Who Should I Start? Joe Flacco or J.J. McCarthy

Saturday, June 20, 5:14 AM

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco began his 2025 campaign with the Cleveland Browns, and through four starts, he threw six interceptions to only two touchdowns, scored fewer than 5.3 fantasy points per game, and looked as if his time in the NFL was coming to an end. Following a rare in-division mid-season trade, he started six games for the Bengals in place of an injured Joe Burrow and immediately became a viable fantasy option while elevating the entire Cincinnati offense. He finished as the QB7 or better in three of those games, and in signing a one-year deal this offseason to return to the Bengals, he remains a must-roster backup in superflex dynasty leagues and raises the floor of receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, as well as running back Chase Brown. With Joe Burrow RotoBaller's QB5 for 2026, any appearance by Flacco still represents a worst-case scenario, but at 41 years old, the 19-year veteran is more than capable of preventing a complete bottoming out if called into action.