Week 8 Start and Sit quarterbacks

Weekly predictions can swing wildly, but some quarterbacks just have a perfect matchup. Here are a few to start and sit possibilities as Week 8 games approach.

Now I know how a bingo card feels. Last week’s quarterback starts and sits were all over the board, some stinging me mightily while others left a warm, cozy feeling – like I might have a bit of a clue about what I’m doing.

Fortunately, the feeling faded quickly with every Aaron Murray completion and every Connor Shaw wounded duck pass that found nothing but turf.

However, I’m going to put a small stake in the ground regarding the sit suggestion for Michigan’s Denard Robinson. When one of Fantasydom’s top three scoring quarterbacks ends up on the second page of the quarterback scoring totals for Week 7, you’ve got to consider that a feather in the prognosticator’s cap.

While I can live with most of the picks – be they wrong or right in the aftermath of Week 7 -- the one that kind of bugs me the most is Hawaii’s Bryant Moniz and his teammates engaging in a turnover-fest with San Jose State. You can’t put up monster numbers if you and the defense are constantly exchanging places on the field. I watched that one and it was not only ugly, but it took on a pathetic feel as it unfolded.

Anyway, here’s the Week 7 quarterback results, complete with an average point total via the numerous Fantasy leagues in which I play.

Last Week's Starts: Tevin Washington, Georgia Tech (19), Connor Shaw, South Carolina (10), Darron Thomas, Oregon (18), Bryant Moniz, Hawaii (22), G.J. Kinne, Tulsa (32), Matt Christian, New Mexico (10).

Grade: B-

Last Week's Sits: Aaron Murray, Georgia (30), Denard Robinson, Michigan (18), Brock Osweiler, Arizona State (19), Ryan Lindley, SDSU (20), Chandler Harnish, N. Illinois (28), J.J. McDermott, SMU (24).

Grade: C-

Start Em! Quarterbacks (BCS)

Jeff Tuel, Washington State: After breaking his clavicle in the season-opener, Tuel has been on the mend. He came back last week and suffered at the hands of Stanford, but let’s just call that a scrimmage to knock the rust off. Nothing lost in that one -- the Cougars were supposed to lose. But this week, Washington State gets a reeling Oregon State team at The Palouse and my gut tells me that now that Tuel is back as the starter and has a little game experience under his belt, he’s going to unload a big day against the Beaver secondary. Tuel is very talented and is a three-year starter with quality receiving options. He’ll put the Stanford debacle behind him and crucify Oregon State’s secondary.

Geno Smith, West Virginia: The Mountaineers visit Syracuse and are presented with a golden opportunity – an opportunity to pass the ball a ton. The Orangemen give up nearly 294 yards a game through the air, a total that would seem to invite exploitation. Smith seems to be one of those quality quarterbacks who doesn’t really get the credit he deserves for the type of production he delivers. I have him on one of my Fantasy teams and can confess that I haven’t started him yet and realize that’s been a mistake. Smith should take apart the Syracuse secondary in this one and put up numbers that make Fantasy players hearts’ sing.

Collin Klein, Kansas State: Geez, I really like this guy and he’s got a very good matchup this week against a Kansas squad that probably left all it had on the field Saturday to make the Oklahoma loss seem respectable. Yes, Klein will be on the road, but I like the Wildcats to continue to do that voodoo they do on offense, and the means Klein will be running and throwing against a defense that simply isn’t that good.

Tommy Rees, Notre Dame: A bonus pick here. Rees seems to be hitting his stride with seven scoring passes in the last two games. With USC visiting South Bend, I like this game to evolve into something of a shootout and that bodes well for Rees. Despite its athleticism, the Trojan defense has been hurt with the pass, and I see an opportunity for Rees to get some business done in this one. If it were at USC, I’d be far more skeptical, but since it’s a home game -- I like Rees to have himself a very nice afternoon.

All 120

Casey Pachall, TCU: With hapless New Mexico rolling into town, the pickings seem plentiful for the Horned Frog offense. Yes, they’ll run the ball down the Lobos throat, but when New Mexico tries to go stout against the running game, Pachall will make them pay. In a game I could see being about 56-3, there will be plenty of offense for everyone -- including Pachall.

