C.J. Stroud was a popular MVP choice entering his second NFL season in 2024. That's not quite the case less than two months before the start of the 2025 season.
Stroud led the Texans to the AFC divisional round for the second consecutive season in 2024, and oddsmakers expect Stroud and the Texans to once again be in the postseason in January. So, why has the light dimmed on Stroud's MVP candidacy? 2024 marked a step back for Stroud in several statistical categories, and, more notably, Houston barely made the playoffs with just 16 points per game in the final four weeks of the season.