Michael Vick Injury: Is Eagles QB a Reliable Week 4 Fantasy Football Starter?

That deep bone bruise in Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick's right hand isn't going to keep him off the field this Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, according to a team source. But is this good news for his fantasy owners?

Vick was, on average, the 10th overall pick in fantasy football drafts this year, and for good reason. After taking the reigns of the Eagles offense in 2010, he went on to throw for 3,018 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing 100 times for 676 yards and nine more touchdowns, in just 12 games.

The only issue that makes Vick a risky start this week is what made him a risky draft pick in the first place: injuries. Those four games that Vick didn't play last year? He was out with fractured rib cartilage he suffered while being sandwiched by defenders during a goal-line run.

And now, Vick is suffering from injury again. Upon coming off of a Week 2 concussion sustained in the Eagles' loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Vick injured his non-throwing hand in Week 3, leaving his status doubtful until now.

Indeed, that he didn't injure his throwing hand makes all the difference in the Eagles' decision to start Vick this week. He can easily wrap it into a club and numb it with cortisone and be ready to play. And regardless of how he manages the injury, sitting Vick on your fantasy team's bench is not an option.

Vick is a starting quarterback with fantasy value akin to Tom Brady, Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers. No matter the injury, no matter the previous weeks' performances, he is never to be benched. Vick wins games for fantasy teams in the same manner that he does for the Eagles.

No fantasy starter is always reliable. Every game is different, and even the studliest of studs have down weeks. While Vick is injury-prone, because of his style of play and his weak offensive line, I'm sure you drafted him while fully aware of this risk.

But the rewards from Vick, when he's on his game, are practically endless. There's no reason to believe that his injured non-throwing hand will limit what his other hand, and his legs, can do this Sunday.

Unless for some reason you have been blessed with riches and have Rogers, Brees or Brady on your bench, don't sit Vick this week. If you have Ryan Fitzpatrick, don't sit Vick. If you have Cam Newton, don't sit Vick. If you have Joe Flacco, don't sit Vick.

See the pattern here? If Vick is starting, then you should start him, too. Simple as that.