Fantasy Football Week 7: How Carson Palmer and Each First Start QB Will Perform

Week 7 of the 2011 NFL regular season is upon us, and a good number of new quarterbacks will be starting for the first time this year. 

Does this mean you should pick them up on your fantasy football team? Some might be worth the add considering guys like Tom Brady, Michael Vick, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Eli Manning all on a bye this week. 

However, others will find that their first start of 2011 is going to be a bumpy ride, and they probably aren't the best bet for your fantasy team.   

Here's how each first start QB will fare in Week 7. 

Carson Palmer 

According to offensive coordinator Al Saunders, the Oakland Raiders newest addition is going to play this Sunday, "as long as he’s breathing." Sources at ESPN confirm that Palmer will start against the Kansas City Chiefs. 

He'll likely be conservative since he only has a few days of practice to work with, but you don't need a ton of chemistry with wide receivers to connect on the deep ball. It definitely helps, but when a guy is wide open, someone as good as Palmer should easily hit the target. 

If you were able to pick him up off waivers you obviously needed him, or maybe you picked him up to spite your opponents. If so, well done. 

Either way, Palmer is a decent option to start this week, as he should get you double digit points, but it will take him time before he truly explodes in fantasy football. 

Tim Tebow 

The Denver Broncos finally gave the fans what they want, but unfortunately those fans will have to wait another week before they see Tebow start in the Mile High city. 

Tebow will be back in Florida, his home state, to take on the winless Miami Dolphins. He lost his most reliable receiver in Brandon Lloyd because Denver traded him, but with Eric Decker still around Tebow will put up OK numbers. 

Plus, Tebow has the threat of his legs, and since rushing touchdowns are worth more points, the Broncos QB becomes a good option for Sunday. 

Whether you like the man or not, if you're in need of a QB, Tebow will be serviceable this Sunday against a Miami defense that ranks 20th in the league against the pass. 

John Beck 

Rex Grossman blew his chance last week when he had an awful game against the Washington Redskins division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. He threw four interceptions, which is the reason Beck is now the starter. 

Beck was originally going to be the starter but didn't perform at a high level in the preseason. But, he now has a chance to redeem himself. This will be his first NFL start in four years.  

The Redskins' new starter has several options in Santana Moss, Jabar Gaffney, Fred Davis and even his running backs are great at catching the ball and making big plays in open space. 

Taking on the Panthers in Carolina isn't as easy as it once was, and while Beck isn't afraid to tuck it in and run, I don't think he'll have the type of performance that makes him worthy of starting on your fantasy team. 

Christian Ponder 

The Minnesota Vikings figured Ponder would be sitting and learning most of the year, but since Donovan McNabb hasn't lived up to expectations and the Vikings are 1-5 right now, they had to make a change. 

The first-round draft pick had a few snaps this past Sunday against a tough Chicago Bears defense, and now he gets the unfortunate task of having his first NFL start come against the defending Super Bowl champions. 

The Green Bay Packers will bring a relentless defense after the inexperienced rookie, and although he is playing at home, it's not going to matter on Sunday because the Vikings will heavily rely on Adrian Peterson. 

Ponder may develop into a strong QB, but he's not worth the risk of starting on your fantasy team anytime soon. 

Charlie Whitehurst 

The Seattle Seahawks are still debating whether or not Whitehurst will start over Tavaris Jackson. Whitehurst has been preparing as the No. 1 guy, but Pete Carroll didn't rule Jackson just yet, according to Seattle Pi. 

 I still think Whitehurst gets the nod until Jackson is back at 100 percent, and he'll do an OK job at Cleveland on Sunday with the help of Ben Obomanu and Doug Baldwin. 

Is he worth a start in fantasy football? If he doesn't play then obviously not, but even if he does, I wouldn't risk it. He may throw one touchdown pass, but that's about it.

The Browns are third in the NFL against the pass, and the only way you should maybe start Whitehurst is if you're in a two QB league, but if that's the case, then go with Beck.