Michael Vick

Michael Vick

Week Seventeen Analysis: And, here I thought I was done talking about Michael Vick. Maybe ever. Instead, he's startable in what is, effectively, a 2013 audition for 31 other teams this week. And it comes against a reeling and dispirited Giants defense. Over the past two weeks, Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan have both scored three touchdowns. And three straight quarterbacks have topped 270 yards. There's no chance cornerback Cory Webster starts for the Giants or anyone else next year. Vick was an average fantasy producer when healthy, but considering the opponent, he's got above average upside.

Week Fourteen Drop: Not that his concussion wasn't enough, now Andy Reid has named Nick Foles the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. So you would need Vick's concussion symptoms to disappear while Foles sustains an injury just to see Vick on the field again.

Week Eleven Drop: Mike Vick is concussed, which is only fair, since the rest of us have been trying to forget that whole electrocuting dogs business for a long time. He's not going to start next week, and considering the dire situation the Eagles find themselves in, it's unlikely he'll start another game unless Nick Foles is embarrassingly bad, or gets injured.

Week Nine Analysis: Michael Vick will be playing for his job on Monday night. And, it couldn't happen against a better opponent. New Orleans is probably the NFL's worst overall defense. They allow the most yards per game…by 50 (!) yards over the next worst team. They're allowing the third-most points per game, 31. They're allowing the most first downs per game. They've given up the second-most rushing touchdowns, and the fourth-most receiving touchdowns. And, as shaky as Vick has been, he's at least found ways to score some okay points in virtually every game. He has rare upside this week, though.

Week Eight Analysis: Now that Michael Vick has scored a paltry two rushing touchdowns in his last 22 games, I think we can finally put 100% of our focus on his arm, and what he might do through the air. His most recent game, before last week's bye, helped fantasy owners, even if it didn't help Andy Reid's job security. He finished with 311 yards and two scores. We won't talk about the turnovers. He's managed two scores in half his games. He's averaging a modest 1.3 passing touchdowns per game. Vick just isn't an explosive fantasy player any more. The Falcons secondary is a solid unit, only allowing one quarterback to throw more than one touchdown. So, unless this homecoming of sorts spurs Vick to a materially better game than usual, it looks like Vick is just a placeholder start in a bye week.

Week Six Analysis: In my mind, Michael Vick long ago lost his every week starter status.  Now, you've got to pick and choose your spots.  I think Andy Reid wishes he could do that.  Fortunately, you can.  This is a pretty good spot, as he faces off against the one-win Lions.  The Lions have one good cornerback, Chris Houston, and one good safety, Louis Delmas, who returns this week. Pretty much everyone else is awful. Non-starter quality. There will be good matchups for DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and Brent Celek for Vick to choose from.

Week Three Analysis: Last week, I urged you to show caution with Tom Brady because the Cardinals have a sneaky good pass defense. So, this week, with a fractionally as competent passer in Michael Vick, I'm doubly worried. Vick looked a lot better in week two than week one, and he did so against a tough Baltimore defense. He'll need his A-Game again this week. Arizona has allowed more than one touchdown pass in just 2 of the last 10 games. In the middle of that span is Vick's game against Arizona last year, when he threw for a pitiful 128 yards and no touchdowns, either by air or ground. Add in a lost center and Jeremy Maclin's possible unavailability, and you've got a recipe for a very difficult game for Vick.

Week Two Analysis: Obviously, the Ravens are a really good defense. No quarterback threw more than one touchdown against them all of last year, including the playoffs. And quarterbacks weren't able to run on them either. Andy Dalton didn't do either last week. Last year, they allowed just 8 quarterback rushing yards per game, and only one rushing touchdown, a Tom Brady 1-yard sneak in the AFC title game. Vick was brutal for stretches of last week's game. His decision making was lousy, and his offensive line often crumbled quickly. This ranking might be generous for Mike Vick, who only appears this high because the Eagles will throw a lot, and he's always got the chance for something special. You can definitely consider Alex Smith, Matt Schaub, Andy Dalton, and even Matt Cassel instead.

Week One Analysis: The Browns had a really good secondary last year. They ranked second vs passing yards and touchdowns. But, they've lost superstar CB Joe Haden to suspension, barring appeal, which means that things could get easier. Still, it's a tough matchup through the air for Vick. But, will he run in a score? That's always a bit of a crapshoot, but With Vick getting hurt in both preseason games, I don't see much running coming.  Plus, the Browns only allowed 9 QB rushing yards per game last year. 9!  And the only quarterback touchdown they allowed was a one yard sneak from Matt Schaub.  The Browns were similarly strong the prior year.  So, I'm lukewarm on Vick's arm, and his legs.