Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: Position by Position Breakdown

We've entered the second half of this year's fantasy football season, and as we roll into Week 9, fantasy owners everywhere are scrambling to get their squads squared away in preparation for the postseason push.

The further into the season we get, the more important each week's games become. Therefore, in an effort to help bring home a much-needed victory this week, here's a position-by-position look at the top 20 fantasy plays at every position for point-per-reception (PPR) fantasy football leagues.

Drew Brees and the Top 20 Quarterbacks

Things haven't exactly gone according to plan for the New Orleans Saints in 2012. A team that entered the season with aspirations of being the first club in NFL history to play a Super Bowl on their home field, the Saints now appear to be headed towards watching the playoffs from home.

However, that hasn't stopped quarterback Drew Brees from piling up the passing numbers. The 12th-year veteran will look to rebound from last week's pedestrian effort against the Denver Broncos when the Saints host the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.

1.) Drew Brees - NO vs. PHI

2.) Aaron Rodgers - GB vs. ARI

3.) Robert Griffin III - WAS vs. CAR

4.) Cam Newton - CAR at WAS

5.) Peyton Manning - DEN at CIN

6.) Michael Vick - PHI at NO

7.) Ben Roethlisberger - PIT at NYG

8.) Matthew Stafford - DET at JAX

9.) Josh Freeman - TB at OAK

10.) Matt Ryan - ATL vs. DAL

11.) Eli Manning - NYG vs. PIT

12.) Carson Palmer - OAK vs. TB

13.) Tony Romo - DAL at ATL

14.) Andy Dalton - CIN vs. DEN

15.) Matt Schaub - HOU vs. BUF

16.) Andrew Luck - IND vs. MIA

17.) Jay Cutler - CHI at TEN

18.) Philip Rivers - SD vs. KC

19.) Joe Flacco - BAL at CLE

20.) Ryan Fitzpatrick - BUF at HOU

Arian Foster and the Top 20 Running Backs

Houston Texans running back Arian Foster was the first overall pick in many fantasy drafts this past summer, and to this point, the fourth-year pro has lived up to that billing. Foster leads all players at his position in fantasy points per game, despite averaging less than four yards per carry.

Foster should come back from the Texans' bye with a bang against a Buffalo Bills team allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. That juicy matchup lands Foster the top spot at his position this week.

1.) Arian Foster - HOU vs. BUF

2.) Matt Forte - CHI at TEN

3.) Ray Rice - BAL at CLE

4.) Adrian Peterson - MIN at SEA

5.) LeSean McCoy - PHI at NO

6.) Darren McFadden - OAK vs. TB

7.) Doug Martin - TB at OAK

8.) Ryan Mathews - SD vs. KC

9.) Trent Richardson - CLE vs. BAL

10.) Jamaal Charles - KC at SD

11.) Alfred Morris - WAS vs. CAR

12.) Chris Johnson - TEN vs. CHI

13.) Willis McGahee - DEN at CIN

14.) Darren Sproles - NO vs. PHI

15.) Marshawn Lynch - SEA vs. MIN

16.) Reggie Bush - MIA at IND

17.) Ahmad Bradshaw - NYG vs. PIT

18.) Jonathan Dwyer - PIT at NYG

19.) Fred Jackson - BUF at HOU

20.) Jonathan Stewart - CAR at WAS

Brandon Marshall and the Top 20 Wide Receivers

With wide receiver Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions struggling through a knee injury and bearing the brunt of the Madden curse, the mantle of top fantasy wideout in 2012 has been passed to Brandon Marshall of the Chicago Bears, who is one of only two players at the position averaging over 20 fantasy points a game.

The seventh-year veteran has turned 80 targets into 50 receptions for 675 yards and four touchdowns so far this season. Marshall should feast this week on a Tennessee Titans secondary that has been a top-10 fantasy matchup for opposing wide receivers this year.

1.) Brandon Marshall - CHI at TEN

2.) A.J. Green - CIN vs. DEN

3.) Victor Cruz - NYG vs. PIT

4.) Reggie Wayne - IND vs. MIA

5.) Steve Smith - CAR at WAS

6.) Roddy White - ATL vs. DAL

7.) Julio Jones - ATL vs. DAL

8.) Calvin Johnson - DET at JAX

9.) Mike Wallace - PIT at NYG

10.) Percy Harvin - MIN at SEA

11.) Marques Colston - NO vs. PHI

12.) Demaryius Thomas - DEN at CIN

13.) Larry Fitzgerald - ARI at GB

14.) Vincent Jackson - TB at OAK

15.) Jeremy Maclin - PHI at NO

16.) Miles Austin - DAL at ATL

17.) Steve Johnson - BUF at HOU

18.) Hakeem Nicks - NYG vs. PIT

19.) Antonio Brown - PIT at NYG

20.) Eric Decker - DEN at CIN

Tony Gonzalez and the Top 20 Tight Ends

Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez might just own a time machine.

