Fantasy Football Week 9: Top 5 Wide Receiver Rankings

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Week 9’s fantasy football schedule should result in several big-time performances from wide receivers. In particular, the Monday Night Football game will put a couple of guys from the Philadelphia Eagles on display against a New Orleans Saints defense that isn’t stopping anyone in 2012.

Philadelphia wideout DeSean Jackson just seems like a prime-time dude. He’s a showman. He’s obviously got the skills—and the deep speed—to make massive plays for Philadelphia and his fantasy owners.

Jeremy Maclin has plenty of play-making ability opposite him, entrenching him within the top 20 as well. But he didn’t make the top five, like the following players:

6. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Miami Dolphins)

7. Victor Cruz, New York Giants (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)

8. Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons (vs. Dallas Cowboys)

9. Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys (at Atlanta Falcons)

10. Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh Steelers (at New York Giants)

11. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons (vs. Dallas Cowboys)

12. Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

13. A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Denver Broncos)

14. Eric Decker, Denver Broncos (at Cincinnati Bengals)

15. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals (at Green Bay Packers)

16. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans (vs. Buffalo Bills)

17. Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles (at New Orleans Saints)

18. Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

19. Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys (at Atlanta Falcons)

20. Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

21. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers (at New York Giants)

22. Vincent Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Oakland Raiders)

23. Torrey Smith, Baltimore Ravens (at Cleveland Browns)

24. Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)

25. Ryan Broyles, Detroit Lions (at Jacksonville Jaguars)

26. Titus Young, Detroit Lions (at Jacksonville Jaguars)

27. Denarius Moore, Oakland Raiders (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

28. Kendall Wright, Tennessee Titans (vs. Chicago Bears)

29. Donnie Avery, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Miami Dolphins)

30. Lance Moore, New Orleans Saints (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

31. Mike Williams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Oakland Raiders)

32. James Jones, Green Bay Packers (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

33. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions (at Jacksonville Jaguars)

34. Kenny Britt, Tennessee Titans (vs. Chicago Bears)

35. Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills (at Houston Texans)

36. Josh Gordon, Cleveland Browns (vs. Baltimore Ravens)

37. Brian Hartline, Miami Dolphins (at Indianapolis Colts)

38. Devery Henderson, New Orleans Saints (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

39. Cecil Shorts, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Detroit Lions)

40. Santana Moss, Washington Redskins (vs. Carolina Panthers)

5. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles (at New Orleans Saints)

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The New Orleans Saints have surrendered 11 receiving touchdowns to wide receivers in just the last four games in addition to 229.8 yards per game. Jackson hasn’t caught a touchdown pass since Week 4, but he has caught at least four balls in six of seven Philadelphia Eagles games this season.

He and Jeremy Maclin can both go off against New Orleans. Of the pair, Jackson is my pick to gain 100 yards and a touchdown or two.

4. Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears (at Tennessee Titans)

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The Tennessee Titans have allowed four-end zone trips to wide receivers in their last four contests. Brandon Marshall of the Chicago Bears has scored three in his last four, catching at least six passes and going for at least 81 yards in each of the games during that time period.

Tennessee has given up at least 129 yards to receivers in each of its last four as well.

3. Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos (at Cincinnati Bengals)

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The Cincinnati Bengals have been a top-five matchup in terms of shutting down fantasy wideouts this season—but they haven’t played a whole lot of top-flight fantasy competition.

The top three fantasy wide receivers to have suited up against the Bengals this year are Mike Wallace, Torrey Smith and Josh Gordon.

Peyton Manning should have no trouble finding Thomas for a bigger game than most (if not all) of them have experienced against Cincinnati so far.

2. Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings (at Seattle Seahawks)

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Here’s the thing about Percy Harvin: The Minnesota Vikings are utterly determined to get him the football whenever and wherever possible.

This guy could end up with six or seven receptions behind the line of scrimmage just to get a shot at doing something with it, and he’s got the talent to come through even against the Seattle Seahawks’ rangy cornerbacks.

Harvin has scored three touchdowns in his last four games while topping the 100-yard mark twice in that span.

1. Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers (at Washington Redskins)

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Smith has yet to score a receiving touchdown this season; his fantasy owners are probably quite frustrated that he hasn’t delivered the big game.

This game should be that big game.

The Washington Redskins lead the league in yards and receptions allowed to opposing wide receivers: 1,819 yards and 124 catches. That’s eight more grabs and 177 more yards than second place in each category.

Smith gets looks from Cam Newton—he’s caught seven passes in each of the last two games—and should be able to cash those into reservations for six on Sunday.

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