No single player got more attention leading up to draft day and had more rumors swirling around his every move than Johnny Football. After two years under center for the Texas A&M Aggies, Manziel came into the draft with people either extremely high on him or way down on him.
His biggest proponent if you were watching ESPN’s coverage was Jon Gruden who thought every team in the draft needed him as the evening wore on. After waiting 21 picks and making a trade down and two trades up, the Cleveland Browns ultimately landed the big-name QB and stopped his slide. Cleveland fans only hope that Brady Quinn 2.0 is a vast improvement over the original.
My guess is that going into your fantasy draft in the fall, opinions will be just as divided as they were going into this draft. Someone in your league is probably known for being “The Reacher.” He probably drafted Tim Tebow a few times and tries to get his “sleepers” in the second and third round. Whoever the reacher is, I think you’re safe letting him get Johnny Football for his rookie campaign.
Sure, there’s definitely upside with Manziel, but he will have to compete for the job with Brian Hoyer who had a good thing going before his injury last year. Manziel himself is a big injury question behind that offensive line and in the NFL in general.
Saying he’s a high-risk pick would be an understatement, but we have seen a mobile QB with high risk pay off in the last few years with RG3. With the weapons around him like Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron, I think Manziel could be a fantasy factor at some point this season if and when he gets the chance to play, but pass on him for now in your fantasy drafts since some college football fan is bound to overpay for the former Heisman winner.
Overall, Manziel will be a low-end QB2 with some upside if he wins the job for the Browns before the season begins. In dual QB leagues, he’s worth a late-round flier unless the Reacher strikes first.