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C.J. Stroud Dealing with Shoulder Issue; Still Draft Him?

By Matt Schauf | Updated on Sat, May 31 2025 7:14 PM UTC
C.J. Stroud Headshot

Texans QB C.J. Stroud has not been throwing at practice this week because of a shoulder problem. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston reports that it's a "minor shoulder muscle issue" that "isn't regarded as a long-term issue."

What They're Saying

Wilson: "Stroud could return to increased activity at practice as soon as next week."

2025 Fantasy Football Impact

HC Demeco Ryans and OC Nick Caley each indicated the team isn't worried about Stroud's injury -- and they shouldn't be at the end of May. It sounds like the kind of thing he'd likely play through, and there's obviously plenty of time to recover from minor ailments.

But it's also doesn't hurt us to at least be aware of even minor injuries. We'll keep tracking Stroud's involvement and health throughout the offseason to see if anything becomes a concern that should affect his projection.

This issue might actually help his fantasy value in the short term.

Stroud's already going just QB18 in best ball ADP. Sitting out practice certainly isn't going to boost his draft price higher.

We haven't viewed Stroud as a strong value date, primarily because he sits just behind Dak Prescott in ADP and ahead of Trevor Lawrence. But Stroud makes sense to mix into your best ball exposures at his current price.

Matt Schauf Author Image
Matt Schauf, Editor
Matt has earned two Fantasy Pros accuracy awards for IDP rankings and won thousands of dollars as a player across best ball, dynasty, and high-stakes fantasy formats. He has been creating fantasy football content for more than 20 years, with work featured by Sporting News, Rotoworld, Athlon, Sirius XM, and others. He's been with Draft Sharks since 2011.
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