Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: Top 60 Wide Receivers

After last week, how do we feel about some wide receivers that many people were ready to write off like Miles Austin and Larry Fitzgerald?  What about players like Percy Harvin and Jeremy Maclin, with Randy Moss being waived and DeSean Jackson potentially out once again? Let’s take a look at how things currently stand (keep in mind that we will update these rankings later in the week, if necessary):

1. Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Tampa Bay
2. Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants – at Seattle
3. Reggie Wayne – Indianapolis Colts – at Philadelphia
4. Greg Jennings – Green Bay Packers – vs. Dallas
5. Anquan Boldin – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Miami
6. Andre Johnson – Houston Texans – vs. San Diego
7. Terrell Owens – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Pittsburgh
8. Miles Austin – Dallas Cowboys – at Green Bay
9. Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions – vs. New York Jets
10. Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals – at Minnesota
11. Wes Welker – New England Patriots – at Cleveland
12. Brandon Marshall – Miami Dolphins – at Baltimore
13. Pierre Garcon – Indianapolis Colts – at Philadelphia
14. Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings – vs. Arizona
15. Mike Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – at Atlanta
16. Hines Ward – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Cincinnati
17. Marques Colston – New Orleans Saints – at Carolina
18. Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Cincinnati
19. Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. Indianapolis
20. Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs – at Oakland
21. Steve Smith – New York Giants – at Seattle
22. Patrick Crayton – San Diego Chargers – at Houston
23. Steve Johnson – Buffalo Bills – vs. Chicago
24. Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers – vs. New Orleans
25. Steve Breaston – Arizona Cardinals – at Minnesota
26. DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. Indianapolis
27. Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys – at Green Bay
28. Davone Bess – Miami Dolphins – at Baltimore
29. Chad Ochocinco – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Pittsburgh
30. Danny Woodhead – New England Patriots – at Cleveland
31. Johnny Knox – Chicago Bears – at Buffalo
32. Santonio Holmes – New York Jets – at Detroit
33. Deion Branch – New England Patriots – at Cleveland
34. Mario Manningham – New York Giants – at Seattle
35. Derrick Mason – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Miami
36. Malcolm Floyd – San Diego Chargers – at Houston
37. Mohamed Massaquoi – Cleveland Browns – vs. New England
38. Robert Meachem – New Orleans Saints – at Carolina
39. Braylon Edwards – New York Jets – at Detroit
40. Lee Evans – Buffalo Bills – vs. Chicago
41. James Jones – Green Bay Packers – vs. Dallas
42. Mike Williams – Seattle Seahawks – vs. New York Giants
43. Kevin Walter – Houston Texans – vs. San Diego
44. Devin Hester – Chicago Bears – at Buffalo
45. Anthony Gonzalez – Indianapolis Colts – at Philadelphia
46. Darrius Heyward-Bey – Oakland Raiders – vs. Kansas City
47. Jordan Shipley – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Pittsburgh
48. Nate Burleson – Detroit Lions – vs. New York Jets
49. Joshua Cribbs – Cleveland Browns – vs. New England
50. Lance Moore – New Orleans Saints – at Carolina
51. Roy Williams – Dallas Cowboys – at Green Bay
52. Chris Chambers – Kansas City Chiefs – at Oakland
53. Michael Jenkins – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Tampa Bay
54. Brandon LaFell – Carolina Panthers – vs. New Orleans
55. Jerricho Cotchery – New York Jets – at Detroit
56. Blair White – Indianapolis Colts – at Philadelphia
57. Deon Butler – Seattle Seahawks – vs. New York Giants
58. Jacoby Jones – Houston Texans – vs. San Diego
59. Legedu Naanee – San Diego Chargers – at Houston
60. T.J. Houshmandzadeh – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Miami

Thoughts:

