Week 7 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Christian Ponder and 3 Guaranteed QB Busts

It's hard to imagine a week with more fantasy confusion as it relates to the quarterback position. Tom Brady, Michael Vick, Eli Manning, Andy Dalton, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Alex Smith are all in a bye week this week.

In addition to that, Christian Ponder, Tim Tebow, Carson Palmer and John Beck are going to be making their first starts of the 2011 season this week. We don't know how many passes Palmer will throw. There is also uncertainty with Tarvaris Jackson and Sam Bradford.

In other words, finding a good quarterback is going to be rough this week, especially for those of us in deeper leagues, or multiple-QB leagues.

Despite all of that, there are some names that must be avoided. Stay away from these guys.

Christian Ponder

The Packers defense can certainly be moved on, but this is a rough opening assignment. Their secondary goes after the ball, and their front seven has a tremendous ability to find the quarterback.

Also, Minnesota's best chances depend on Adrian Peterson. Ponder is simply not a reliable enough passing option to think that Minnesota will not use Peterson a lot, even more than normal.

Really, it's just hard to imagine a lot of production coming from Ponder. As a general rule, rookies in their first start aren't good plays against the undefeated reigning Super Bowl champions.

Carson Palmer

I have a similar feeling to this one that I had with Ponder, although I think the Raiders will win the game.

For one, it hasn't even been officially announced by Hue Jackson that Palmer will start. It would make sense that he would, but that's not even a guarantee.

Two, the Raiders rushing attack is just too strong to think that they will rely on a rusty quarterback. Lastly, I see the Raiders getting out ahead in this one and backing off of the passing attack.

All signs point to a relatively quiet day from Palmer.

Blaine Gabbert

The Baltimore Ravens aren't undefeated, nor are they the defending champions, but this is not a defense that you want to have a rookie quarterback going against.

Frankly, I just don't see the Jaguars scoring much this week. Anything more than about 10 points seems quite optimistic.

Gabbert will be a fine quarterback. But even in a thin quarterback week, he's not a good play.