Colts add Joe Flacco as insurance

The Colts signed QB Joe Flacco to a one-year deal worth "up to" $8.7 million, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Flacco gets $4.5 million guaranteed. The 2023 Comeback Player of the Year played well down the stretch for the Browns last season, averaging 321 passing yards on a 63% completion rate and 7.7 yards per attempt across six outings. He tossed 14 TDs but also 10 INTs. Flacco is quality insurance for the Colts behind QB Anthony Richardson, who made it through just two full games as a rookie last year. The signing makes guys like WR Michael Pittman and WR Josh Downs slightly safer fantasy bets.

The Browns will likely rest some starters in Week 18 if the Ravens beat the Dolphins today to clinch the AFC North, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. In that case, Cleveland would basically be locked into the AFC's No. 5 seed and have nothing to play for against the Bengals next weekend. QB Joe Flacco, WR Amari Cooper, and TE David Njoku would be obvious candidates to be held out of that one.

Browns QB Joe Flacco completed 27 of 42 passes for 368 yards with 3 TDs and 2 INTs in Week 16 vs. the Texans. This is the third consecutive game in which he’s thrown for at least 300 yards with multiple scores. Since becoming the starter in Week 13, Flacco ranks first among QBs in passing yards per game (326.8) and attempts per game (43.8). That’s the kind of volume that leads to fantasy production you can rely on, even though he’s thrown 7 INTs in that span. Next week’s game presents a tough challenge against the Jets (third in pass defense DVOA), but that should not dissuade you from tossing Flacco out in superflex/2QB lineups.

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski named QB Joe Flacco the starter for the rest of the season after Sunday's win over the Jaguars. No surprise. Flacco has given the Browns their best QB play of the season the past two weeks (and that includes Deshaun Watson). He followed a 254-2-1 passing line last week with 311 yards, three TDs, and one INT in the Week 14 win. Flacco gets doable matchups the next two weeks vs. the Bears and Texans but is really only in play in 2-QB and superflex leagues. Flacco's solid play is good news for Cleveland's skill-position players, though.

The Browns have elevated QB Joe Flacco from the practice squad and waived QB P.J. Walker. We'd guess that points to Flacco starting again, though the team has declined to name Sunday's starter yet. Dorian Thompson-Robinson would be the other option. Cleveland's WRs have to be hoping it won't go that way.

Browns QB Joe Flacco has been getting first-team reps in practice and "could start" this weekend's game vs. the Rams, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson is in concussion protocol -- and hasn't been good in his three starts. QB P.J. Walker has been just as bad. Flacco just joined the Browns 10 days ago but is likely the team's best passer. He completed 58% of his passes at 5.5 yards per attempt with five TDs and three INTs in five appearances for the Jets last year. That included outings of 309 and 307 passing yards in the first two weeks of the season. Flacco is not a viable Week 13 fantasy play, but we'd consider him a slight upgrade for Cleveland's skill-position players.