Who Should I Start? Joe Flacco or Sam Darnold

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.

Wednesday, June 4, 12:03 AM

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said on Tuesday that there's no question that Sam Darnold is "our starting quarterback" when asked if there was any scenario, outside of injury, in which Darnold isn't the starter. "This is a crazy question," Macdonald also said. Most of the speculation about Darnold comes after Seattle took Jalen Milroe in the third round of April's NFL draft. Milroe, a dual-threat QB, is expected to have a package of plays as another offensive weapon for Seattle, but Darnold will be the unquestioned starter under center after a career year in 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings in which he threw for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 17 regular-season games while leading the team to a 14-3 record. It was a great season, but the move to Seattle is a downgrade for Darnold's fantasy value behind a shaky offensive line and with a downgrade in aerial weapons.