Michael Vick is back, this time with a new NFL team ... the New York Jets. Whether or not he is back on the fantasy football radar, though, remains to be seen.
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Vick, who lost his starting job to Nick Foles while in Philadelphia, figures to compete with Geno Smith for the top spot on the depth chart during training camp. It's a battle for fantasy leaguers to keep tabs on, as Vick's presence under center could be a real positive for members of the team's offensive attack.
One thing in his favor is the fact that Vick had several years of experience in Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg's system during their time together with the Eagles. He also allows coach Rex Ryan a better chance to win now, as opposed to a spending another season waiting for Smith to develop (or fail to develop) into a No. 1 quarterback at the NFL level. In fantasy land, though, Vick wouldn't be drafted as more than a second option even in a best-case scenario.
That has a lot to do with the fact that he has grown increasingly prone to injuries in recent seasons.
Remember, the veteran out of Virginia Tech has missed a combined 15 games over the last two seasons due to injuries. Furthermore, he hasn't started a full 16 games since 2006 ... when he was a member of the Atlanta Falcons. If this trend continues, Smith figures to see a few starts next season even if he does fall behind Vick in the pecking order.
The potential for Vick to start is also good news for the value of new wide receiver Eric Decker, who has been damned to the fantasy football abyss since signing with New York. Vick isn't even close to being Peyton Manning, but he still has a strong arm and can extend plays when the pocket collapses around him. It would also be good news for Chris Ivory and a backfield that could use a spark.
Stay tuned ...
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on NFL.com and NFL Network and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Have a burning question on anything fantasy related? Tweet it to **@Michael_Fabiano** or send a question via **Facebook**!