With most fantasy football leagues concluding after Week 17, there is no reason for you to be reading this if you weren't playing in your league's Championship Week.
Below you will find some players that could be starts or sits in your league, but my fantasy football rankings will better help you determine if I would start Player X over Player Y.
Despite non-existent rushing stats (actually, worse than non-existent at minus two yards), Stafford leads all passers in yardage (4,179) and touchdowns (40, 7.7%), has a league-low 1.0 INT% and currently ranks as fantasy's QB3 on the year. Based on Week 17 NFL implied totals, only the Cincinnati Bengals have a higher projected total than Stafford and the Rams. Even if Davante Adams (hamstring) misses another week, Stafford remains a top-five option in Championship Week.
Lawrence has been on a tear. Over the past five weeks, he has finished as fantasy's QB7, QB5, QB13, QB1, and QB2, respectively. Lawrence has a career-high seven rushing touchdowns this season including scores in back-to-back games. In fact, he has scored a combined 10 (TEN!) touchdowns over the past two weeks.
See the table below, but Lawrence is the only quarterback to throw for three-plus scores and rush for another in back-to-back games since 2022. And if he extends the streak, he'll become the first quarterback in league history to do so in three consecutive games.
Have the Saints found their long-term answer at quarterback? Probably not (or at least it's too early to tell), but Shough has played reasonably well with four consecutive 17-point fantasy performances. Given the injuries at quarterback (Patrick Mahomes, Jayden Daniels, Lamar Jackson?, etc.), Shough could be a plug-and-play option off the waiver wire for managers battling the injury bug at quarterback and still alive.
Herbert has overcome a lot (season-ending injuries to Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, a broken non-throwing hand, etc.) to keep the train on the track. Herbert lit up the Cowboys defense (who hasn't, right?!) last week, but he scored under 15 fantasy points in each of his previous five outings. And the matchup this week gets much tougher. Only the Minnesota Vikings have allowed fewer fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. While the Chargers are small favorites in Week 17, they play in one of only four games with an over-under below 40 points.
Missing several games earlier this season, Stroud has since returned to start (and finish) each of Houston's past four games. During that span, he has accounted for multiple touchdowns only once. As noted above, the Chargers-Texans matchup has a low total, and the Texans have a bottom eight implied total for the week.
Patrick Mahomes: Outside of his one-game rookie season, Mahomes set or tied career lows in passing yards (3,928) and touchdowns (26). Like Joe Burrow, Mahomes has enough mobility to make and extend plays, but he doesn't use it to rack up significant rushing production (307-389 rushing yards in five consecutive seasons). After finishing as a top-four fantasy quarterback in four of his first five seasons as a starter, Mahomes has finished as the QB8 and QB12, respectively, over the past two seasons. The talented trio of Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown (when healthy and active) provide hope for Mahomes to return to his previous levels of elite production.
Justin Fields: The same year (2022) that Fields threw for 2,242 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, he finished as fantasy's QB6 in points per game and overall. Of course, it was the elite rushing production (160/1143/8) that outweighed his anemic passing stats that year. Even before the Steelers benched him in favor of Russell Wilson in 2024, Fields was the QB6 in fantasy points per game through his six starts.
C.J. Stroud: What a difference a year made, as Stroud finished his 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign as fantasy's QB8 in points per game and as the QB26 in 2024. The coaching staff did him no favors and Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell ended the year on IR with Nico Collins also missing five games in 2024. With the additions of Christian Kirk in free agency and Iowa State rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in the draft and a new offensive coaching staff in place, there is some optimism for Stroud to rebound in 2025 although the offensive line remains an issue.
Joe Burrow: Burrow, now a two-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year, had an MVP-caliber season in 2024. (Of course, so did Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.) In any event, Burrow led the NFL in both passing yards (4,918) and touchdowns (43). With Cincinnati doling out massive contracts to both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins this offseason, it's all systems go for Burrow and the Bengals offense, who will often find themselves needing to keep up with their leaky defense.
While nobody is right 100% of the time, the Vegas sportsbooks are right more often than they are wrong.
A helpful tool to determine which players to roster or start (or at least to break a tie), especially in daily fantasy football leagues, is NFL implied totals (projected point totals for each team based on NFL odds).
Looking at the over-under alone is not enough. Although it's an obvious statement, the more points a team scores (or is expected to score), the more likely that fantasy points will follow.
