Johnny Manziel to start at QB for Browns

Dec 09, 2014

Johnny Football will get his first NFL start just in time for the final weeks of the AFC playoff race.

Coach Mike Pettine decided that Johnny Manziel will start at quarterback this week for the Cleveland Browns, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday, via a team source. FOX Sports first reported the news.

Pettine met with the quarterbacks Monday, per Rapoport. The coach was non-committal about the team's starting quarterback at his Monday press conference, but all signs pointed toward Manziel after another rough performance by starter Brian Hoyer.

Fantasy Impact:

As the story points out, Manziel offers the unknown, which like it said about the Browns coaches, can be both good and bad for fantasy owners as well. Manziel gave the Browns' offense a spark in his brief relief effort against Buffalo. He clearly has speed and arm strength superior to Hoyer. While Manziel's pocket-passing game figures to be rough, Hoyer was struggling with his poise and accuracy for weeks. He wasn't a comfortable pocket quarterback, either.

today

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans practices for second straight day

Greg Auman

0 minutes ago

Cooler weather for Bucs practice today -- Wirfs and Evans practicing again. Still no Zyon McCollum, but Troy Hill and Greg Gaines were practicing today.

Related Players: Sterling Shepard, Jalen McMillan, Trey Palmer

Fantasy Impact:

Fantastic news for fantasy managers hanging on to Mike Evans: he should be considered a WR1 option immediately.

yesterday

49ers TE George Kittle "good to go" for Week 12

KNBR

yesterday · 5:34 PM EST

“I will be playing on Sunday. Very excited, can’t pass up playing the Packers. I will be out there for sure.”

George Kittle says he’s good to go for Sunday

Related Players: Eric Saubert

Fantasy Impact:

Kittle returns to a great matchup against a Packers defense that ranks 26th in TE aFPA. He should be fired up as a high-end TE1 once again.

Bears RB D'Andre Swift misses Wednesday practice

Kevin Fishbain

yesterday · 1:29 PM EST

Per Bears head coach Matt Eberflus: Ryan Bates remains in the concussion protocol. Elijah Hicks (ankle) and D'Andre Swift (groin) won't practice.

Teven Jenkins will be limited.

Related Players: Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer

Fantasy Impact:

This is definitely a situation to keep an eye on, as Johnson would have a huge workload if Swift were to miss Week 12. Homer has three rush attempts and zero targets on the year.