Brian Hoyer's Updated 2013 Fantasy Outlook as Browns' Starting QB

The Cleveland Browns have been searching for stability under center for a long time. Although it's far too soon to start calling Brian Hoyer the answer to all of the team's long-term questions, he's showed promise against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3.

Brandon Weeden missed the game with a thumb injury, allowing Hoyer to take the reins of a dormant offense. Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reported that head coach Rob Chudzinski wouldn't commit to Weeden moving forward once healthy:

"

If Weeden is not out long term, will it affect Chudzinski's decision about whether to insert him into the starting lineup again?

"Not really," Chudzinski said. "We're just going to take it week by week and see where he's at and where we're at. He's played two games. I'd love to see more of him."

Chudzinski wants to keep his quarterback options open for now. He said he discussed his approach with Weeden and that he understands the situation.

"

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network added that it's indeed a competition assuming Hoyer was able to prove himself against the Vikings.

Only time will tell if the Browns decide Hoyer did enough to satisfy those standards. But the offense certainly looked more dangerous in the first half of Sunday's game with the Michigan State product leading the way than it did under Weeden in the first two weeks.

Hoyer hooked up with Josh Gordon on a 47-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and added another score on a pass to Jordan Cameron to open the second quarter. It was the type of efficiency the offense lacked in previous games.

In fact, when Billy Cundiff converted a field goal just past the midway point of the second quarter to give the Browns a 17-14 lead, they surpassed their point total from the first two weeks combined.

If Hoyer is allowed to take over the starting job even when Weeden returns, he will possess some sleeper value in fantasy football moving forward. That's especially important now as backup quarterbacks become more crucial with bye weeks ahead.

The Browns are likely to start leaning more heavily on the pass after they traded Trent Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts. They signed Willis McGahee to provide some rushing depth, but he's nothing more than a void filler at this point in his career.

So Hoyer would get the opportunity to attack and has some talented options to work with. Gordon is a dynamic threat capable of making big plays down the field, and Cameron is looking more reliable with each passing week.

Add in secondary options like Davone Bess and Greg Little, and the pieces are in place for Cleveland to have a solid passing attack that's worthy of fantasy attention. It just needed to find a quarterback capable of stretching the field.

Hoyer showed enough in the first half against the Vikings to give him a chance at the starting job. He should be a popular waiver claim if the Browns let him continue under center beyond Week 3.