NFL implied totals listed in the table below are calculated using NFL odds from FanDuel Sportsbook for Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season and sorted from most to least projected points.
Jayden Daniels: For good reason, Daniels was a favorite of many as a late-round target in fantasy drafts, and the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year delivered for those who rostered him in 2024. Daniels' ADP was QB12 (or a little later, depending on the site), and the dual-threat quarterback finished his rookie season as a top-five fantasy quarterback. Along with Lamar Jackson (2023 and 2024) and Kyler Murray (2020), Daniels became only the third quarterback in NFL history to throw and run for at least 3,500 and 800 yards, respectively, in the same season. The front office's offseason moves support his continued development as he enters year two aside from the franchise's contract standoff with Terry McLaurin.
C.J. Stroud: What a difference a year made, as Stroud finished his 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign as fantasy's QB8 in points per game and as the QB26 in 2024. The coaching staff did him no favors and Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell ended the year on IR with Nico Collins also missing five games in 2024. With the additions of Christian Kirk in free agency and Iowa State rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in the draft and a new offensive coaching staff in place, there is some optimism for Stroud to rebound in 2025 although the offensive line remains an issue.
Joe Flacco: Yes, I'm hedging my bets by projecting starts for four different quarterbacks. Outside of 2-QB leagues, however, all of them are far off the fantasy radar so there's no real need to try to make a premature call one way or the other. Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal recently wrote: "This is Flacco's job to lose. Period." In his first stint with the Browns (2023), Flacco won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. In five starts (four wins), Flacco threw for 1,616 yards (323.2 per game), 13 touchdowns (6.4%) and eight interceptions (3.9%). The more games Flacco starts, the more ideal it will be for the team's top pass catchers as well.
Shedeur Sanders: Even those who projected a slide for Sanders couldn't have expected that he would have slipped to the fifth round (144th overall). If you told someone before the draft that he would be the second quarterback selected by his new team (especially with the first being a third-rounder), most would have thought you were crazy. Despite the less-than-ideal (numerical) draft slot, I wouldn't rule out Sanders (and Gabriel) making starts this season. With two first-round picks (and low expectations for 2025), Cleveland will likely be in prime position to draft one near the top of the 2026 NFL Draft and it would make sense for them to get as many evaluation data points for Sanders/Gabriel as possible before then.
Kenny Pickett: Beat writer Mary Kay Cabot wrote earlier this offseason that Pickett was viewed "as the frontrunner to win the starting job at the outset." That said, he's battled a hamstring injury recently and he's not a lock to make the 53-man roster. In the two seasons where he was the primary starter for the Steelers (2022-2023), Pickett threw 13 touchdowns (1.8%) in 24 starts and averaged 179 passing yards per game with 6.3 per attempt.
C.J. Stroud: Stroud has consistently earned praise from his coaches and teammates throughout the offseason. Unsurprisingly, he's been officially named the Week 1 starter against the Baltimore Ravens. An accurate passer when given time in the pocket at Ohio State, Stroud consistently made plays outside of structure against the Georgia Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff. He's off the fantasy radar in single-QB redraft leagues, but he should increase the overall efficiency of Houston's offense in 2023.
Dameon Pierce: Pierce had never exceeded 106 carries in his four seasons at Florida, but he reached that number through his first six games last year with the Texans. While he missed the final four games of the season with an ankle injury, he had 220 carries for 939 yards and four touchdowns through Week 14. He also added 30 catches for 165 yards and a touchdown. The former Gator was the RB15 through Week 14. Despite Houston signing Devin Singletary, Pierce is still a viable RB2 for fantasy managers in 2023.
Devin Singletary: Through four seasons in Buffalo, Singletary had more than 150 carries and averaged exactly 2.4 receptions every year. The workload will certainly decline in Houston, but he would become a RB2 if Pierce were to miss any time.
Nico Collins: Collins appeared in only 10 games last season, but he ranked second to Brandin Cooks on a per-game basis in receptions (3.7) and yards (48.1). With Cooks traded to the Dallas Cowboys, Collins is a breakout candidate and the favorite to lead the Texans' receiving corps in fantasy production.
Robert Woods: Woods arguably had his worst season as he set career lows in yards per reception (9.9), yards per target (5.8) and yards per game (31.0). Although Ryan Tannehill also missed five games, Woods reached the 40-yard receiving mark in only four of 17 games with the Titans in 2022. While his upside is relatively low, it's possible he emerges as the team's most consistent receiver.
