ClutchPoints
The Cleveland Browns are making a dramatic shift under center. They have announced the benching of veteran Joe Flacco after a rocky start to the 2025 season. With a 1-3 record, the Browns have averaged just 14 points per game. That’s dead last in the NFL, and the coaching staff is turning to Dillon Gabriel. The Browns hope he can jump-start an offense that has sputtered through four weeks. It’s the kind of midseason move that could alter the trajectory of not only Cleveland’s season, but also fantasy football lineups across the board. For managers navigating bye weeks and injuries, Gabriel’s promotion comes with both intrigue and uncertainty.
The Browns’ decision follows a disappointing Week 4 performance against the Detroit Lions. Flacco threw two more interceptions in the 34-10 loss. That brought his season total to six against only two touchdowns. The offense once again looked stuck in neutral. They could not sustain drives or protect its immobile quarterback behind an injury-depleted offensive line. Cleveland has obviously seen enough. Gabriel, for his part, is a third-round pick from Oregon who impressed in training camp and preseason. He will make his first NFL start in London against the Minnesota Vikings. Flacco slides into the backup role, while Shedeur Sanders remains third on the depth chart.
On paper, the numbers tell the story. Flacco ranks dead last among qualified quarterbacks in passer rating (60.3), completion percentage (58.1), and yards per attempt (5.1). He has thrown an interception in every game this season while absorbing 19 hits in just his last two outings. Head coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t immediately commit to a change after the Lions game. However, reports have just confirmed the shift. Note that the Browns have an offensive line missing both starting tackles and a receiving corps thinned by Cedric Tillman’s hamstring injury. As such, Cleveland simply could not afford to keep trotting out a stationary quarterback who couldn’t escape pressure.
Gabriel brings mobility to the table. That’s something the Browns desperately need right now. He can extend plays and add an element of unpredictability to an otherwise one-dimensional unit. Sure, the rookie is undersized by NFL standards. However, his leadership and playmaking ability have drawn praise from coaches and teammates alike.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the fantasy football impact of the Cleveland Browns’ benching Joe Flacco for Dillon Gabriel.
From a fantasy football perspective, Gabriel’s promotion is a double-edged sword. On one hand, his ability to run gives him a higher weekly floor than Flacco. That said, managers shouldn’t rush to plug Gabriel into lineups just yet.
For starters, Stefanski’s offense has leaned heavily on the ground game with rookie Quinshon Judkins emerging as the centerpiece. That run-first philosophy isn’t going away. Gabriel’s passing volume will likely be capped. The Browns also rank near the bottom in passing attempts per game. With their...
