Who Should I Start? Joe Flacco or Tyler Shough

Tuesday, August 5, 6:22 PM

Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco will not play in the team's preseason opener on Friday against the Carolina Panthers, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Injured QBs Kenny Pickett (hamstring) and Dillon Gabriel (hamstring) also will not play, leaving fifth-round rookie Shedeur Sanders to get the start despite the fact that he hasn't taken a single rep with the first-team offense during training camp. Tyler Huntley, who was signed on Tuesday, will back up Sanders on Friday night. The 40-year-old Flacco is a strong favorite to win the QB competition this summer, especially since Pickett hasn't been able to participate in team drills of late. Flacco made some noise in 2023 and helped lead the Browns to the playoffs, but the veteran gunslinger will have a short leash as the starter and will have little fantasy upside as a low-end QB2.

Friday, August 8, 3:11 PM

Gilbert Manzano of Sports Illustrated writes that New Orleans Saints rookie second-round quarterback Tyler Shough showed improvement at practice on Thursday while working with the first-team offense. Head coach Kellen Moore said he hasn't decided how he'll divvy up the QB snaps in the preseason opener on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, but it's a good sign that Shough was the first to see first-team reps on Thursday. The 25-year-old showed confidence and made quick decisions with the football while also using his legs a few times. According to receiver Rashid Shaheed, Shough is thinking less and allowing his pass-catchers to make plays. Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener are still competing for the QB job, and the Saints don't seem to be in a rush to name a Week 1 starter. Fantasy managers should be avoiding the situation entirely in 2025.