Who Should I Start? Dillon Gabriel or Michael Penix Jr.

Saturday, August 30, 7:40 PM

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel has "gained a lot of trust from the coaching staff just in terms of how he worked, and we feel good about it," assistant general manager Glenn Cook said. After setting a college football record with 63 starts over six seasons divided among Central Florida, Oklahoma, and Oregon, the third-round pick impressed the Browns' coaches enough to beat out fifth-round rookie Shedeur Sanders and now-Las Vegas Raider Kenny Pickett for the backup QB job. The new role doesn't faze Gabriel, who told Zac Jackson of The Athletic: "It's not daunting. I have ultimate confidence in myself and who I am." Gabriel looked decent in two preseason games, going 25-for-37 for 272 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him starting at some point in 2025. The only real roadblock is 40-year-old starter Joe Flacco, a stopgap who has played in nine or fewer games in seven straight seasons.

Friday, September 5, 12:12 PM

Despite not picking up any playing time during the preseason, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is all geared up for the team's Week 1 meeting with the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "I know when game day comes up, the whole game plan will be in. I'll be ready," said Penix Jr. The University of Washington alum will head into his first season as the team's starter, but will do so having only worked with the first-team offense in practice situations thus far. It's fair to expect that there may be some ramp-up time as the offense attempts to find its groove, but the team is all-in on the second-year signal-caller as their leader. Penix Jr. doesn't hold much value in single-QB leagues for now, but he's an intriguing QB2 option in superflex formats and a hold in dynasty leagues. He's RotoBaller's QB19 in the Week 1 rankings.