Joe Flacco Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

The Browns are expected to start QB Dillon Gabriel vs. the Vikings this weekend, according to CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz. QB Joe Flacco has been worse than expected through four weeks, ranking dead last among 33 qualifying QBs in completion rate (58.1%), yards per attempt (5.1), and passer rating (60.3). The Browns are averaging 14 points per game -- ahead of only the Titans.

Browns QB Joe Flacco stunk in Sunday's loss at Detroit. He went just 16-of-34 passing with no TDs and a pair of INTs. One came on a legitimately nice catch by Lions CB D.J. Reed after WR Jerry Jeudy went down near the sideline. The other looked like a ball that volunteered to sacrifice itself, floating well beyond anyone wearing the same color as the aged QB. Flacco also took three sacks and lost a fumble. His 184 yards marked a third straight game south of 200. Flacco has also finished three straight games short of 59% completion rates, totaled 6 INTs across his four outings, and decreased his passer rating every week:

• 75.2
• 65.0
• 55.6
• 39.3

The Browns have named QB Joe Flacco their starter to open the season. He beat out Kenny Pickett for the job, while rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders were never serious threats. Flacco’s presence should be a boost for the Browns’ WRs and TEs compared with the alternatives.

Browns QB Kenny Pickett injured his hamstring on Saturday and will be sitting out of training camp for at least a few days. Pickett appears to be the leader in the Browns' QB competition, but the injury will mean more reps for veteran QB Joe Flacco and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.

"His first two days have been stellar." That's what Browns QBs coach Bill Musgrave said Friday about QB Kenny Pickett, according to ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. Pickett is competing with Joe Flacco (and maybe the rookies) for the Cleveland starting job. Pickett, Flacco, and third-round pick Dillon Gabriel have received first-team reps so far, though Oyefusi says Pickett has "received a large share" of those reps. That included Pickett taking all first-team reps in Day 1's 11-on-11 drills Wednesday, though HC Kevin Stefanski cautioned not to overrate that.

The Browns and QB Joe Flacco agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal, his agent tells ESPN's Adam Schefter. Flacco can earn as much as $13 million with incentives. Flacco returns to Cleveland, where he won Comeback Player of the Year in 2023. He averaged 323 yards across five games that year, tossing 13 TDs vs. eight INTs in a pass-heavy attack. Flacco made six starts with seven total appearances for the Colts last season, averaging 7.1 yards per attempt with 12 TDs and seven INTs. He turned 40 in January.

Colts GM Chris Ballard reiterated this week that his team will seek competition for QB Anthony Richardson ahead of the 2025 season. Richardson, of course, opened his second season as Indy's starter, got benched for Joe Flacco, returned to the lineup, and then missed the final two games with a back injury. Indy now seems poised to add stronger competition than Flacco this offseason.

Colts QB Anthony Richardson (back) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Jaguars. He’ll wind up playing 11 games – and 10 full games – in his second NFL season. The back spasms that are keeping him out of the finale are worth monitoring closely in 2025 and beyond. QB Joe Flacco gets the start on Sunday against Jacksonville’s 32nd-ranked QB defense.

Colts QB Anthony Richardson (back) remained sidelined for Wednesday's practice. He told the media that his back spasms stem from a disc issue that he's dealt with since before college. “Last week was tough," Richardson said. "I couldn’t even stand up on Tuesday. I could barely even walk, I was crawling around the house. But I’m standing now, if I can do everything in my power to get on the field, I’m going to do so. That was my mindset last week as well, but I could barely move.” The Colts have nothing to play for this weekend, so we'd be a little surprised if Richardson started against the Jaguars. This disc issue is also something to monitor in 2025 and beyond.

Colts QB Anthony Richardson has been downgraded to Out after not practicing all week with back and foot soreness. QB Joe Flacco gets the start which is an upgrade for the Colts pass catchers.

Colts QB Anthony Richardson (back, foot) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Giants. He didn’t practice all week. “We’ll see how the next 48 hours goes,” HC Shane Steichen said Friday. Beat writer Kevin Bowen notes that, of the 26 Colts players to miss an entire week of practice this season, only DeForest Buckner ended up playing. It seems more likely than not that QB Joe Flacco is under center for Indianapolis this weekend. He’d be just a low-end QB2 option in fantasy lineups but would be a significant boost to WRs Michael Pittman and Josh Downs.

Colts QB Anthony Richardson (back, foot) was not on the field for the portion of Thursday's practice open to the media. But ESPN's Stephen Holder hears that the team is "optimistic" Richardson will be ready for this weekend's game vs. the Giants. "He has made consistent progress and is responding to treatment," Holder writes. "But the source said Richardson's performance in Friday's practice would be critical." We'll update Richardson's status again on Friday afternoon. His absence would leave QB Joe Flacco under center, which would be a big boost for WRs Michael Pittman and Josh Downs.