Cleveland wrapped a wide-open QB competition with a veteran verdict: Joe Flacco will start Week 1. Flacco, who spent 2024 with the Colts and started six times, edges out Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders after preseason showings and an injury later in camp. Sanders earned buzz in Week 1 and Gabriel flashed in limited action before an oblique setback, but time ran out to overtake Flacco. Behind the starter is a crowded group that also includes Kenny Pickett and Tyler Huntley, with Deshaun Watson on the 90-man roster but unlikely to play in 2025. The Browns face Cincinnati to open the season, while Panthers and Eagles loom as preseason evaluators. Fantasy-minded observers should note how Cleveland manages the rotation in Week 3 and the potential for Sanders or Gabriel to rise as the season moves along, especially if Flacco stumbles or injuries strike.