Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 3: Michael Turner and More Fantasy Stars You Must Bench

Michael Turner is one fantasy football star that you should bench on your team in Week 3 of the 2012 NFL season.

With two weeks in the books, we now have a better understanding of which players are likely going to be disappointments this season.

Let's look at three star players you must bench in Week 3.

Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans

Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson is currently in one of the strangest slumps I've ever seen a star player go through. He's healthy, but his offensive production has been quite poor since the start of last year.

Johnson has been completely awful in the season's first two games. He rushed for four yards on 11 carries in Week 1, and had eight carries for 17 yards in Week 2. That's terrible for a player of his caliber.

Regardless of who Johnson is playing, there is no reason to start Johnson in any type of fantasy league until he proves that he can be at least half the player he once was.

Starting him is way too risky right now, especially when he's not much of a factor in the passing game either. Make sure you bench Johnson in Week 3.

Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

Very few people could have expected a poor performance from Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons, but his three interceptions in the first quarter on Monday night proved that the Denver offense still has plenty of work to do.

Against one of the league's top defenses in the Houston Texans, expect Manning to have another subpar game.

Houston currently ranks No. 1 in pass defense, allowing just 124 passing yards per game. Since he's going up against a strong pass rush and a talented secondary, Manning should be benched in fantasy leagues that start one quarterback per team.

Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons

If not for his first-quarter touchdown at the goal line on Monday night, Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner would have been a huge fantasy disappointment for the second straight week.

After a poor Week 1 performance in which he rushed for 32 yards on 11 carries, Turner rushed for 42 yards on 17 carries against the Broncos.

And a good chunk of those yards came on his final carry of the game, when the Falcons were running down the clock in the last minute.

With Atlanta having a lot of success in the passing game with quarterback Matt Ryan thus far, Turner isn't a good start in Week 3.

The Falcons also have capable running backs in Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling to take carries away from Turner if he continues to struggle.

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