• With as bad as the Cowboys’ pass defense has been in recent weeks (eight TD allowed), it would not come as a surprise to see Greg Jennings excel.  The only problem is that the Packers have numerous options, but with Donald Driver unable to play, Jennings potential increases significantly.
• Would anyone have guessed Hakeem Nicks would even be considered for the top spot in any given week?  He has already caught eight touchdowns and gets a Seahawks defense that is allowing over 260 passing yards per game.  Look for him to have another big day as he has emerged as the go-to receiver for Eli Manning.
• It wasn’t a huge game for Larry Fitzgerald, but at least he showed some signs of life.  He had six catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns, rewarding the owners who have stuck with him.  Is it enough to re-solidify him as a WR1?  It’s close, but we certainly would like to see him do it again, given the inconsistent quarterback play we’ve seen.  Consider him a low-end WR1/elite WR2 against the Vikings.
• Andre Johnson may be the best receiver in the game, but he has a difficult matchup against the Chargers who are allowing just 158.6 passing yards per game thus far this season.  He’s still a WR1, but a mid-level option for this week.
• Randy Moss was nearly silent in Week 8, with just one catch for eight yards.  Yet, Percy Harvin had a great day with six receptions for 104 yards.  In fact, Moss hasn’t had a day better than 81 yards (Week 5) or five receptions (Week 6) since he was traded to Minnesota and was unceremoniously released by the Vikings, leaving a banged up Harvin to once again lead the Vikings receiving corps.  For now, Harvin is a WR2, depending on his injuries, and Moss is nowhere to be found until he finds a new home.
• It was a huge week for Calvin Johnson, who had nine catches for 101 yards and three touchdowns.  Now, what are the chances that he can repeat that type of success against Darrelle Revis and the New York Jets?  Unfortunately, it’s hard to consider him more than a low-end WR1 this week.
• I’ve included DeSean Jackson on the rankings, for now, but it is far from a guarantee that he plays.  Monitor the news this week to be sure.  At this point I would consider Jeremy Maclin the better option, given his performance over the past few weeks (18 catches for 296 yards and two TD in his last three games)
• The Buccaneers’ Mike Williams is coming off a good game (four receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown) and has a favorable matchup against the Atlanta Falcons (260.3 passing yards per game and 11 TD allowed).  He’s not quite a WR1, but you have to like him as a WR2 this week.
• Do you trust any of the Jets wide receivers at this point?  I surely wouldn’t and would continue to consider them nothing more than WR3 options.  You also can bet that Jerricho Cotchery isn’t going to lead the way in targets very often (he had 13).  Santonio Holmes is probably the most usable option.
• Despite his recent hot streak (five touchdowns in his last three games), Dwayne Bowe is coming off a game with just three catches for 16 yards and a touchdown.  However, if Nnamdi Asomugha is unable to play, as expected, Bowe’s matchup gets significantly better.  At this point, I would consider him a low-end WR2.
• With eligibility in most leagues as a wide receiver, I’ve included Danny Woodhead on the rankings this week.  I wouldn’t consider him more than a WR3, however.
• Will Malcom Floyd be able to return to the lineup this week?  If he does, he’s a great option given the matchup, but he’s far from a lock.  Monitor the news all week, but for now, I wouldn’t depend on him.  Patrick Crayton figures to be the best option, barring a change in the news.
• Steve Breaston is back and looks to be a go-to option for Derek Anderson (or whoever is playing quarterback for the Cardinals).  He’s worth considering in all formats.
• The Buffalo Bills may be ranked well against the pass, but they have allowed 15 TDs and have just one interception.  I would look for Jay Cutler to try and pick them apart, and Johnny Knox has been the Bears best receiver (24 catches for 478 yards and a touchdown).  Consider him a WR3.
• Joshua Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi are both coming off injuries and who knows who the quarterback is going to be.  For now, that helps to bring their potential value down, despite the favorable matchup.

What are your thoughts on these rankings?  Who’s too high?  Who’s too low?

Make sure to check out our Week 9 Rankings:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Top 40 Running Backs
• Top 20 Tight Ends (coming soon)
• Top 15 Kickers (coming soon)
• Top 15 Defenses (coming soon)
• Waiver Worthy
• Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em
• Sunday Sleepers (coming soon)

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