Fantasy Football Player Of The Week: Michael Vick

The Fantasy Greek’s Fantasy Football Player Of The Week: Michael Vick

Every football season is about newness. In some cases, it is about a new team. In some cases, it is about a new coach. In some cases, it is about new opportunities. In many cases, it is about a new chance.  But in every case, every football season is about a new beginning. No single player’s career better exemplifies the ebb and flow of a football career, and the newness that every season can bring — new team, new coach, new opportunities, new chances, new beginnings — than that of Eagles quarterback Michael Vick.

By way of background, the 2012 Eagles (4-12) struggled mightily on both offense and defense. On offense, the Eagles were raked twenty-ninth in points scored (17.5) and on defense, the Eagles were ranked twenty-ninth in points allowed (27.8). On offense, the Eagles could move the football, ranked fifteenth in total yards per game. However, the Eagles could not get the football into the end zone. This had to change.

In the offseason, the Eagles hired former Oregon coach Chip Kelly who brought with him a unique offensive philosophy to the professional ranks. It was a philosophy based on a persistent, high tempo, waste no time offense, not seen in the professional ranks except in most two minute offense packages.   To run the offense required a unique talent.

Michael Vick was coming off an injury shortened 2012 season. In fact, in Vick’s ten seasons as a professional quarterback, he has only one complete season to his credit. Otherwise, his career has been marred by injury. Yet, Michael Vick brings to the table a unique skill set to the Chip Kelly offense. Vick is a quarterback capable of throwing the ball, and running it too. Despite being thirty-three years old (as if that’s old), Vick is in great shape, fleet and nimble. Over his career, Michael Vick has thrown for 20,274 yards and rushed for 5,551 yards. Vick has one rushing yard to every 3.65 yards of passing. By comparison, Peyton Manning has one rushing yard for every 81.7 yards of passing. As it turns out, Michael Vick could be the perfect quarterback for the Chip Kelly pro offense.

Last week, Michael Vick looked dominant in the new look offense, against what looks to be an improved Redskins defense. Vick tallied 203 yards passing, 54 yards rushing, and 3 touchdowns on one fumble. From a football and fantasy football perspective, this was a great day, as Vick put forth one of the better quarterback performances of the first week of the 2013 season. Indeed, at this pace, Vick would have a career season. At this pace, the Eagles would easily exceed their touchdown total of 2012 by thirty-five touchdowns, and stand a good chance of making the playoffs.

In Week 2, Michael Vick will get to do it all again against a Chargers defense that suffered a hurtful loss to the Texans last week (31-28). In that contest, the Chargers gave up 346 yards passing and over 100 yards rushing, plus three passing touchdowns. The Chargers travel from the West Coast to the East Coast. This makes it difficult for the Chargers to play, given the time change. Playing against the Eagles high tempo offense should lead to significant fatigue. Just ask a Redskins defense which looked gassed at times last week, with player hands on hips, or bent over clutching knee caps. In Week 2, Michael Vick is poised for another breakout performance in an offense that should be clicking. Having standout players on your side like, among others, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, and Brent Celek certainly helps.

New team. New coach. New opportunities. New chance.  New beginning. Michael Vick is The Fantasy Greek’s Fantasy Football Player of The Week.

For more Top 5 starts at the quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, kicker, and defense/special team positions, visit TheFantasyGreek.com, “Your Second Opinion For Your Fantasy Football Instinct.”

Written By: Jim Saranteas – @TheFantasyGreek and @JimSaranteas on Twitter

Founder of the fantasy football advice site