Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings: Michael Vick and 3 QBs Who Will Climb Back

The 2011 NFL season has not been kind to some of fantasy football's favorite quarterbacks thus far.

Sure, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers (and their fantasy owners) are enjoying unbelievable seasons in a league that's grown ever kinder to pass-happy offenses, but not everyone has enjoyed the fruits of the new labor agreement.

These three quarterbacks, in particular, have had a rough go of things at times in the first month of the season but should see something of an uptick in performance in Week 5.

Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles

At long last, Michael Vick had a Michael Vick-like performance, throwing for 416 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another 75 yards against the 49ers.

Pretty amazing what the guy can do when he's not getting pounded on every other play.

Those who gambled half their auction budget on Vick before the season will be happy to know that he'll be due for yet another big game on Sunday. He should have no trouble terrorizing a Bills defense that's given up the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.

For those of you worried about the Eagles' pass protection, fear not—Buffalo's pass rush is among the worst in the NFL, with just five to its credit through four games.

All of which suggests that Vick will set the world of fantasy football ablaze once again.

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

All the talk about Matt Ryan blowing up this season seems like a distant memory, with six touchdowns against four interceptions through four games.

That being said, you can throw all of that out the window this week, as he'll be throwing against the Packers' pass defense, which is one of the worst (or, for opposing fantasy owners, the best) in the NFL right now. Only the Broncos have allowed more fantasy point to opposing quarterbacks.

Granted, plenty of those points came on the arm of Drew Brees, though Green Bay can hardly be forgiven for making Cam Newton, Jay Cutler and Captain Neckbeard Kyle Orton look like fantasy football world-beaters.

And, lest we forget, "Matty Ice" is actually a pretty decent quarterback with some darn good weapons around him, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez included. Throw in the fact that Ryan will be playing at home on the turf at the Georgia Dome, and he's in perfect position to leave some fantasy football folks smiling on Sunday.

Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

Speaking of the Broncos, yes, their pass defense is, in fact, terrible.

To be fair, they've been without All-Pro corner Champ Bailey all season, but it's not as though he's ever stopped Philip Rivers from putting up big numbers. Bailey was in the lineup in Week 11 of last season, when Rivers torched Denver's secondary with four touchdown passes.

The Chargers' receiving corps is a bit banged-up at the moment. Antonio Gates is expected to miss yet another game with plantar fasciitis, but, on the bright side, Vincent Jackson will be back in action after sitting out most of the second half against Miami.

Rivers is off to a rough start, with six interceptions against just five touchdowns through four games, but should find life under center to be much more fantasy friendly with the bruised and battered Broncos staring sheepishly from across the line of scrimmage.