• C.J. Stroud a riser: The Texans quarterback has completed 61.3% of his passes for 1,461 yards and seven touchdowns, earning a 72.0 passing grade. Amazingly, he’s also yet to throw an interception in his NFL career.
• Daniel Jones a faller: The Giants were the surprise package of 2022, so regression was a matter of when and not if. Jones and the New York Giants have got off to a disastrous start in 2023 and have a 1-4 record through five games. They’re also the proprietors of the second-worst offense in the NFL in terms of EPA per play.
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Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Quarterback is the most important position in sports — we know that. When a player touches the ball on every single offensive play and is responsible for making decisions that will directly affect a game's outcome, it’s hard for them not to be the most valuable player on the team. Some offenses are completely heliocentric to the skill sets of their signal-caller. It’s a quarterback’s world, and we’re all just living in it.
However, fantasy football can often break that mold. The value of the quarterback is important — and is rising with every year, thanks to rushing upside — but for the most part, fantasy managers would prefer an elite wide receiver or running back rather than an elite quarterback. When it comes to dynasty, though, a quarterback is often one of a team's foundations.
Like most positions, quarterbacks fall privy to the power of dynasty rankings. You play well, you get boosted. If you play poorly, you’ll find yourself falling down the ladder. So, let’s look at some risers and fallers to start the 2023 season and beyond.
Riser: C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
We’re only six weeks into the 2023 NFL season, and that means we’re just six weeks into C.J. Stroud’s NFL career, but the No. 2 overall pick already looks like the real deal.
The Texans quarterback has completed 61.3% of his passes for 1,461 yards and seven touchdowns, earning a 72.0 passing grade. Amazingly enough, he’s also yet to throw an interception in his NFL career.
He’s everything the Texans hoped he would be and more. He’s calm and heady in the pocket, delivers his passes with great anticipation and timing and has shown that his athleticism has translated from the college game to the pros. Stroud has run the ball only 15 times for 53 yards, but he’s managed the pocket well, and his 16.2% pressure-to-sack rate is 13th-best in the NFL.
What’s even more impressive is that Stroud has been doing it with a below-average supporting cast by NFL standards. His starting offensive line has mostly been injured to start the season, and even though Nico Collins has taken a big jump and looked like a legitimate X receiver, his supporting cast at Ohio State was better.
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