Chris Johnson: Why Tennesee Titans RB Must Be Benched in Fantasy Leagues

Chris Johnson is no longer worthy of a fantasy football roster spot.

The Tennessee Titans running back has started off another season on a disappointing note and is running off of reputation alone.

CJ2K hasn’t been a fantasy stud since his 2009 campaign, when he went off for 2,006 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. He also caught 50 balls for 503 yards and two TDs that year.

While Johnson followed that up with a highly respectable 1,364 yards and 11 TDs in 2010, he elected to hold out and ask for more money following this performance. Regardless of whether it was the right choice or not, he hasn’t been the same player since getting paid.

After a disgusting performance from one of the top-drafted RBs in 2011 (1,047 yards and four TDs on the ground), potential owners should have red-flagged Johnson in their 2012 draft.

Unfortunately, he’s made it onto a roster in virtually every league. And those who gambled on him have surely gone bust, largely to the tune of his 45 rushing yards and zero touchdowns on the ground, plus nine receptions for 63 yards and zero touchdowns via the air.

Those numbers simply aren’t worthy of a backup on a deep fantasy roster, let alone a week-to-week starter.

Nothing is going to change either, as the Titans offensive line remains one of the poorest in the league, and second-year signal-caller Jake Locker isn’t exactly scaring defenses away from the box.

If you have CJ2K, it’s about four weeks past the point of trying to trade him. If you’re lucky, perhaps you can con a fellow league member into taking him off your hands for practically any other position player in the NFL.

Otherwise, it’s seriously time to start thinking about dropping Johnson, whose inconsistent—nay, lack of—production is a risk that you can’t afford to take if you're serious about making the championship game in 2012.