Week 11 – Brian Hoyer vs. Houston Texans
In the never-ending story of NFL reality and fantasy reality not matching up, we must mention and praise Brian Hoyer for being a winner. Hoyer has led the Browns to heights no one thought possible before the season. But while Hoyer is a winner, he is not helping fantasy teams win games. In fact, in many leagues, Brian is on the waiver wire. Cleveland took home a commanding victory over Cincinnati in Week 10 with Hoyer throwing for 198 yards and zero touchdowns.
The presence of J.J. Watt is scary, but Hoyer should be more productive on Sunday as Houston’s pass defense has allowed 18 touchdowns and yields 273.8 yards per game. However, the increase will not be enough to where anyone needs to be contemplating acquiring or starting Hoyer, outside of desperate owners in two-quarterback leagues.
Week 10 – Brian Hoyer at Cincinnati Bengals
Brian Hoyer took advantage of a favorable matchup with Tampa Bay’s atrocious defense in Week 9, throwing for 300 yards and two touchdowns. The yardage constituted Hoyer’s highest total of the season. It was the first time he had thrown for more than one touchdown in a game since Week 3. The Bengals are tied with, oddly, Atlanta, in allowing the second-fewest touchdown passes in the NFL, which likely means Hoyer will endure a long night in the Queen City.
Week 9 – Brian Hoyer vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After a brutal performance in Week 7, Brian Hoyer rebounded, throwing for 275 yards and a touchdown as Cleveland became the latest team to defeat the winless Oakland Raiders. With six teams on bye and Tampa possessing a pitiful pass defense, Hoyer can be inserted into lineups in two-quarterback leagues.
Week 8 – Brian Hoyer vs. Oakland Raiders
Remember the closing scene in the movie Any Given Sunday? Departing Miami Sharks coach Tony D’Amato surprises everyone by announcing he is taking over as coach of the expansion Albuquerque Aztecs. And then he really shocks everyone by letting them know he also signed the star quarterback for the Sharks, Willie Beamen, as his starting quarterback and franchise player. Before last Sunday, many Browns fans were having the same nightmare the Sharks did. That some other team would take heroic Brian Hoyer away at the end of the season.
And then Hoyer completed only 16 passes out of 41 attempts for 215 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception in a ghastly 24-6 loss to one of the NFL’s biggest jokes, the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now most Browns fans would not care if Hoyer was shipped off to Albuquerque, Amarillo, Atlantic City, or wherever. Many fantasy owners who took a flyer on Hoyer last week only to be burned would not care either. His place at the lowest depths of the rankings makes perfect sense.
Week 7 – Brian Hoyer at Jacksonville Jaguars
Right now, Brian Hoyer is the prototypical mixed bag fantasy player. He pilots a team on the rise and will be playing Jacksonville, Oakland, and Tampa Bay over the next three weeks. But Hoyer has struggled to put up useful fantasy numbers in Cleveland’s run-centric attack. Even with the Browns scoring 31 points in week six, Brian threw for only 217 yards and one touchdown.
In leagues where you start only one quarterback, it would probably be too risky to start Hoyer despite his prime matchup. If you are in a mandatory two-quarterback league or looking for a bargain at a daily contest site, rolling the dice makes a lot more sense.
Week 6 – Brian Hoyer vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Gritty Brian Hoyer keeps coming through when the chips are down and it is time for fantasy owners to take notice. Hoyer led the Browns on a magical rally last Sunday, throwing for 291 yards and three touchdowns as Cleveland, once down 28-3, stunned Tennessee 29-28. We are not suggesting you sit your superstar starter for Hoyer, but he’s now a legitimate option in two-quarterback leagues. His stock will really rise in weeks seven through nine, as the Browns play Jacksonville, Oakland, and Tampa Bay during that stretch.
Week 5 – Brian Hoyer at Tennessee Titans
In some ways, the fact that Brian Hoyer is still Cleveland’s starter following their bye is a surprise. Many felt Cleveland would have force-fed Johnny “Football” Manziel into the lineup by now. But when you look at Hoyer’s leadership and intangibles, it is not a surprise at all. Given Cleveland’s overall ineptness as a franchise since the Browns were reborn in 1999, Hoyer’s 4-2 record as a starter is awesome. Still, Hoyer’s real world inspiration has not translated to banner fantasy numbers in 2014. He is averaging 238.7 yards per game and has thrown three touchdowns. We suspect the Browns will try to exploit Tennessee’s iffy run defense, leaving Hoyer as nothing more than a desperation choice in two-quarterback leagues.
Week 3 – Brian Hoyer vs. Baltimore Ravens
So far in 2014, Brian Hoyer is the poster child for the ubiquitous “better real life than fantasy player” statement. Hoyer has provided incredible leadership and led the Browns on a game-winning drive last weekend. He also led Cleveland back from a 24-point deficit on opening day before the Browns lost a squeaker to the Steelers. However, Hoyer is only averaging 217 passing yards and has thrown just two touchdown passes as the Browns are passing as little as possible. He is off the map even in two-quarterback leagues.
Week 2 – Brian Hoyer vs. New Orleans Saints
When Cleveland was down 27-3 to Pittsburgh at halftime, it seemed like we would see an appearance from Johnny “Football” Manziel. After all, the Browns were getting destroyed. Might as well take a look at the polarizing prospect from Texas A&M. But then something shocking happened. Cleveland went to a no-huddle offense and Brian Hoyer nearly led a miraculous comeback before the Browns lost 30-27.
It was Hoyer’s leadership that propelled the comeback, not raw numbers. He ended up with 230 yards and one touchdown pass. In an ideal world, Cleveland will avoid a shootout with the Saints and rely on rookie running backs Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell, capping the little upside Hoyer has. Unless you are really desperate in a two-quarterback league, there is no reason to have Hoyer in your lineup.
Week 1 – Brian Hoyer at Pittsburgh Steelers
After struggling during the preseason, but doing well enough to keep Johnny “Football” Manziel at bay, Brian Hoyer will lead the Browns down the turnpike for a showdown with their archrivals from Pittsburgh. Hoyer’s fantasy value is nil, even in two-quarterback leagues, because of Cleveland’s shaky group of receivers and run-oriented offense.
