Brian Hoyer's Updated 2014 Fantasy Outlook Heading into Week 7

Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer has exceeded most universal expectations, fended off Johnny Manziel for the starting job and managed to be a viable NFL starter through five games.

In guiding the Browns to a 3-2 record, Hoyer has been efficient, made smart decisions and gotten a lot out of a rather limited cast of receivers. Cleveland's success has been built around the run, but the schedule from Week 7 and beyond is favorable enough to consider Hoyer a legitimate, starting fantasy option.

He may not produce like a pure QB1, but in fantasy leagues that deploy two signal-callers, it would be a wise move to snag Hoyer if he's available. For those owners who have elite options, Hoyer is an excellent spot start, too.

Owned in just 3.9 percent of standard ESPN.com leagues, those seeking QB help will be happy to have Hoyer, considering the caliber of opponents he's preparing to face.

Week 7 has Hoyer going against the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road. The Jags' pass rush has been strong (19 sacks), yet their secondary has still been soft enough to yield the third-most passing yards in the NFL at 294 per game.

Pro Football Focus highlights how Hoyer has had a knack for explosive plays this season:

"

Brian Hoyers leads all quarterbacks with 531 yards coming on deep passes. 2nd is Philip Rivers (475) & 3rd is Andrew Luck (449)

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) October 13, 2014"

Also helping the cause is that the Browns have a slew of contributors, with three viable running backs and a receiver corps that has kept defenses guessing thanks to Hoyer's excellent ball distribution.

Hoyer's ties to his hometown team are true, yet he has other means of motivation to keep playing at a high level in the midst of a contract year. It's no guarantee that he'll return to the Browns, in light of one notable remark to the media on Monday.

"I don't think I need to say any more than I'm from Cleveland and this is where I want to be," said Hoyer, per Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot. "But I also am a competitor, so I want to be somewhere where I'm playing."

What awaits beyond the 2014 campaign is unclear, but fantasy owners should look at Hoyer's more immediate future and be pleased with what they see. Following the road trip to Jacksonville, the Browns return home for two games to face the winless Oakland Raiders and the one-win Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Bucs are 31st against the pass through Week 6, while Oakland is 31st versus the run, which will allow Hoyer to air it out deep on play-action passes, if his early deep accuracy is any indication.

Instead of being afforded the chance to bask in the glory of a huge 31-10 win over the AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers, though, Hoyer fielded inquiries about his status in Cleveland beyond this year the next day.

A career backup who sat behind behind future Hall of Famer Tom Brady in New England, Hoyer has been playing with a chip on his shoulder ever since he entered the league an undrafted free agent. He has thrived on bucking the odds and is certainly doing so through five starts in 2014.

Despite tearing his ACL last season, there hasn't been a lot of rust on display from Hoyer, who appears to be improving as he gets more comfortable in the offense.

This intel from ESPN's Ed Werder, true or not, will only further fuel Hoyer's fire—which is good news for prospective and current fantasy owners:

Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has done a masterful job putting Hoyer in position to thrive, but the veteran signal-caller has also made some impressive throws. Hoyer has tossed at least one touchdown in every game this season with just one interception overall, eclipsing the 200-yard mark each time out.

That latter trend figures to continue in Jacksonville.

Cleveland has given Hoyer exceptional pass protection all year. Although it remains to be seen how the loss of star center Alex Mack (fractured fibula) affects the Browns up front, Hoyer's savvy decision-making and opportunity to attack Jacksonville deep should see him put up his best numbers of 2014 to date.

One last note on Hoyer's fantasy outlook entering Week 7: Following this stretch of three games in which Hoyer should do well, keep in mind that only two more weeks will pass before superstar receiver Josh Gordon is eligible to return from suspension.

Brian Hoyer's Week 7 Projected Stats: 20-of-30 passing for 282 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT.