Fantasy Football Week 10 Projection: Michael Vick
Fantasy football owners dread bye weeks much more than actual NFL teams. A week off gets superstars their rest, but for your fantasy football lineup there is a gaping hole left to be filled with a lesser player. With six teams on bye this week, three of which are quarterbacked by definitive fantasy football starters in Andrew Luck, Philip Rivers and Tom Brady, owners will be in need of a spot start. Throw in Robert Griffin III, who is also on bye this week, a quarter-half of the owners in a league could be looking for a new starter this week. In steps Michael Vick, who could be a difference changer for teams this week, and for the stretch run of the season.
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Vick will be making his second start of the season, and after yet another full week of practicing with the first team you would expect his performance to continue to improve. Last week it was not a flashy start for Vick, finishing with a pedestrian 13.64 fantasy points. He completed 21-28 for 196 yards and one touchdown, adding 18 rushing yards, in a tough game at Arrowhead Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs. His opponent this week, the Pittsburgh Steelers, is not as threatening, especially on the road.
The Steelers are middle of the road against quarterbacks in fantasy football terms, as they have taken advantage of some easier matchups, already playing against rookie Blake Bortles and game manager Brian Hoyer twice. On the season, they have given up 16.3 fantasy points per game to the quarterback position. Only Mike Glennon, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Andrew Luck and Joe Flacco scored over 18 points against the Steelers defense this season; expect Vick to become the fifth.
This game has blowout potential, which will allow for Vick to pad his stats. Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been on fire the last three weeks, tossing 14 touchdowns and no interceptions. Against the porous Jets secondary, that could lead to some easy scores and early deficit for the Jets.
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If that happens, Vick should be in for plenty of work. He should easily surpass his 28 pass attempts from last week, and with a pressure defense the Steelers use he could also find plenty more running lanes. The Steelers defense is banged up once again, and is something Vick and the Jets’ offense should be able to take advantage of. The Steelers will be without starting cornerback Ike Taylor again, who is still recovering from a broken arm, and safety Troy Polamalu, the heart and soul of the Steelers’ defense.
Those are the type of losses Vick should be able to take advantage of and turn into a solid performance for your fantasy football team. Only Bortles failed to throw a touchdown against the Steelers this season and they are ranked 20th in the NFL, giving up 252.2 passing yards per game. Vick will be a nice addition to any fantasy football team in need of help at quarterback this week.
Projection: 265 passing yards, two touchdowns, one interception, 60 rushing yards