Cincinnati’s preseason run defense has fans and fantasy managers buzzing. A woeful six carries for chunks of yardage on a single first-quarter drive, plus a nose-dive in the run game against Washington and Philadelphia, spotlight talent gaps after Jessie Bates III’s exit and a shift away from top defensive free agents. The front office’s plan to build the line through the draft is getting questioned, and Al Golden’s praise can’t mask a talent deficit that looks clear in the run game.

With Trey Hendrickson expected to bolster the pass rush, the Bengals’ defense still isn’t cured of the run-attack headaches. Opponents from the Browns to Detroit and beyond could lean on the ground, especially early in the season. The must-win opener in Cleveland looms as a real test, and fantasy managers should rethink streaming defenses against Cincinnati until the unit proves it can stop the run consistently.

In fantasy terms, this isn’t a slam-dunk defense play until the run defense shows improvement. Hendrickson remains a solid sack source, but the run defense remains the Achilles’ heel that could put a dent in regulatory week-to-week upside. The piece flags a season where the offense may have to carry more weight in winning games, and the defense’s ability to limit opponents on the ground could dictate the Bengals’ ceiling this year.

Joe Flacco's return as Cleveland Browns starter for 2025 dominates the headlines, with the veteran QB thrust into a role that fantasy players will monitor closely. The moment was overshadowed by a controversial on-air joke from Ryan Clark, who compared Flacco's comeback to a "greatest resurrection"—a line that sparked fierce fan backlash on social media and highlighted the tension between flashy analysis and audience reception. The piece notes Clark's history of provocative takes and the polarized response from viewers, underscoring how media narratives can shape fantasy interest in a quarterback looming over a franchise with playoff roots just a couple of seasons back.

For fantasy managers, the development signals caution: Flacco's upside hinges on sustainable volume and efficiency in a Browns offense that often leans on structure and clock-management rather than explosive aerial output. While Flacco provides veteran steadiness, his ceiling in 2025 is likely modest, making him a potential two-QB or streamer option in favorable matchups rather than a reliable weekly QB1. The controversy around Clark's quip adds context to the season-long storyline surrounding Cleveland's signal-caller and the narratives that can influence betting and lineup decisions.

New Orleans remains undecided at quarterback between Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough as the Saints close camp with one exhibition left. Moore says the edge is extremely close, weighing numbers, reps and experience. In two preseason games, Rattler completed 25 of 35 for 251 yards with one TD and one INT; Shough went 24 of 34 for 231 yards with one TD and one INT. Both were better as backups against deeper depth charts, and Moore declined to name a starter for Saturday’s finale against Denver. Elsewhere, Daniel Jones is the Colts’ Week 1 starter option and Joe Flacco is Browns’ QB1 after Derek Carr’s retirement, highlighting a shifting QB landscape with early fantasy implications as Saints’ decision looms and the offense pivots around the chosen signal-caller.

Dillon Gabriel, selected 94th overall by the Browns, has yet to play a regular-season snap but is already at the center of a high-stakes QB dialogue in Cleveland. A cryptic preseason comment sparked chatter about his NFL readiness and rivalries with fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders, though Gabriel later clarified the target wasn’t Sanders. Cleveland immediately signaled a measured path by naming Joe Flacco as Week 1 starter against Cincinnati, placing a veteran barrier before the rookie’s first real NFL opportunities.

Sanders adds another layer to the Browns’ quarterback conversation, with debates over nepotism and opportunity shaping the narrative around this rookie class. For fantasy bettors and dynasty managers, the immediate takeaway is restraint: Gabriel’s upside hinges on Flacco’s play and the team’s willingness to deploy him in mop-up or late-season scenarios. The opening-week dynamic against Cincinnati will set the tone for how Cleveland manages its signal-callers and how fantasy value emerges from the QB room.