Flacco, a veteran winner of the starting job in Cleveland’s QB room, is slated for some preseason snaps as the Browns try to finalize identity and rhythm. His experience in 2023 (4-1 as a starter, 1,616 yards, 13 TDs, 8 INTs; 73.9% completion) and a prior productive spell in Cleveland provide a blueprint for leadership and efficiency. A Week 2 date with the Ravens adds a historical echo and potential scouting value for the regular season.

Flacco secured Cleveland’s Week 1 starting job at 40, becoming a rare veteran anchor in a Browns room that includes younger quarterbacks. He brings a proven track record, calm in the pocket, and a last-season eight-game sample (65.3% completions, 1,761 yards, 12 TDs, 7 INT) that offers a safe floor for fantasy managers in two-QB formats. His start slots him into streamer territory with defined risks, given age and surrounding playmakers.

Flacco returns to Cleveland as Week 1 starter, with historical Browns runs showing high-volume passing and a strong fantasy floor. His arm and timing could anchor the Browns’ aerial attack, elevating Njoku and Tilman as primary targets.

<p>Joe Flacco, at 39, lands the Browns’ Week 1 start, a notable post-40 assignment in today’s NFL. His veteran poise and proven late-season playmaking style bring steadiness amid a rocky QB competition and a rash of injuries. Returning to Cleveland for a second stint, Flacco emphasizes businesslike focus and readiness, a game plan that could stabilize a young receiving corps while the run game anchors the offense.</p><p>His Week 1 challenge vs. Cincinnati tests not only his timing but his ability to translate practice success into real-game execution. Flacco’s path hinges on smart decisions, play-action efficiency, and ball-security in a scheme that leans on the run and defense, making him a viable Week 1 streamer in 1-QB formats but with limited long-term ceiling in a developing roster.</p>

Flacco serves as temporary starting quarterback, lauded for daily consistency and leadership in camp, with prior Browns starting stretch that yielded a playoff berth. His veteran presence buys time for Gabriel and Sanders to prove whether Cleveland has a long‐term solution on the roster.