Week 8 Start Em Sit Em: Tim Tebow and Other QBs to Sit

The Denver Broncos' Tim Tebow managed to prevent himself from having a horrible statistical day in his team's Week 7 come-from-behind overtime victory over the Miami Dolphins, giving his fantasy owners reason to believe that he's a worthwhile fantasy start despite nearly four quarters of flat play. However, I don't think that is the case, and that's why he leads my must-bench QB list for Week 8.

Tebow completed 13-of-27 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns and rushed nine times for 59 additional yards. That stat line alone isn't enough to give his owners pause, but the fact that a whopping 147 of those 161 yards, and both touchdowns, didn't come until the fourth quarter isn't exactly a ringing endorsement of his fantasy value.

It's not likely that Tebow can continue to be practically ineffective for 90 percent of a football game, only to pull off last-minute heroics, week in and week out. And this Sunday against the Detroit Lions, he's clearly outmatched by a defense likely to keep the pressure on the mobile quarterback all game long.

Ah, yes, that mobility. That's one of the more exciting things about Tebow, and it's the quality that is able to mitigate his work-in-progress passing game. It's also very attractive to fantasy GMs. But that mobility doesn't necessarily work against every defense, and it's going to be held in check by the Lions this week.

Tebow still has fantasy value to be sure, but he's not a smart start this week. Wait until he's truly proven that he can be consistently productive before committing to him as your starting fantasy quarterback.

Washington Redskins quarterback John Beck also has too many strikes against him to warrant starting him this week for your fantasy team. While he put up a respectable 217 yards for one touchdown and one interception in the air and rushed for another touchdown, the injuries plaguing the Redskins offense are going to affect his production this week against the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills don't have an especially brutal defense, and it's going to suffer now that outside linebacker Shawne Merriman has been placed on injured reserve. However, Beck's targets have shrunk significantly, with receiver Santana Moss sidelined with a hand injury for the next five to seven weeks.

He will have to throw to the inconsistent Jabar Gaffney and Anthony Armstrong and lean on tight end Fred Davis. He won't have the luxury of top rusher Tim Hightower easing the pressure on the passing game, now that he's out for the season with a torn ACL.

Until it's clear how the Redskins are going to manage their offense, it's safer to keep Beck on your bench as a QB2.

Injuries aren't the issue for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco; rather, it's seriously underwhelming play that's making him a must-sit for Week 8. He completed just 21 of his 38 attempts against the Jacksonville Jaguars, for 137 yards, one touchdown and an interception, and he has a completion percentage of just 52.1 on the season.

Despite having a cadre of young and fast receivers, he's unable to get the ball out in time. He looks both rushed and confused this year, overwhelmed in his role rather than having the breakout year that most had predicted for him.

This week, the Ravens host the Arizona Cardinals and are looking for redemption after a heartbreaking and humbling loss to the Jaguars in their previous contest. I think the Ravens will succeed in doing so on Sunday, but it won't be because of Flacco's arm.

Flacco just isn't consistent enough to warrant him being a go-to fantasy starting quarterback. Keep him on your bench for this and every week, or until he proves he can be anything more than just a game manager.