Cleveland Browns to Start Rookie QB Dillon Gabriel, Bench Joe Flacco in Week 5

The report comes from CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, who says the Browns will be turning away from Joe Flacco to one of their two rookie QBs selected in the 2025 draft this past April. Gabriel has held his own ahead of Shedeur Sanders on the depth chart throughout the offseason and into the regular season, and it appears that his number is being called on now to try to spark a Cleveland passing attack that has been listless through four games. While expectations shouldn’t be high for those fantasy managers who have trudged through the first quarter of the season with Jerry Jeudy and co., a change under center should be enough to at least inspire some hope that things can improve in the near future. Gabriel is the most experienced college QB to enter the league, having played 63 games in his NCAA career, so the hope is that he can hit the ground at least somewhat running and get things turned around in a hurry. It’ll be a tall order this week for Gabriel, however, with the Browns traveling overseas to London to face a Brian Flores defense that has historically eaten young quarterbacks for breakfast. Gabriel can likely remain on waivers for the time being in a tough matchup, while WR Jerry Jeudy and TEs David Njoku and Harold Fannin all will likely rank in the flex territory with him under center.