Who Should I Start? Kirk Cousins or Dillon Gabriel

Friday, August 15, 7:14 PM

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is not playing in the team's preseason game on Friday night against the Tennessee Titans, but he is finally healthy again and has been impressive during training camp, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. It remains to be seen if Cousins will ever play for the Falcons again, as Michael Penix Jr. is their starter under center moving forward, and Cousins has made it clear that he wants to play in 2025. The Falcons received some calls on the veteran signal-caller in the spring, but nothing worked out. Pelissero says it's possible he could be traded before the Nov. 4 deadline, possibly to a team like the Los Angeles Rams if Matthew Stafford's back issues linger. For now, though, Cousins is the QB2 in Atlanta and will be off the fantasy radar while on the bench. He's making $27.5 million guaranteed in 2025, making him easily the highest-paid backup in the league.

Thursday, August 14, 11:34 AM

Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (hamstring) is expected to start the team's second preseason game Saturday against the Philadelphia Eagles. The rookie third-round pick didn't play in the first exhibition game due to his hamstring issue. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Gabriel will only miss the start if there's a setback or soreness after practices. Gabriel's absence last week opened the door for fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders (oblique) to start the first preseason game. Sanders was in line for an encore start before an oblique injury took him out of the running. Kenny Pickett (hamstring) is also nursing an injury. Cleveland is currently rostering six quarterbacks and may carry four into the regular season. Neither rookie is scheduled for immediate playing time with 40-year-old Joe Flacco widely expected to be the Week 1 starter.