Let Rudi Johnson’s release from the Cincinnati Bengals hammer the point home that sure things do not exist in fantasy football. Exactly one year after fantasy owners went bonkers for his all-but-guaranteed 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns, Johnson is a constantly injured man without a team. He was replaceable, and former first round pick Chris Perry did to Johnson what he did to former starter Corey Dillon four years ago. Things change - fantasy owners must be ready to roll with the punches.

The Bengals reportedly made Johnson, who missed all four of the team’s preseason games, available via trade, but couldn’t find any takers. The 28-year old will almost certainly be picked up by another team, but it’s tough to find a situation where he’d have immediate fantasy value. What’s more likely is he plays a backup role on a team hurting for backfield depth, then maybe gets a chance down the road.

Owners who drafted Johnson are in a tight spot until they get a little more clarity on this situation. The best decision would be to keep him on your roster unless your league is shallow enough to land an NFL starter, perhaps his replacement Perry, by cutting him. Otherwise, be patient and let his situation play out. If nothing changes by the end of Week 1, it will be a little more imperative to cut bait on the bad investment.

As far as the Bengals’ backfield goes, things just got a little more interesting. The organization likes what the oft-injured Perry can do and has reliable veteran Kenny Watson to throw into the mix. A fantasy owner would be wise to not draft one without the other, as this situation could be tumultuous if Perry gets bogged down by injuries. Watson, like he did for Johnson last season, would have plenty of value if he makes an occasional spot start.