Week 9 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Chris Johnson and 4 Stars to Sit

Fantasy football means difficult decisions that induce severe headaches as owners determine who they will start and sit. There are some studs that play regardless of the situation but the majority of the decisions will depend on the matchup.

Some of the so-called studs begin the season on the "can't cut" list but never seem to get rolling. They put your team in situations where you are putting the season in peril by displaying loyalty to your first-round pick.

Still others will occasionally run into opposition that requires you to think twice about starting that player despite the amazing season he is having.

The following slides will provide a guide for who to sit in Week 9 and solve at least half the equation.

Chris Johnson

Chris Johnson's slow start has caused a firestorm of guess work as to what's wrong with him this season. His disgruntled owners have hoped he is just hasn't recovered from missing the preseason while praying that it isn't a lack of effort.

The game against the Indianapolis Colts provides all the evidence required to plant him on the bench until further notice. Not only was he out-rushed by second-string running back Javon Ringer, but Colts quarterback Curtis Painter was the leading rusher for either team.

Playoff fields are beginning to take shape and you can't afford to keep waiting for Johnson to turn it on. He should be relegated to the bench against the tough Cincinnati Bengals rush defense. 

Carson Palmer

Carson Palmer might have been a more viable fantasy starter in the first few weeks of the season than he is now.

The Oakland Raiders' recent acquisition has some familiarity with head coach Hue Jackson's system. The two weeks he was given to prepare for a shaky Denver Broncos squad will make little difference.

It appears certain that Palmer does not have what it takes anymore to be a productive quarterback in the NFL. His arm strength and accuracy have disappeared.

Additionally, wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh is not the security blanket he once was since he lacks the ability to separate from defensive backs now.

Reggie Bush

Reggie Bush has given fantasy owners some hope that he can be productive after compiling 103 yards against the New York Giants. However, it is fool's gold considering it was only the second 100-yard game of his entire career.

The Kansas City Chiefs have been turning things around after an extremely poor start. They have won four straight and linebacker Derrick Johnson has been having a Pro Bowl-caliber year.

The Chiefs kept Oakland Raiders running back Michael Bush and the Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson out of the end zone. There is no reason to believe that Reggie Bush can do better than those two.

Ben Roethlisberger

The Baltimore Ravens defense did not perform poorly against the Arizona Cardinals but they will be motivated to step it up even more against Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

The last two weeks have provided both a close win and a close loss for the Ravens, and the defense knows that it can't count of the offense to score consistently. 

The addition of the most heated rivalry in the NFL only means that the Ravens will be frothing at the mouth to get on the field. By the way, they already have the third best defense against the pass.

Roethlisberger had a great performance last week against the porous New England Patriots defense, but that will not be the case this week.

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Ryan Fitzpatrick has turned things around for the Buffalo Bills, but he is not a fantasy savior. He has only thrown five touchdown passes over the past four games.

The New York Jets boast a top ten passing defense and Darelle Revis. Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson will not be able to shake the dominant cornerback enough to provide the relief that Fitzpatrick will need.

Fitzpatrick had a nice game against the Washington Redskins but that team is in a death spiral. He is a solid quarterback but a poor start against the Jets in Week 9.