The Cleveland Browns are preparing to start Johnny Manziel over Josh McCown in Week 9 after the quarterback suffered an injury on Sunday. The Browns play on Thursday against the Bengals and players like Duke Johnson, Isaiah Crowell, Gary Barnidge and Travis Benjamin are solid fantasy start options for that game.
According to NFL.com, Rand Getlin reports that McCown is dealing with a rib injury and he likely will be out for the game on Thursday night. The Browns are visiting the undefeated Bengals in a divisional road game and Manziel will be preparing this week as the starter. Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer reported on Tuesday that McCown said that it "will take longer than a few days or weeks for ribs" to be healed enough for him to play.
Manziel had to come into the game on Sunday for McCown after he was injured and played some snaps for the Browns in the loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Manziel has not started since back in Week 2 of the season, which ended up as a win against the Tennessee Titans. Manziel will be forced to prepare for the undefeated Bengals on a short week and he is up against one of the best defenses in the league.
McCown was already dealing with a shoulder injury from earlier in the season and now he is dealing with a rib issue. McCown had 211 passing yards and three touchdowns against the Cardinals before getting injured and he now has 11 touchdowns and four interceptions this season. McCown has put up some solid numbers with 1897 yards and a 65 percent completion rate, but he has been banged up multiple times this year.
Manziel has played in four games this season and has 393 passing yards with three touchdowns and one interception for the Browns. The Browns are just 2-6 on the season and third in the AFC North and now they have a very tough test in the Bengals. The Browns actually were up against the Cardinals with McCown under center, but the team allowed 27 unanswered points and ended up losing the game. McCown has had x-rays on his ribs and while he will be out this week, there is a chance he could return for the next game.
The Browns offense has performed fairly well with McCown under center and players like Gary Barnidge and Travis Benjamin have put up solid numbers. Barnidge comes in with 40 catches for 567 yards this season and he has been one of the best tight ends in the league with six touchdowns. Benjamin has high upside value as a boom-bust pick, as he has four touchdowns and is averaging 75 yards per game this season. Benjamin has just 38 catches, but he has put up 601 yards and adds value as a return man.
Joe Thomas was a target for the Broncos at the trade deadline, but Thomas was NOT traded. A deal did not get done in time.
Check here for more on the Browns, Manziel, McCown and Week 9.