Fantasy Football Week 15 Sleeper: QB Johnny Manziel

By Jordan Wevers
Getty Images
Getty Images

Much like Johnny Manziel is hoping to spark the Cleveland Browns‘ offense, he could very well provide a boost to your fantasy football lineup in Week 15.

Manziel is available in over 70 percent of NFL.com leagues and in 68 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues. If you find yourself still breathing and in the playoffs, Johnny Football could be a viable option to replace Cam Newton for the upcoming week.

If you’re thinking long term, players like Peyton ManningTom Brady and Aaron Rodgers could start getting rest in Week 16 or 17 as their teams have secured themselves a real world playoff seed. Manziel and the Browns are fighting hard for a playoff spot, so he will still be very relevant in the latter weeks of the NFL regular season.

There’s a lot of hype surrounding his first career start. Analysts don’t have much to work with for professional game tape, but Manziel did look good in a Week 13 relief appearance for Brian Hoyer. The rookie completed 5-of-8 passes for 63 yards, scoring the Browns’ only touchdown of the game on a 10-yard scamper versus a stout Buffalo Bills defense.

Manziel’s dual-threat ability obviously gives him a more favorable projection as a fantasy quarterback. He faces the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15, who allowed 50 rushing yards to Jake Locker in Week 3 and 107 rushing yards to Newton in Week 6. In that regard, the Bengals’ D has not done a good job at containing running quarterbacks in 2014.

Someone like Ryan Tannehill, who has a tough road matchup against the New England Patriots in Week 15, may be a less appealing play than Manziel is.

Even if you have a sound QB for the remainder of this year, Manziel could be a prime sleeper candidate for your keeper league next season. Now would be the time to scoop him up.

Jordan Wevers is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanWevers, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

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