Week 9 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: 5 Players Who Should Ride the Pine

Ryan Torain, Washington Redskins

As if the Redskins didn't already have a crowded backfield, the team went out and picked up recently waived Tashard Choice just to make sure.

Who knows how many touches Choice will take away from Torain. However, it's safe to assume that the Redskins didn't claim him just to sit him.

What's more, who really knows when Mike Shanahan will spin the running back wheel? For all we know, Choice could be the lead guy by the second half.

In a matchup against the 49ers—who currently rank first in rushing defense—it is best to stay far away from Torain. 

Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills

Johnson makes the trip to Revis Island this weekend, which will immediately drop the fantasy value of any receiver.

The Island has been especially scary in 2011. Darrelle Revis is allowing just a 2.9 passer rating on passes thrown his way through seven games this season. Just 10 passes—yes, 10—have been completed on the Jets cornerback this year.

Johnson might get his hands on a few balls, but don't expect good numbers (or any numbers?) from him in this matchup.

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

There hasn't been a more up and down quarterback in fantasy football this season than Flacco. One week, he'll throw for 300 yards and three scores. The next week, he can't even crack 150 in Jacksonville.

Last week, he was rightfully booed in the first half. The Ravens went into halftime and were down by 18 points. That was to the one-win Cardinals. Flacco now has to deal with the Steelers in Pittsburgh, where he's been historically awful.

All in all, this is a terrible matchup for the current version of Flacco. 

Eric Decker, Denver Broncos

Decker is a fantastic talent. However, the concern here obviously centers around the Broncos quarterback (or lack thereof).

Tim Tebow simply cannot distribute the ball on a consistent basis to any target on the field. That includes Decker. While he caught a touchdown pass in garbage time last week, you never know when Decker is going to have a game like he did in Tebow's first start (two catches, 21 yards).

Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers

Mendenhall is a guy that you should consider benching in all formats. In six career regular season games against the Ravens, Mendenhall is averaging under 60 yards rushing per contest.

It's not about a lack of touches, either. Mendenhall's 3.1 yards per carry vs. the Ravens ranks among his worst against any team. With the Ravens continuing to stop the run in 2011, Mendenhall is a risky start this week.