Dalton Schultz: Schultz has a minimum of 89 targets in each of the past three seasons, and he has averaged 4.1 receptions and 41.7 yards per game over that span. While he may get a tick less in terms of volume, he has the potential to lead the Texans in receptions in 2023.
C.J. Stroud: Stroud displayed pinpoint accuracy when given time in the pocket at Ohio State, and he had an eye-opening performance against Georgia in the College Football Playoff with how consistently he made plays outside of structure. Although he hasn't officially been handed the starting job yet, he has earned praise and respect from his new coaches and teammates. Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson has said that Stroud is "already way, way ahead of pace" with his footwork and timing. Meanwhile, left tackle Laremy Tunsil recently said, "How I describe C.J.: dawg. He's a straight dawg. He comes in there ready to work, he handles the huddle perfectly and he goes out there and balls, man."
Dameon Pierce: Pierce had never exceeded 106 carries in his four seasons at Florida, but he reached that number through his first six games with the Texans. While he missed the final four games of the season with an ankle injury, he had 220 carries for 939 yards and four touchdowns through Week 14. He also added 30 catches for 165 yards and a touchdown. The former Gator was the RB15 through Week 14. Despite Houston signing Devin Singletary, Pierce is still a viable RB2 in 2023.
Devin Singletary: Through four seasons in Buffalo, Singletary had more than 150 carries and averaged exactly 2.4 receptions every year. The workload will almost certainly decline in Houston as he becomes the second option to Pierce, but he could be a bye-week flex option.
Nico Collins: Collins appeared in only 10 games last season, but he ranked second to Brandin Cooks on a per-game basis in receptions (3.7) and yards (48.1). With Cooks traded to the Cowboys, Collins is the early favorite to lead the Texans' receiving corps in fantasy production.
Robert Woods: Woods arguably had the worst season of his 10-year career as he set career lows in yards per reception (9.9), yards per target (5.8) and yards per game (31.0). Although Ryan Tannehill also missed five games, Woods reached the 40-yard receiving mark in only four of 17 games in 2022. While his upside is relatively low, it's possible he emerges as the team's most consistent receiver.
Tank Dell: Dell was uber productive (199/2,727/29 in 27 games over past two years) in college, and though he's undersized (5-8, 165), he's extremely quick. Talking about the wide receivers on SportsRadio 610, DeMeco Ryans recently praised Dell's "route-running ability. He's been open a lot in OTAs. So that's exciting."
Dalton Schultz: Schultz has a minimum of 89 targets in each of the past three seasons, and he has averaged 4.1 receptions and 41.7 yards per game over that span. While he may get a tick less in terms of volume, he has the potential to lead the Texans in receptions in 2023.
The picture will be clearer after we get through the quarterback carousel in free agency, but as of now, the Raiders need someone at the position. Levis has incredible tools.
A number of directions they can go following the release of Carr, though the guess here is the Silver and Black will pursue a veteran replacement in free agency. A 28th-ranked defense is also in dire need of help. But with starting RT Jermaine Eluemunor unsigned, Skoronski could upgrade that spot opposite established Kolton Miller but also transition back to the left side down the road.
It's hard to imagine that Jarrett Stidham would be in the team's long-term plans as a starter. And with Derek Carr set to be somewhere else in 2023 -- and Tom Brady officially-for-now retired -- drafting a QB seems to be a high priority. Levis, who definitely looks the part, was plagued by injuries and poor play all fall. That said, NFL teams love how he projects to the next level but he'll be a controversial talking point in the coming months.
The Raiders kick this NFL mock draft off in true Raiders fashion, trading from the seventh pick to the first pick to select their guy, Bryce Young. It has been proven that Josh McDaniels needs a very specific quarterback to run his system and I think Young is that guy. There are simply too many relationships from Nick Saban and Bill Belichick to Bill O'Brien having coached with McDaniels in the past. I think McDaniels will have enough intel to make the selection and feel comfortable about handing the keys over to Young in Las Vegas.
Who will be under center for the Black-and-Silver in Week 1? While that's yet to be determined, we know it won't be Derek Carr. Will Levis or Anthony Richardson could be a possibility here, but it wouldn't surprise me if their Week 1 starter is a veteran not currently on the roster. Skoronski was a three-year starter at left tackle for the Wildcats, who may have otherwise kicked inside due to a lack of arm length. Given that the Raiders have Kolton Miller at left tackle, however, Skoronski would immediately provide an upgrade at one of the other spots along the line.
