Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Anthony Richardson vs C.J. Stroud

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Anthony Richardson is the better fantasy play this season.

Anthony Richardson has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.6-PPG advantage is real (19.5 to 14.9), and Anthony Richardson's 25 touchdowns show scoring upside. C.J. Stroud is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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QBIndianapolis Colts#99PPG LEADER

Anthony Richardson

PPG

19.5

Games

Pass Yds

2,718

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

580

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 14

QBHouston Texans#23

C.J. Stroud

PPG

14.9

Games

Pass Yds

3,041

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

209

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Anthony Richardson

C.J. Stroud

Head to Head

19.5 PPG14.9 PPG

13 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Anthony Richardson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). C.J. Stroud: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #23 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Anthony Richardson is producing at 89% of elite pace and C.J. Stroud at 68%. That ranking gap means C.J. Stroud carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Anthony Richardson vs C.J. Stroud: Who Should You Start?

Anthony Richardson and C.J. Stroud are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Anthony Richardson averaged 19.5 PPG across 13 games with the Indianapolis Colts, while C.J. Stroud posted 14.9 PPG in 14 appearances for the Houston Texans.

A 4.6-PPG gap gives Anthony Richardson the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Anthony Richardson offers meaningful rushing upside with 580 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like C.J. Stroud (3041 passing yards, 19 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

One scheduling note: Anthony Richardson is off Week 14 and C.J. Stroud Week 6. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in quarterback for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Anthony Richardson at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. C.J. Stroud is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Anthony Richardson (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. C.J. Stroud (age 24) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising.

Did You Know?

•Anthony Richardson outscored C.J. Stroud by a projected 78 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•C.J. Stroud played 14 games in 2025 compared to Anthony Richardson's 13. That durability gap means C.J. Stroud contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Anthony Richardson scored 25 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.9 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Anthony Richardson added 580 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatRichardsonStroud

PPG (Half-PPR)19.514.9

Games Played1314

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)254209

Passing Yards2,7183,041

Passing TDs1819

Pass Yds/Game209.1217.2

Rushing Yards580209

Rushing TDs71

Total TDs2520

TDs/Game1.91.4

Age-24

Experience-2 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 14Week 6

Summary

Anthony Richardson outscored C.J. Stroud by 4.6 PPG in 2025 (19.5 to 14.9). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Anthony Richardson or C.J. Stroud in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Anthony Richardson has the edge at 19.5 PPG compared to C.J. Stroud's 14.9 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Anthony Richardson and C.J. Stroud average in 2025?▾

Anthony Richardson averaged 19.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. C.J. Stroud averaged 14.9 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 4.6 points per game.

When are Anthony Richardson and C.J. Stroud's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson (IND) has a bye in Week 14, and C.J. Stroud (HOU) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Anthony Richardson or C.J. Stroud a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson outscored C.J. Stroud by 4.6 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.