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Sitting out more than a week of practice wasn't enough to completely heal Michael Vick's sore ribs, but the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback was back to work Tuesday. In an effort to stay on the job for an extended period of time, Vick plans to wear a Kevlar flak jacket for the season opener against the Browns.
This won't be Vick's first experience with body armor. Last season, he wore a Kevlar glove on his non-throwing hand.
Vick has been one of this year's most enigmatic fantasy prospects. His potential for big production has been offset by his constant risk of injury. Quarterbacks may be referred to as "field generals", but it doesn't mean fantasy football owners want to see them equipped like one. On average, Vick is coming off the board in the fourth round, which is a fair evaluation. But if you're the one who takes the plunge with Vick, get a good life jacket, I mean backup...
Kevin Kolb leading Cardinals' QB race
In the claiming race that is the Arizona Cardinals' quarterback competition, Kevin Kolb appears to have taken the lead over John Skelton. Although neither has been particularly good, Skelton has been the better of the two during games. However, Kolb reportedly has had the better of it in practice.
With one game left in the preseason, it's reasonble to think that the quarterback that performs best will be the Week 1 starter. Except that neither will play this week. That means coach Ken Whisenhunt will have to decide based on the final few days of practice. If the first month hasn't produced any separation, it's unlikely that it will happen in the next couple of days. Coach Whiz, we don't envy you.
There's no reason to recommend drafting either of these QBs, but for anyone considering Larry Fitzgerald, this is still worth watching. Last season, Fitz performed better with Skelton than with Kolb. At least now you know which one to root for...
Quick Outs
» Although Kevin Smith's ankle injury is being called a , it's apparently enough to have the Detroit Lions calling around for RB help. With Jahvid Best on the PUP list and Mikel Leshoure facing suspension, the Lions backfield is as deep as a kiddie pool. It's unknown who Detroit could target, but it's not likely to be a gamebreaker. Makes you wonder why they passed on Cedric Benson...
» Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley suggested Tuesday that receiver Mike Wallacecould play in the season opener. Since league rules mandate a three-day acclimation period before any practices or games, that Week 1 matchup against the Broncos would be Wallace's first action. He's a safe start for the first week of fantasy football, though you might want to consider him as a No. 2 option for a week or two until he's completely back into game shape...
» Jonathan Dwyerwill start for the Steelers Thursday against the Carolina Panthers while Isaac Redman nurses a mild ankle sprain. With Rashard Mendenhall unsure when he'll return, it was presumed that Redman would be the Week 1 starter. Dwyer has been the better of the backs in the preseason and a good night in the finale could vault him to the top of the depth chart...
» Austin Collie is still listed as day-to-day, but he caught passes from the quarterbacks at Indianapolis Colts practice Tuesday. He hasn't been cleared to play yet, but is expected to be available for the season opener. For all the talk of injury, Collie has played 16 games in two of his first three seasons in the league. But with four concussions heading into his fourth season, he's a big risk. He's worth a late round flier, but nothing more...
» After weeks of subterfuge and talk of Jedi Mind Tricks, the New York Jets are starting to acknowledge what most of us surmised -- they will have a Wildcat package in their offense, featuring Tim Tebow. Not only does this partially quiet the New York media's calls to use Tebow as a running back, but it cuts into the value of an already moribund group of fantasy football prospects. Tebow is expected to run just a handful of offensive plays during each game, already limiting his fantasy value. If he's stealing goal line touches from Shonn Greene, that just diminishes the running back's value. In this case, two halves are far from equalling a whole...
» Kenny Britt is off the PUP list and back on the Tennessee Titans' active roster. All that's left is to learn how long his likely suspension will be. I still believe he's an excellent value in the mid- to late-rounds. If you have the luxury of waiting a couple of weeks for WR help, Britt could be a steal...
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