Vick troubles make Atlanta players bad fantasy football choices

Filed in archive Fantasy Football on July 21, 2007

Courtesy NFL.com

Joey Harrington has had a pedestrian NFL career, to say the least.

Harrington has reached 3,000 yards passing just once in five seasons and he's never thrown 20 touchdowns in a single year. His career completion percentage is a less-than-gaudy 55 percent and his lifetime passer rating is an awful 68.1.

In spite of this general lack of success, Harrington has a very good chance to be the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback in 2007, based on the off-the-field problems of incumbent starter Michael Vick.

This prospect will play games with every fantasy owner's draft strategy.

Even though Vick has never reached his potential as a starting quarterback, he does bring elements to the game that make his teammates better. His running ability opens up passing lanes, and his quick dump-offs in the flat have made Warrick Dunn a fantasy owner's dream in the past.

Atlanta had hoped to decrease Dunn's role, before Vick's legal problems. Now, that strategy may have to change, but if Vick is out of the lineup, teams will likely load up on the diminutive back, since Harrington poses no real passing threat, and the Falcons' receivers don't scare defenses, either.

In light of these issues, if Mike Vick is not playing, the best strategy for fantasy owners is to stay clear of Atlanta Falcons players until the later rounds of your draft.