At last, Vick picks up passing pace

FANTASY FOOTBALL

Michael Vick has been more of a winning quarterback than a fantasy quarterback. The Falcons star is 29-15-1 (.656 winning percentage) as a starter in his five seasons, but he hasn't found similar success in the fantasy world. His career high in touchdown passes, set in 2002, is 16. That was easier to swallow with the eight rushing touchdowns he had.

Vick threw for 14 touchdowns last season and was intercepted 12 times, though he did run for 902 yards. The point is Vick hasn't been the revolutionary player many thought he would be when he left Virginia Tech. He has been burdened by injuries, his passing deficiencies and subpar receivers.

But in the third month of his fifth season, we are seeing signs of a breakthrough.

Vick has thrown for more than 200 yards in his last three games. In his 52-game career, he has just one other such streak (the final three games of '02). He also has a touchdown-interception ratio of 5-0 in that span, giving him 10 touchdown passes for the year.

Granted, he has fumbled four times in the last two games, and he has been sacked eight times in the last three. But Sunday against the Buccaneers, his longtime nemesis, Vick threw for 306 yards. In five previous meetings, his high against the Bucs was 147.

While Vick continues to hone his passing skills, his supporting cast has improved. Michael Jenkins and Roddy White, the Falcons' last two first-round draft picks, played significant roles Sunday. Jenkins, who missed the previous two games with an ankle injury, had a season-high five receptions, his second touchdown catch and his most yards (69) since Week 1 (80). White, who had been slowed by a holdout and injuries, had his best game of the year with four catches for 108 yards.

Jenkins has great size at 6-4, 217 pounds, making him a potentially dominant red-zone candidate. White has been a great practice player, according to coach Jim Mora, and he's starting to make big plays in games. Tight end Alge Crumpler should continue to be a force, and running backs Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett give the offense balance.

This isn't to say Vick is going to be unstoppable the rest of the season, but fantasy owners should feel more confident playing him, and keeper-leaguers should bring him back next season for what could be his best yet.

JOB SHARING: Julius Jones returned to the Cowboys' starting lineup Sunday, but Marion Barber stole the show again with two touchdown runs, giving him five in the last three games. Coach Bill Parcells wants Barber to continue to spell Jones, who carried 21 times for 92 yards. Both are starting material, though Barber might be more of a flex play because he's likely to have fewer carries.

*Ravens running backs Jamal Lewis and Chester Taylor are battling for more than carries. Their futures are on the line. Both are set to become free agents after the season, so a strong finish is in their best interests. They will continue to split carries as part of the Ravens' evaluation, though Taylor has been the more productive of the two. Keeper-league owners will want to monitor this situation closely.

PLAY 'EM

*Eagles QB Mike McMahon: Donovan McNabb's replacement has a nice schedule ahead of him, starting with the Packers, who have allowed 11 touchdown passes in five road games.

*Panthers RB DeShaun Foster: If you need a running back, see if Foster is available. He's facing a Bills defense that ranks second-to-last against the run and has allowed 15 rushing touchdowns, tied for the league high.

*Rams WR Isaac Bruce: After missing five games with a toe injury, he found the end zone Sunday for the first time since Week 1. He's a good bet to do it again against the Texans (17 touchdown passes allowed), even with Jamie Martin at quarterback.

BENCH 'EM

*Broncos QB Jake Plummer: He has gone a team-record 219 passes without an interception, but he hasn't been much of a point producer. That doesn't figure to change against the Cowboys, who have allowed an average of 12.7 points in the last six games.

*Buccaneers RB Carnell Williams: That 116-yard, one-touchdown effort Sunday was a long time coming. He was probably on your bench for it, too. Keep him there against the Bears, who have allowed only two rushing touchdowns.

*Bills WR Eric Moulds: This is dependent on J.P. Losman not starting. All three of Moulds' touchdown catches have come from Kelly Holcomb. If the Bills stick with Losman, Lee Evans is the better play.

SLEEPER

Saints RB Antowain Smith.

SUPERSLEEPER

Niners RB Maurice Hicks.

Jeff Agrest can be reached at jeffagrest@aol.com. Listen to him talk fantasy football on WSCR-AM (670) from 8-9 a.m. Sundays.