Browns quarterbacks have cycled more than any other NFL team since 1999, and Dillon Gabriel’s promotion to starter keeps that tradition alive. A rookie under center brings upside for fantasy, but also volatility as Cleveland juggles line play and surrounding weapons. The piece ranks every Browns QB in franchise history, from Baker Mayfield’s playoff push to Joe Flacco’s steadier late-career stints, highlighting how the team’s instability has shaped fantasy ceilings and floors across eras.

With Gabriel likely starting, and Shedeur Sanders potentially in the wings, the Browns’ QB scenario becomes a live bet for fantasy managers: evaluate target shares, game scripts, and matchup-driven upside. The historical tour through 40 signal-callers offers context for how this era could swing—high-ceiling weeks paired with long stretches of uncertainty.

NFL teams increasingly rely on capable backups as the league's quarterback depth becomes a defining edge. The league-wide ranking spotlights 12 signal-callers who would step into a starting role with meaningful fantasy value, led by Kirk Cousins’s high-floor approach and Jake Browning’s improved sizing of Burrow’s Bengals. The piece weighs recent performance, supporting cast, and o-line strength to separate reliable veterans from high-variance upshots, framing Week 3 as a potential turning point for fantasy rosters.

From Jaxson Dart’s rookie upside to Marcus Mariota’s steady fill-in floor and Tanner McKee’s elevated camp vibes translating to the field, the list blends proven production with upside. The discussion also considers Anthony Richardson’s high ceiling despite a limited track record and Jacoby Brissett’s bridge-class efficiency, creating a practical guide for managers tracking backups across all leagues.

As Burrow’s injury reframes Cincinnati’s short-term outlook, the landscape for Week 3 and beyond hinges on how these backups leverage opportunity, line support, and big-play receivers. The analysis helps fantasy managers gauge which backups could emerge as weekly starters or high-floor DFS plays when the top signal-caller is unavailable.

Kyler Murray starts Week 1 vs New Orleans after a Sunday illness tag, a reminder that even healthy-looking game days can hinge on on-morning updates. The Cardinals will lean on Murray’s rushing ceiling if he’s close to full health, but the illness could trim his explosive upside just enough to matter in fantasy lineups.

Jacoby Brissett is the new emergency for Arizona, with a long track record across multiple clubs, ready to step in at a moment’s notice. The Saints present a tough matchup, so if Murray is limited, Brissett’s cue to fantasy managers is to monitor play-caller tweaks and potential target-shares for Cardinal pass-cats in a pinch.

The Cardinals signed Kedon Slovis to their practice squad, a homecoming reverberating through a quarterback room led by Kyler Murray and Jacoby Brissett. Slovis, a former Arizona high school standout, will serve as the emergency third option behind the duo, with the playoff chase hinging on Murray’s health. His path to real action remains slim absent an injury or unforeseen roster move.

Slovis’ NFL journey includes a 2024 rookie stint with the Colts and practice-squad time with the Texans before this Cardinals move. Fantasy managers should note: this is depth to preserve stability, not a viable fantasy streamer unless circumstances force a rare on-field opportunity.