The 36-year-old has turned back the clock in 2012, and while Rob Gronkowski's explosion of late has bumped him from the top spot at his position, Gonzalez still ranks second among tight ends in fantasy points through eight weeks.

Gronkowski and the New England Patriots are on a bye this week. Therefore, for one more week at least, it's time to go gonzo for Gonzo once again.

1.) Tony Gonzalez - ATL vs. DAL

2.) Jimmy Graham - NO vs. PHI

3.) Jason Witten - DAL at ATL

4.) Owen Daniels - HOU vs. BUF

5.) Brandon Pettigrew - DET at JAX

6.) Antonio Gates - SD vs. KC

7.) Heath Miller - PIT at NYG

8.) Greg Olsen - CAR at WAS

9.) Brent Celek - PHI at NO

10.) Jermaine Gresham - CIN vs. DEN

11.) Brandon Myers - OAK vs. TB

12.) Jared Cook - TEN vs. CHI

13.) Martellus Bennett - NYG vs. PIT

14.) Dennis Pitta - BAL at CLE

15.) Kyle Rudolph - MIN at SEA

16.) Jermichael Finley - GB vs. ARI

17.) Scott Chandler - BUF at HOU

18.) Marcedes Lewis - JAX vs. DET

19.) Jacob Tamme - DEN at CIN

20.) Anthony Fasano - MIA at IND

Lawrence Tynes and the Top 20 Kickers

Picking fantasy kickers can be an exercise in futility, as the position can be wildly unpredictable. Your best best is simply to look at the top scoring options and favorable fantasy matchups and go from there.

Granted, the Pittsburgh Steelers haven't been an especially favorable fantasy matchup for kickers this season. With that being said, since Lawrence Tynes has kicked seven more field goals than the next closest kicker, he's as good a bet as any for the top fantasy option at the position in Week 9.

1.) Lawrence Tynes - NYG vs. PIT

2.) Garrett Hartley - NO vs. PHI

3.) Matt Bryant - ATL vs. DAL

4.) Shayne Graham - HOU vs. BUF

5.) Robbie Gould - CHI at TEN

6.) Mason Crosby - GB vs. ARI

7.) Matt Prater - DEN at CIN

8.) Alex Henery - PHI at NO

9.) Shaun Suisham - PIT at NYG

10.) Dan Bailey - DAL at ATL

11.) Jason Hanson - DET at JAX

12.) Sebastian Janikowski - OAK vs. TB

13.) Justin Tucker - BAL at CLE

14.) Kai Forbath - WAS vs. CAR

15.) Rob Bironas - TEN vs. CHI

16.) Nick Novak - SD vs. KC

17.) Blair Walsh - MIN at SEA

18.) Steve Hauschka - SEA vs. MIN

19.) Mike Nugent - CIN vs. DEN

20.) Dan Carpenter - MIA at IND

Green Bay Packers and the Top 20 Defenses

There's an easy-to-follow mantra developing for fantasy defenses in 2012.

"Start whoever is playing the Arizona Cardinals that week."

The Cardinals have allowed both the most sacks and fantasy points to opposing defenses in the National Football League this year, and in Week 9, it will be the Green Bay Packers who will be teeing off on quarterback John Skelton.

1.) Green Bay Packers - GB vs. ARI

2.) San Diego Chargers - SD vs. KC

3.) Houston Texans - HOU vs. BUF

4.) Chicago Bears - CHI at TEN

5.) Seattle Seahawks - SEA vs. MIN

6.) Atlanta Falcons - ATL vs. DAL

7.) Detroit Lions - DET at JAX

8.) Baltimore Ravens - BAL at CLE

9.) Miami Dolphins - MIA at IND

10.) Denver Broncos - DEN at CIN

11.) New York Giants - NYG vs. PIT

12.) Pittsburgh Steelers - PIT at NYG

13.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - TB at OAK

14.) Minnesota Vikings - MIN at SEA

15.) Jacksonville Jaguars - JAX vs. DET

16.) New Orleans Saints - NO vs. PHI

17.) Cleveland Browns - CLE vs. BAL

18.) Oakland Raiders - OAK vs. TB

19.) Philadelphia Eagles - PHI at NO

20.) Indianapolis Colts - IND vs. MIA