Fallout: Vick downgraded

Being forced to miss training camp by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell delivers a big blow to Michael Vick's fantasy value.

Vick will be missing valuable time in learning new coach Bobby Petrino's offensive system and becoming acclimated to the new offense with his teammates.
I've downgraded Vick's draft standing from No. 102 to No. 216 in my overall rankings and dropped him from No. 11 to 28 in my quarterback rankings. Previously, his stock had already dropped amid the serious allegations made in the off-season.

However, my recommendation is to avoid him in fantasy drafts altogether as his status for the regular season remains uncertain.

Falcons backup quarterback Joey Harrington becomes the leading candidate to replace Vick as the team's starter.

Harrington is a significant downgrade from Vick, having failed as an effective and consistent quarterback with Detroit in his first four years in the league (2002-05) and with Miami last year in 11 starts.

In fact, Harrington has thrown more interceptions (77) than touchdowns (72) in his five-year NFL career.

By virtue of being Atlanta's possible starting quarterback for the opener, Harrington climbs to 220th from 249th in the overall rankings and jumps from 38th to 31st in the quarterback rankings. He still rates as an undrafted quarterback for many leagues.

Though former Atlanta backup Matt Schaub has little experience as a starter, he would have been considered an upgrade over Harrington if he was kept instead of being traded to Houston in the off-season.

Backup quarterback Chris Redman offers little NFL experience with only six starts in four seasons. D.J. Shockley offers zero NFL game experience.

Tight end Alge Crumpler was Vick's favorite target, and his fantasy value significantly decreases without Vick as the starter.

I've downgraded Crumpler from 83rd to 124th in my overall rankings and sixth to ninth in my tight end rankings. Once in the class with Philadelphia's L.J. Smith, he drops to a group of tight ends that comprises of Pittsburgh's Heath Miller, New England's Ben Watson, Dallas' Jason Witten and San Francisco's Vernon Davis.

The fantasy value of Joe Horn also takes a hit with the potential loss of Vick for the season. He no longer becomes a starting fantasy receiver if Harrington starts.

Horn drops to 135th from 100th in my overall rankings and declines from 39th to 48th in my wide receiving rankings as a result.

His stock had already dropped signifcantly after two straight subpar, injury-plagued seasons when he finished with fewer than 700 receiving yards in both years.

Once part of a wideout group that includes emerging stars like Philadelphia's Kevin Curtis, Denver's Brandon Marshall, Tennessee's Brandon Jones and Pittsburgh's Santonio Holmes, Horn drops further out of reach as a potential fantasy starter.

In addition, the values of running backs Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood will decrease with Harrington at quarterback instead of Vick as the starter.

Reviewing the fantasy quarterbacks, Indianapolis' Peyton Manning is the clear No. 1 choice. He will be picked in the first round of some drafts and likely no later than the second round of many drafts.

The second class of quarterbacks comprise of New England's Tom Brady, New Orleans' Drew Brees, Cincinnati's Carson Palmer, Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb and St. Louis' Marc Bulger. These quarterbacks all have the potential to throw for 4,000 yards and/or 30 touchdowns. They will likely be gone after the fifth round.

Owners who want to draft starting running backs and wide receivers first will likely find the next set of quarterbacks to include Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck, Detroit's Jon Kitna, Dallas' Tony Romo and the Giants' Eli Manning.

Kitna is the wildcard; he was only one of five quarterbacks to throw for at least 4,000 yards last season. His offensive coordinator, Mike Martz, employs a high-octane passing attack that has been extremely productive for quarterbacks like Kurt Warner and Bulger in the past.

Kitna will also be throwing to one of the league's top wideout trio of Roy Williams, No. 2 overall pick Calvin Johnson and Mike Furrey.

Vick was overlooked in many drafts last season, falling to the mid-rounds. He was one of fantasy's top bargains last year when he produced a solid fantasy season by becoming the first NFL quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards and throwing for a career high 20 touchdowns.

Any hope of him moving up in drafts this season was squashed with the news that he will sit out training camp.

Instead of drafting Vick, owners can take a chance on promising young quarterbacks in the mid-rounds like Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger, San Diego's Phillip Rivers, San Francisco's Alex Smith and Tennessee's Vince Young.

Roethlisberger will be playing in a new spread offense likely conducive to big passing stats by having as many as four receivers on the field.

Rivers is entering his second full season as a starter and is surrounded by the game's top running back (LaDainian Tomlinson) and tight end (Antonio Gates), along with a dominant line to protect him in a high-scoring offense like Norv Turner's.

New acquisition and No. 1 wideout Darrell Jackson bolsters Smith's receiving unit in San Francisco, and Young is fresh off his impressive rookie season.

One veteran quarterbacks to draft instead of Vick is Green Bay's Brett Favre. He finished sixth in passing yards (3,885) last season and has shown he can still produce on a weekly basis.

Other promising quarterbacks to draft are Denver's Jay Cutler and Arizona's Matt Leinart. Cutler owns a strong arm and is supported by solid receivers like Javon Walker, a proven line and a history of running success. Leinart will be throwing to one of the league's top receiving duos with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

Owners will be best served now bypassing Vick and taking a chance on promising quarterbacks in the mid-rounds of fantasy drafts.