Taylor McHargue, Rice: Well, let’s see – Tulsa’s pass defense stops no one (118th nationally) and the Golden Hurricane is coming to Rice, so I’m going to go out on a limb here and call this one a shootout in the making. And that’s good for McHargue, who has done some nice things this season, but hasn’t really delivered much since a three-touchdown outing against Baylor in the season’s third week. In fact, he’s got just three scoring tosses in the last three weeks, so the opportunity to get rolling again is presenting itself. I think he takes advantage of it and puts up some good numbers.

Pete Thomas, Colorado State: Thomas has made some strides in this, his sophomore campaign, but would certainly like to forget last week’s 10-of-24 outing against Boise State. Fortunately, UTEP isn’t Boise State -- even at home. Thomas is going to get a chance to right the wrongs of Week Seven against a defense that’s 108th nationally against the pass. The Rams struggle to run the ball, so Thomas should again get a chance to throw it around some. Here’s betting he puts the Boise State debacle behind him with a big day against UTEP.

Sit Em! Quarterbacks (BCS)

Barrett Trotter, Auburn: With this one being at LSU, I don’t like Trotter’s chances of doing a lot statistically against the Tigers defense. The other issue is that this is the eighth straight week the Tigers have played, and I don’t think they are going to have a lot left in the tank after the win over Florida. Trotter has been decent this season and has shown some flashes, but this scenario just seems set up for a disastrous outing. Don’t bite on this guy.

Seth Doege, Texas Tech: Things are about to get serious for the Red Raiders and Doege. The visit to Oklahoma will be a tough and physical battle, one that I don’t think TTU can win. I suspect Doege is going to be harassed, harried and possibly hurt in this one as the Sooners come at him in waves. They know what I know: Give him time and his covey of quick receivers will hurt the Sooners. Better to attack the pocket and make Doege pay for completing passes. I know the Texas Tech offense is passing-friendly, but I don’t think Doege is going to put up the pinball-type passing numbers we’re used to seeing.

Keith Price, Washington: Here it is, Week 8’s Denard Robinson pick. Price has been a revelation this season and done nothing but show that the Washington quarterback job lives and breathes without Jake Locker. However, he’s about to go on the road for Washington’s biggest game to date -- a game that has far more pressure and potential than any they’ve played this year. Price will find out just how tough and effective the Stanford defense is. Like Robinson last week, there is a message in the Washington schedule to this point -- the Huskies have not played anyone near the cream of the Pac-12 crop so far, and own wins over Hawaii and the squeaker over Eastern Washington. The only solid defense they have faced (at Nebraska) is their only loss. Price was limping around again in Saturday’s game, so there is plenty I can see going wrong in this one once the Stanford defense dials in. It’s a whole different level of Pac-12 football for Washington by facing Stanford on the road -- a level Price and the Huskies aren’t quite ready to touch.

All 120

Tim Jefferson, Air Force: Love Jefferson, but playing at Boise State is simply no way to make Fantasy owners ecstatic. The Broncos defense is physical, fast and almost certainly a mismatch for the Air Force offense – Jefferson included. Do not go there with Jefferson.

Austin Dantin, Toledo: Miami (Ohio) gives up passing yardage grudgingly at 169 a game. Even though this game is at Toledo, look for Miami to put a stranglehold on the passing game and force the Boomers to run the ball. Dantin will do some damage, but not nearly enough to even think about a Fantasy run from him.

Dominique Davis, East Carolina: Too hit-and-miss this season. Even coming off a pretty good game against a hapless defense like Memphis, Davis makes me very nervous. On the road against Navy, those bad feelings are starting to stir again, and I can’t help but think the season of promise that East Caroina started 2011 with will continue to fail. Davis has been maddeningly inconsistent this season and against a hard-nosed, deceptively talented defense (35th in passing defense nationally), I get the distinct feeling that his inconsistency is going to reappear. In truth, I wouldn’t touch Davis in this one.