Dillon Gabriel Week 5 Outlook - Vikings at Browns

By Derek Brown (FantasyPros), Thu, Oct 2nd 2025, 1:05pm EDT

It's about time. The Browns have benched Joe Flacco, who will serve as the QB2 this week for the team. Dillon Gabriel will draw the start. During his final collegiate season, Gabriel ranked third in adjusted completion rate and 14th in yards per attempt, but he was also 103rd in big-time throw rate. Much of his production in that final season was schemed. He was sixth in screen attempts and fourth in screen passing yards. 66% of his passes were within nine yards of the line of scrimmage. That's not to say that he can't throw the deep ball because he was third in deep ball completion rate, but he ranked 132nd in deep ball rate. Good luck, rookie. Brian Flores will test Gabriel early and often with blitzes and simulated pressures. Minnesota has allowed the 14th-fewest yards per attempt, the third-fewest passing yards per game, and the fourth-lowest CPOE. Minnesota blitzes at the fourth-highest rate and ranks second in pressure rate. Cleveland has allowed the seventh-highest pressure rate, so expect Gabriel to be running for his life at times this week.