Sep 21, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) throws the ball during warm ups before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

To save their already fledgling 2025 season, the Cincinnati Bengals will draw from a way-too-familiar NFL well.

It won't work, of course, because the Bengals' answer to their woes without Joe Burrow is the 40-year-old Joe Flacco, who was last seen acting like an immobile and embarrassing interception machine for the Cleveland Browns.

JOE FLACCO TRADE GRADES: The Bengals are clearly grasping at straws

Rest assured, this process will not meaningfully change for Flacco in The Queen City.

Even if the Bengals possess some of pro football's most dynamic offensive weapons like Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Flacco is simply too far gone at his advanced age (meaning, in NFL terms). In fact, the only reason he's even really still in the NFL is that the league has a perennial crisis regarding quality quarterback play. This, in turn, pushes unimaginative general managers and coaches to stick their necks out for older passers who should be chilling out and enjoying a retirement instead of getting planted into the turf by 25-year-old, 270-pound pass-rushers.

All this to say: Flacco isn't going to save the Bengals from their impending doom. Furthermore, he's definitely not going to save your fantasy football season just because the Bengals have great receivers. Let's be honest, if you were even considering adding and playing Flacco in the first place, your fantasy team has much bigger issues that need to be addressed first.

So, I would advise prioritizing those problems instead of desperately hoping a washed-up quarterback has some juice because he doesn't. Flacco isn't going to rescue you in fantasy. He just isn't.

Be realistic, be serious, and let's keep things in perspective, dearest readers.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Joe Flacco trade: New Bengals QB is must-avoid in fantasy football

Reporting by Robert Zeglinski, For The Win / For The Win

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