Johnny Manziel

Week 16 at Kansas City

Even his harshest critics have to admit Johnny Manziel is nowhere near the disaster he was last season. On the road last Sunday in Seattle, one of the toughest places to play in the NFL, Manziel did not melt down, showing plenty of poise. He also held onto the ball well, throwing just one interception.

However, Manziel’s improvement is not showing up on the stat sheet, thanks in part to a weak supporting cast. He threw for just 161 yards and a touchdown. With Kansas City’s defense on fire, more of the same can be expected at Arrowhead Stadium, another one of the NFL’s most daunting venues. Manziel should be ignored this week, even in 2QB leagues. Otherwise, your fantasy week could go about as well as Steve Harvey’s coronation of Miss Universe.

Week 14 vs San Francisco

The latest plot twist in the ongoing Johnny Manziel soap opera has resulted in the controversial quarterback being reinstated as Cleveland’s starter after Austin Davis struggled last Sunday. In his last start against Pittsburgh back in Week 10, Manziel threw for 372 yards and a touchdown and looked less lost than he had in previous appearances.

The 49ers head into Cleveland on a high note after beating Chicago in overtime, but San Francisco yields 270 passing yards per game. They also allow an average of 125.2 rushing yards and have yielded 14 rushing touchdowns, which is notable given Manziel’s running ability. Manziel is risky on so many levels, but probably would be a worthwhile gamble for 2QB league owners who need a spark. In other formats, there are better streamers out there.

Week 9 at Cincinnati

The last time Johnny Manziel faced the Cincinnati Bengals, it was his first NFL start. He was annihilated along with the rest of the Browns, who lost 30-0 despite the fact the game was played in Cleveland. Since that day, Manziel has been more known for his sordid personal life than anything he has done on the field, although he led the Browns to a 28-14 victory over the hapless Tennessee Titans in Week 2.

Cincinnati’s pass defense yields over 250 yards per game, but the Bengals just did a commendable job against a rusty Ben Roethlisberger on Sunday. Although Manziel’s earlier performance against Tennessee where he threw for two touchdowns offers a hint of encouragement, the Bengals are a big step up in class. Manziel is a dicey QB2 who will probably need to deliver in garbage time to offer any hope to supremely desperate fantasy owners.