Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel returned to practice on Monday, throwing for the first time since Aug. 23. He’s expected to be active for Sunday’s Week 1 opener against the New York Jets.
Johnny Manziel back at practice, still carries no fantasy value
Johnny Football will be ready for Week 1, but he’s not starting any time soon. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Manziel has been dealing with elbow tendinitis that kept him out of the final preseason games. Despite the missed reps, he was in no danger of losing the No. 2 quarterback spot behind Josh McCown. Manziel had a disastrous rookie season, completing just 18 of 35 passes for no touchdowns, two interceptions and 5 yards per attempt in five games.
Fantasy impact: There was some offseason buzz that the Browns would move on from Manziel, but he’s getting another chance to prove he belongs in the NFL. He’s just the backup right now, but the 36-year-old McCown is hardly an upgrade. Cleveland’s offense is bound to struggle this season, and Manziel could end up starting games either way. He remains well off the fantasy radar unless he shows quick progress as a passer and leader.
