Week 7 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Christian Ponder and Rookies to Bench

Minnesota Vikings rookie Christian Ponder will make his first career NFL start this Sunday against the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers and their ferocious defense. Ponder will have his hands full this week, and he is one of many rookie players not to start on Sunday for your fantasy football team. 

Let's look at three rookie players who won't be effective this week and should not be started in fantasy football leagues.

1) Greg Little

Greg Little has all the talent to succeed in the NFL, but with the Cleveland Browns, developing your offensive talent is often a tough task.

The Browns are facing an athletic Seattle Seahawks defense this week that will make it tough for Little to be effective.

Little has just 20 receptions for 203 yards through six weeks. Do not start him this week.

2) Blaine Gabbert

Blaine Gabbert has done pretty well for the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars, but against the vaunted Baltimore Ravens defense in Week 7, the rookie quarterback will struggle.

Gabbert will be pressured all game, and he won't have enough time in the pocket to step into throws and deliver accurate passes to his receivers.

Don't start Gabbert this week unless you have to in a two-quarterback fantasy league.

3) Christian Ponder

Christian Ponder is the future of the Minnesota Vikings at quarterback. He will take over for veteran Donovan McNabb this week and make his first NFL start against the Green Bay Packers.

The Packers defense will put pressure on Ponder all game, and all-pro linebacker Clay Matthews will be licking his chops when he sees an inexperienced rookie QB dropping back to throw.

The Vikings' best chance to win is by giving running back Adrian Peterson the ball and hoping he is effective.

Ponder will not play well this week, so do not start him.