If an Aaron Rodgers—Davante Adams reunion is a no-go, here's a franchise quarterback who fell into my lap. Yes, there was a ton of talent around Stroud at Ohio State, including a star-studded receiving corps. That detail doesn't diminish the value of his arm talent and production. After putting up 40-plus touchdowns against six interceptions in back-to-back years, it's time for Stroud to start working with another superstar wide receiver.
The Derek Carr era is over, and Tom Brady is no longer an option after he retired this month. Las Vegas will explore other available veterans, but Levis would fit in nicely. He has a huge arm to drive the ball downfield to Davante Adams, and at 232 pounds, he is a strong runner on designed rushes and scrambles. Levis has experience with pro-style concepts, too, and his ceiling is sky high. But can coach Josh McDaniels clean up Levis' turnovers (23 interceptions over the past two years) and maximize his traits? That will be the biggest question for the team that ultimately picks Levis. If the Raiders can iron out those issues, they might have a long-term solve to help them compete in the AFC West with the Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
The Raiders are a darkhorse in a potential QB derby for this draft — I believe they'll target the position in free agency with Jimmy Garoppolo seeking a fresh start or even potentially try and reunite Davante Adams with Aaron Rodgers through a trade — but regardless of who's under center, the protection will have to improve. Skoronski took over for Rashawn Slater as a true freshman in 2020 and the offense didn't miss a beat. Some scouts may say his size better suits him to play guard, but they also said that about Slater. Either way, he'd be an upgrade for Las Vegas and whoever ends up under center.
If the Raiders sign Jimmy Garoppolo or trade for Aaron Rodgers, they'll spend this pick on an offensive lineman to make their new signal-caller's life easier. Johnson is as tough as they come, excelling at left tackle and right guard during his career at Ohio State.
The Colts need to turn the page on their recent approach to the game's most important position: cycling through veteran arms. Stroud will be a great fit with new head coach Shane Steichen in Indy.
After its 2022 crash and burn, time for this organization to reset under center with youth rather than continuing to play musical chairs with fading veterans. New HC Shane Steichen has been coordinating offenses since 2019 and been quite successful with a range of quarterbacks including Philip Rivers, Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts. Of that group, Stroud (6-3, 215 pounds) most closely resembles Herbert as he's accurate (69.3% completion rate in college), productive (85 TD passes, 12 INTs, 182.4 passer rating over last two seasons) and athletic — but, like Herbert, more inclined to extend plays to throw rather than break the pocket. Stroud was on the losing end of both his starts against Michigan and in a 2023 College Football Playoff semifinal against Georgia — but he was spectacular in that final game, passing for 348 yards and four TDs against an awesome Bulldogs defense.
Since Andrew Luck's retirement, the Colts have had little success turning to QBs nearing the end of their careers, and it's safe to assume that owner Jim Irsay will be looking for the team's next face of the franchise. CJ Stroud has flown under the national-media radar all season but some NFL teams will tell you he'll be in the running for QB1, and his performance in the semifinal game vs. Georgia showed that he can beat you with his arm and his legs.
The Colts made a move to hire Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen. Steichen was a part of the development of Jalen Hurts, which saw him go from second-round pick to one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. With that being the case, I think Steichen is fully comfortable with drafting a quarterback with physical tools that appears to be elite and that quarterback is Will Levis. Levis is a mobile quarterback with a strong arm, something that's all too familiar for Shane Steichen.
Among the teams in play for the top pick, the Colts may be the favorite to trade up. Whether they stay put or move up, it's likely that this pick will be a quarterback. Since Andrew Luck's retirement, the Colts have entered each of the past four seasons with a different starter, and three different quarterbacks made multiple starts in 2022.
When given time, Stroud throws with touch and outstanding accuracy to all three levels. Although he can be deadly from the pocket, there weren't many examples of Stroud displaying his playmaking ability out of structure before his final game against Georgia. The athleticism and off-script improvisational skills he showcased in the Georgia game provide a promising glimpse of what he can do when plays break down.
Indianapolis is taking a quarterback — that much seems set in stone. And if the Colts don't trade up to get Bryce Young, it means they are likely deciding between Levis and C.J. Stroud. A case can be made for either, but based on his NFL measurables and his style of play, Levis seems to fit that Manning/Luck mold the Colts have favored in the past.
