LV snaps, dropped back 149 times and threw an average of 8.8 air yards per attempt.

Kirk Cousins, Week 1 against MIA: 68 of 68 snaps, 21 of 30 passes for 160 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, 2 carries for 0 yards.

Kirk Cousins, Week 2 against LAC: 63 of 63 snaps, 19 of 29 passes for 253 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception, 1 carry for 4 yards.

Kirk Cousins, Week 3 against NO: 70 of 70 snaps, 22 of 33 passes for 248 yards, 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, 1 carry for 5 yards.

Kirk Cousins, Week 4 against KC: 84 of 84 snaps, 31 of 49 passes for 365 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.

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, Kirk Cousins played 10 games for ATL and scored 108.5 PPR points, 10.9 a game, finishing QB35.

He completed 166 of 269 passes for 1721 yards, 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, and ran 14 times for 7 yards and 1 touchdown.

He was on the field for 46 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 Aaron Rodgers over Kirk Cousins.
• Start Bo Nix over Kirk Cousins.
• Start Brock Purdy over Kirk Cousins.