C.J. Already A 'Top-5 NFL Quarterback!' - Richard Sherman

A projection of Stroud's future, based on how, as Sherman points out, he had made teammates better, not to mention the raw stats that have him leading the NFL in passing yards per game? Not many would argue against that. After all, expectations for this bunch, even with some hope that with rookie coach DeMeco Ryans in charge it might improve on last season’s 3-13-1 record, were modest.

And yet today? Ryans and Stroud and the Texans are now 5-4 and seemingly have a real shot at making the playoffs. ... which would put an exclamation mark on an astounding turnaround.

Stroud’s work in their last two games - he's led last-minute game-winning drives against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals - are already career milestones as the lowly Arizona Cardinals come to town today ... offering up a chance for more heroics and another win.

Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick in last April's NFL Draft, has 2,626 passing yards and 15 passing touchdowns against only two interceptions in nine contests. Does that really put the rookie signal-caller in a class with, say, the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes?

Maybe not yet. But does it speak to how the Texans seem increasingly likely to become a real power in the AFC ... if not today, then someday soon? The reviews on C.J. Stroud say it is so.