New Colts coach Shane Steichen got Justin Herbert up to speed when he was the Chargers' offensive coordinator during Herbert's rookie season, and then helped turn Jalen Hurts into one of the league's top quarterbacks over his two years with the Eagles. Indianapolis has plenty of playmakers already on the roster, but Steichen now needs a signal-caller to build around.
Young's combine measurements will be important, considering his slender frame (listed at 194 pounds), but he's my top prospect right now thanks to elite poise in the pocket, good mobility and great field vision. Nothing seems to rattle him, and he can hit all of the NFL-level throws. The Colts must clean up the offensive line to protect him, but Young has a very high ceiling and could help turn the organization around quickly.
GM Chris Ballard has tried to address the quarterback position through the trade market. There will be some options in free agency, but he'll likely have to draft one regardless, and I wouldn't be surprised if he made the Bears a "Godfather" offer for the first overall pick. Despite dealing with several injuries at wide receiver, Stroud didn't miss a beat this season — he was second in touchdown passes (41) and QBR (88.9) in 2022 — and nearly beat the defending national champions with 348 yards and four TDs, while showcasing his scrambling ability (he's a traditional pocket passer).
In this scenario, Colts owner Jim Irsay and GM Chris Ballard say enough with bringing in veterans as short-term solutions. Like the Texans, they want their favorite bright young star at the position, so Chicago gets first- and second-round picks this year, as well as second- and third-round picks in 2024. Stroud stands tall in the pocket, throwing darts but also displaying nice touch when needed. He showed in the College Football Playoff that he can make defenses pay for playing man coverage by running for big gains.
Houston instantly adds some firepower for No. 2 selection Bryce Young. The selection of Addison, along with the return of John Metchie III, would give the receiving corps a huge boost.
He can sling it, never better than in 2021 when he won the Heisman Trophy. That season, Young finished with 4,872 yards and 47 TDs through the air. He's accurate (66% completion rate in college) and his career 80-to-12 touchdown-to-interception ratio is indicative of solid decision-making. Young is highly mobile, though typically buys time to pass and does a nice job keeping his eyes downfield — a la peak Russell Wilson. The combine will officially determine whether he's 6 feet and/or 200 pounds, either figure likely to concern his next team — especially since Young won't be afforded the same level of protection he was at Alabama.
He catches (138 receptions for 1,649 yards over past two seasons), he blocks, he scores (16 TDs over past two seasons), and the 2022 All-American is huge (6-4, 265 pounds). Is there a better way to help a young quarterback and RB Dameon Pierce?
Bryce Young might be historically undersized by successful NFL QB standards but we don't care. He's been that good for Alabama, dragging that team to victory just about every week. And he did it with none of the playmakers that made life so much easier for Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones in previous years.
Addison isn't a big target, but he's one of the most dynamic players in the country who can line up anywhere. The only question is whether Addison or Quentin Johnston will be WR1. Two different body types, two different playing styles, both dominant. The Texans could go OL here to help protect their investment in QB but this class is much deeper at offensive line than top-flight WRs.
With the hiring of DeMeco Ryans to a long-term deal, it appears that the Texans are finally serious about starting a true rebuild. And that rebuild starts with them drafting a franchise QB. C.J. Stroud has plus-level arm talent and is mobile enough to draw up some designed QB-movement plays. Stroud is the first huge puzzle piece in the Texans' rebuild in the Ryans era.
This is the Texans going all in on developing an offensive identity. They added Stroud with their first pick in this NFL mock draft, and with this pick, they select WR Quentin Johnston. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds with elite-level speed, Johnston has the ability to become a dominant receiver in the NFL. Adding him to the offensive weapons that the Texans already have on the roster makes the future really exciting.
Although he played better than expected as a third-round rookie in 2021, Davis Mills ranked 29th (or worse) in completion percentage (61%), yards per attempt (6.5) and passer rating (78.8) while tying for a league-worst 15 interceptions thrown last season. It's difficult to envision the Texans not using this pick on a signal-caller, and Young offers plenty of hope for the future of the franchise.
The biggest concern about Young is his size (he's listed at 194 pounds) and the durability risk that comes with it, but he has the ability to lift the play of those around him. Young is always composed, accurate to all three levels, and processes information quickly. His ability to make plays outside of structure stands out.
