Introduction

Coming off an unfortunate sophomore slump, Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud is looking to return to the elite form he showed during his rookie season. It’s worth noting that Stroud and the Texans dealt with several injury issues last year, particularly within the wide receiver corps. Stroud finished the season with 3,737 passing yards and 20 touchdowns—both down from his rookie campaign. He also threw 12 interceptions, an increase of seven from the year before, and his passer rating dropped 13.8 points to 87.0 in 2024. While last season fell short of expectations, Houston is making some positive changes at wide receiver with the addition of rookie Jayden Higgins and veteran Christian Kirk. The Texans are also hoping that Nico Collins can stay healthy for the full season. Now, let’s take a look at how these changes are shaping CJ Stroud’s outlook according to the sportsbooks heading into 2025.

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Player Prop Futures

Passing Yards

  • DraftKings: 3800.5 (over -110; under -110)
  • ESPN Bet: 3650.5 (over -105; under -125)
  • FanDuel: 3825.5 (over -114; under -114)
  • Bet365: 3825.5 (over -110; under -110)
  • BetMGM: 3750.5 (over -118; under -102)

Passing Touchdowns

  • DraftKings: 21.5 (over -110; under -110)
  • ESPN Bet: 20.5 (over -130; under even)
  • FanDuel: 21.5 (over -108; under -122)
  • Bet365: 21.5 (over -110; under -110)
  • BetMGM: 21.5 (over -110; under -110)

CJ Stroud certainly presents a lot of intriguing betting options for the upcoming season. ESPN Bet is currently offering outstanding value on his passing yards over, giving you a 150-yard cushion compared to the next closest sportsbook—and at -105, that’s phenomenal value. If you’re less confident in Stroud having a bounce-back season, Bet365 offers a tempting alternative with his total set at 3,825.5 yards, priced at -110.

As for passing touchdowns, most sportsbooks are aligned, except for ESPN Bet, which lists Stroud with one fewer touchdown than the others. For the under, you’ll find fairly consistent value across most books—FanDuel being the notable exception.

Conclusion

As we approach the 2025 NFL season, it’s important to place player futures sooner rather than later, as there are bound to be many changes before the first kickoff. CJ Stroud’s passing yards projection on ESPN Bet has been the best value I’ve seen. While there are always variables to consider, Stroud still surpassed the 3650.5-yard mark by over 80 yards in what was considered a down year. With favorable odds and proven production, now may be the ideal time to lock in this value before the lines shift.