Week 9 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Reggie Bush and Other RBs to Bench

Reggie Bush, Miami Dolphins

Don't be lulled into thinking that Bush has suddenly become a starting fantasy option because of a lingering injury to Daniel Thomas and one-off 100-yard outing against the New York Giants.

The fact is, Bush has exactly two 100-yard rushing games in his career and they came almost five years apart.

I'm not saying it's going to take him another five years to do it again. However, it is safe to say he's not going to be putting up similar numbers on Sunday in Kansas City. Play the odds and keep him on your bench.

DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys

The Eagles jumped out to a huge lead on Sunday night, which essentially eliminated Murray from the game plan for the rest of the contest. He played well in limited touches, carrying the ball eight times for 74 yards.

However, the fact of the matter remains that Murray posted two above-average games against two of the worst run defenses in football in the Rams and Eagles.

Against the Seahawks, who have given up the fourth-least amount of points to opposing running backs, Murray should find much tougher sledding.

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.

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. No one knows how many touches that Choice will take away from Torain. However, it's safe to assume that the Redskins didn't claim him just to sit him.

Who really knows when Mike Shanahan will spin the running back wheel, anyway? For all we know, Choice could be the lead guy by the second half.

In a matchup against the 49ers, who currently rank as the best rushing defense in the league, it's best to stay far away from Torain.

Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks

Lynch has been a rollercoaster ride in 2011. We've seen him be bad (six carries, 11 yards in Week 2), good (98 yards, one touchdown in Week 5) and absent (injury scratch pregame in Week 7). The only thing we can really expect from Lynch is the unexpected.

What does Week 9 bring? The Dallas Cowboys, who are fresh off giving up over 170 yards and a couple of scores to LeSean McCoy. We're not banking on Lynch to duplicate those numbers.