If the Texans draft Young (or a different quarterback) with their first pick, it would make sense to put as many pieces in place for their young quarterback to be successful early. Addison is not the biggest or strongest receiver, but he has the speed, route-running ability and ball skills to emerge as the team's top receiver early in his career.
In this trade-free mock draft, the Texans are happy to sit back and get their guy at No. 2. Young is the difference-maker this new coaching staff needs to build around. His poise and accuracy are special, and he totally played up to the hype in his two seasons as an SEC starter. The size concerns are valid, but you'd be a fool to talk yourself out of drafting Young.
We got Young at No. 2. Now we're getting a go-to receiver for the franchise QB. It's not hard to upgrade at this spot from last year's crew of Brandin Cooks, Chris Moore, Nico Collins and Phillip Dorsett. Johnston is a freak athlete at 6 foot 4 and 215 pounds who is still just scratching the surface of his pro potential and should impress at the combine. Young can certainly throw it up to Johnston and trust he'll win on 50/50 balls, but the long wideout is also adept at making plays in space.
Like their AFC South foe in Indianapolis, the Texans have to get their new coach -- albeit one with defensive roots in DeMeco Ryans -- a quarterback. They were ahead of only the Colts in scoring (16.1 points per game), and Davis Mills doesn't appear to be the answer. He has nearly as many interceptions as touchdown passes over his two-year career (33-25).
Stroud, meanwhile, finished the 2022 season with an 88.9 QBR and threw 41 touchdown passes to just six picks. His touch, timing and smooth delivery really pop on tape, and we saw flashes of his mobility toward the end of the season. Go watch his outstanding performance against Georgia in the College Football Playoff to see why he's high on NFL teams' boards. Houston does have another first-rounder, so perhaps it can add another target for him, too.
If you draft a quarterback at No. 2 (Stroud), it's smart to set him up to succeed with a strong supporting cast. The run game got a bump from Dameon Pierce this year, the offensive line is solid and John Metchie III should return (recovering from leukemia) to join Brandin Cooks in the receiving corps, but we're talking about the league's worst offense last season (4.8 yards per play). Stroud would need a big-body receiver to go up and get 50-50 balls, stretch the field and produce after the catch. That's Johnston.
If the Texans go this route, they'd be the first team since 2010 to draft a QB and a new receiver for him in the same first round (Denver), per ESPN Stats & Information research.
Coming from the Patriots, GM Nick Caserio never experienced what it was like to draft this high, or need a quarterback really, but the position has to be at the top of his offseason list of priorities. Young has showcased an elite level skillset for two straight seasons — featuring special athleticism and intangibles with a dash of improv — this year with fewer playmakers surrounding him. One of those playmakers was John Metchie, who missed his rookie season for the Texans while being treated for leukemia. Metchie caught 96 balls for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns his junior year at Alabama with Young under center. Of course, Young's size (5-foot-10, 195 pounds) will be debated, but barring the Chicago Bears staying put to select one of the elite defenders, he is the odds-on favorite to be chosen with the first pick after throwing for 321 yards and five touchdowns in a 45-20 Sugar Bowl victory over Kansas State.
The Texans have needs everywhere, but adding Johnston to a young offensive core that includes Alabama's Young, Metchie, Dameon Pierce and Nico Collins would form a solid foundation. Johnston has drawn comparisons to Cincinnati's Tee Higgins and the Chargers' Mike Williams, but he does Deebo Samuel-like things, forcing missed tackles when he has the ball in his hands — he's 6-foot-4, 215 pounds (Samuel is four inches shorter).
The Texans get their guy with the No. 1 overall pick, swapping spots with the Bears to land Young. Houston sends two picks from the Deshaun Watson trade (Round 3, 2023; Round 1, 2024) and gets a 2023 fifth-rounder back from the Bears to balance the deal. Young's lack of size (6-foot, 194 pounds) might be an issue for some, but his poise, leadership, athleticism and underappreciated throwing velocity give him a chance to be great.
Kancey could be a top-10 pick because of his strength at the point of attack and quickness. But we've seen other smaller tackles land in the middle of the first, such as when Aaron Donald went 13th overall in 2014. New Texans coach DeMeco Ryans is quite familiar with Donald's game from his years in San Francisco, so you have to think he'd love to add a playmaker like Kancey on what will be a revamped Houston defensive line in 2023.
