Who Should I Start? Joe Flacco or Kirk Cousins

Friday, May 30, 10:54 PM

While the Cleveland Browns haven't made any announcements on their quarterback competition, The Athletic's Zac Jackson writes that 18-year veteran Joe Flacco should be well ahead of rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, and he's also probably ahead of Kenny Pickett. Flacco throws the ball better than the others in a practice setting, and his overall experience makes him the clear favorite to win the job. It's possible that Pickett will outplay Flacco in the coming months, though. Flacco and Pickett alternated turns with the No. 1 offense in practice at OTAs on Wednesday, with Gabriel out-repping Sanders in the second OTA practice. Jackson thinks it's almost a certainty that the QB battle is between Flacco and Pickett. Although Flacco had a nice little run with Cleveland at the end of 2023, he'll be a low-end QB2 option in two-QB fantasy leagues if he wins the starting gig over Pickett this year.

Tuesday, June 10, 1:31 PM

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who skipped out on voluntary organized team activities, is present for the start of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Cousins would prefer a trade out of town so that he can have a shot to start somewhere else, but if he remains in Atlanta, he'll open the 2025 season as Michael Penix Jr.'s backup. The Falcons continue to say they plan on keeping Cousins. The 36-year-old four-time Pro Bowler didn't look right in his return from a torn Achilles the year prior, throwing for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 14 starts before being benched late in the year for the rookie Penix. Now that the Steelers have officially signed Aaron Rodgers, there aren't any obvious landing spots for Cousins. For now, he's stuck in QB purgatory and is off the fantasy radar.