Cleveland handed rookie Dillon Gabriel the start in Saturday’s preseason tilt versus Philadelphia, a prime audition with the Browns’ quarterback room banged up. With Shedeur Sanders sidelined by an oblique issue and Kenny Pickett unavailable due to hamstring woes, Gabriel should run with plenty of reps and showcase what he can offer as a pro debut. Joe Flacco remains the likely Week 1 favorite, while Tyler Huntley will work behind Gabriel, creating a crowded but compelling behind-the-scenes battle for the Browns’ QB depth chart.

Gabriel arrives with a storied college résumé (63 starts across UCF, Oklahoma, Oregon; 326 completions for 3,857 yards and 30 TDs in 2024 at Oregon; Big Ten MVP) that portends potential upside if he carries that productivity into the NFL. He’s a deep dynasty and best-ball target in superflex leagues, especially if he seizes the job as Cleveland navigates quarterback volatility in the coming weeks. This game won’t determine Week 1 status, but it’s a crucial data point for fantasy managers tracking Browns QB flow.

Beyond Gabriel, the Browns’ plan hinges on the balance of veteran presence and rookie opportunity. Flacco’s veteran steadiness anchors a room that could trend toward a multi-quarterback rotation in the short term, while Huntley’s addition adds intrigue for a midseason QB contest. For fantasy, the takeaways are clear: Gabriel’s performance could tilt how aggressively Cleveland sources QB depth, with dynasty rosters eyeing any signals of a future starter in this pipeline-rich team.