Gary Barnidge, Travis Benjamin Fantasy Advice with Johnny Manziel as Starter

The 2-6 Cleveland Browns may no longer be realistic playoff threats, but there are plenty of fantasy owners with their eyes on the postseason who will be relying on the team’s pass-catchers during Thursday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The team’s decision to start Johnny Manziel at quarterback while typical starter Josh McCown deals with injuries, per CBSSports.com's Jared Dubin, will have a direct impact on those fantasy players starting tight end Gary Barnidge and wide receiver Travis Benjamin.

While Manziel’s presence is discouraging on the surface because he is an unproven playmaker who has not lived up to the lofty expectations that surrounded him out of college as a former Heisman Trophy winner, there are reasons to trust both Barnidge and Benjamin.

Plus, Manziel was solid in his first start this season, when he beat the Tennessee Titans 28-14 behind two touchdown passes and zero interceptions.   

The opponent is one reason for optimism when it comes to Barnidge. The Bengals allowed 105 receiving yards to tight end Heath Miller the last time out, which was a season  high for the Pittsburgh Steelers weapon and the first time since Week 1 the veteran even topped 46 yards through the air.

Football Outsiders ranked Cincinnati as a middling 15th in the league against tight ends through Week 8, which means there will be opportunities for Barnidge against the middle of the defense. What’s more, the Browns will likely look for some short passes to get Manziel comfortable under center, and the tight end should be open on underneath routes.

Barnidge already has three 100-yard efforts on the season and six touchdowns in the last six games. He has made a habit of finding the end zone, and he could do so again Thursday against a defense that isn’t geared to slowing tight ends on a consistent basis.

As for Benjamin, fantasy owners have to look no further than Manziel’s last start for hope. Benjamin notched 115 receiving yards and both of Cleveland’s touchdown catches against the Titans. The former Texas A&M star was most effective as a passer when he targeted the speedster downfield, and he will certainly have that in mind when he takes the field again Thursday.

In fact, Manziel targeted Benjamin a team-high four times in that game, and the rest of the receiving corps only had 57 yards through the air compared to Benjamin’s 115.

Since McCown took over the job again the next week, Benjamin only has one 100-yard outing in six games. Perhaps the chemistry fans saw between the former Miami Hurricane and Manziel will return in Cincinnati.

Ultimately, the 2-6 Browns will likely fall behind the undefeated Bengals, especially on the road. That will force Cleveland to air it out, which means Benjamin and Barnidge should both provide second-half value as the Browns enter into comeback mode.

It is a risky proposition to start either playmaker with Manziel under center, but there is plenty to like with both Benjamin and Barnidge for Week 9’s first game.