Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 10 Players Available on Waiver Wire

As I wrote late Sunday night, this is the time of year where injuries to key players in your fantasy lineup can torpedo your season.

What I didn't focus on, but is no less true, is that too many injuries to your bench and secondary players can be just as damaging—sometimes even more.

At this point in the season, most leagues have seen their waiver wires gutted. Finding gems in the piles of one-week wonders can be key to making sure you are set for a push towards your fantasy playoffs.

Even beyond that, it's always worthwhile to scan the wire for potential pickups—yes, even if you are undefeated.

In fantasy football, as in life, you never stop improving, and if you do it probably means you (or your fantasy season) are dead.

Here are some names you might not know—or that you've forgotten—who could explode in the coming weeks.

Get them while they're lukewarm. If you try to get them while they're hot, it's already too late.

Javon Ringer, RB, TENN

The Colts are just as awful defending the run as they are in basically every other facet of the game. Colts fans, I'm sorry. I grew up a Jets fan, I watched the Niners and Chargers for years when I lived in Los Angeles—I know what it is to suck. You have my sympathy.

However, you know what was even uglier than the Colts' run defense this past weekend?

Chris Johnson's inability to generate yards. What could be going on with Johnson is a very long column for another day. Instead, let's focus on the positive: Javon Ringer.

I've been waiting for Ringer to get a chance for a while and this past weekend he finally got enough snaps to really show his stuff. By halftime, he had outproduced Johnson and the coaching staff continued to feed him the ball.

Whereas Johnson is having issues breaking tackles, stumbling at first contact and not showing the flash and speed he is known for, Ringer has shown heart and determination, breaking tackles and gaining yards even when it appears there are none to be had.

He's done well enough that while the team continues with Johnson as the nominal starter, head coach Mike Munchak said Ringer will "roll in at times" and that he could see the majority of the work if he gets hot during the game.

It's unlikely Johnson is replaced as the starter, but as badly as he has played it is very likely Ringer will get a significant piece of the action. He may lack the speed and big-play ability of Johnson, but Ringer is getting the job done.

If Ringer is on your waiver wire right now, rectify that. He may just end up a flex play for you. However, if Johnson continues to struggle, Ringer could produce some very good numbers down the stretch.

Ben Obomanu, WR, SEA

I do recaps of various NFL games for Footballguys every Sunday and this week was assigned the matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Seattle Seahawks. I got to see a lot of very good players in this game (believe it or not). The one who stood out to me the most was Seahawk wide receiver Ben Obomanu.

As defenses have keyed on Sidney Rice each week, the other receivers on the team have had the chance to find seams in the secondary to exploit. Obomanu has been very good at that and over the last month or so has been quite productive.

Now, you might point to the Week 7 game against Cleveland where Obomanu was only targeted two times and didn't catch either one.

The difference? Charlie Whitehurst at quarterback.

I'm still not sure what the heck Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll saw in Whitehurst, but whatever it was, it likely involved a holographic projector and some CGI. It sure isn't there now.

Whitehurst killed pretty much every receiver's fantasy value against Cleveland and when Tarvaris Jackson—hurt pectoral muscle and all—returned, the offense responded.

Back to Obomanu—when you watch him play, you see a guy who has speed, size and good hands but lacks the refinement in his route running to be a high-end receiver. That said, he does a very good job with what he has and is more than a match for many cornerbacks in one-on-one coverage.

With defenses rolling extra coverage to Rice, Obomanu has room to move and make plays. He could be very productive on a match up basis for you in the coming weeks.

As long as Charlie Whitehurst is on the bench rather than under center.

Mario Manningham, WR, NYG

Mario Manningham has teased before. He's tantalized with a phenomenal catch only to drop an easy ball or blow a route and make fantasy owners pull whatever is left of their already gray hair. Every time one of the main guys was hurt, Manningham would come in and do well until the rug got yanked from under him and he began to make too many mental errors.

With the departure of Steve Smith to the Eagles, the way was clear once again for Manningham to step up.

This time he has and with very few yawning mental errors.

Over the last three games, Manningham has caught no fewer than five balls for at least 56 yards, and he added a touchdown this week.

Manningham not only runs crisper (and correct) routes, but he's put more effort into his plays. He creeps back to Eli Manning when the quarterback is looking for an outlet. He does a good job of using his body to keep defenders away from the ball as he catches it. He catches the majority of what Manning throws to him and this past week, consistently converted on third downs.

He has begun to make a real impact on the offense and if Hakeem Nicks misses time to an injury (this week he's dealing with a hamstring), Manningham could have a huge end of the year.

Chris Ogbonnaya, RB, CLE

Here's one of those "guys who make you ask 'WHO?'" from the first page of this piece.

In answer to that question, Chris Ogbonnaya is the guy who may be taking over for oft-hurt Montario Hardesty and Peyton Hillis.

Hardesty is out for two to three weeks and Hillis is day-to-day but both are nursing hamstrings, which, as we all know, have a tendency to linger.

Ogbonnaya is a solid back, a guy who can run between the tackles and catch the ball well, but lacks the vision and quickness to hit the hole and accelerate as much as, say, Hillis can.

What he has is situation—two guys in front of him who may be down for a while longer. The Browns are not a great team but they need a strong running game to help protect Colt McCoy from being pounded behind a questionable offensive line.

While Ogbonnaya isn't poised to become the next great NFL running back, he could be a serviceable flex play if he ends up the only healthy back in town.

Eric Decker, WR, DEN

While it is truly too soon to make a judgment call on Denver quarterback Tim Tebow, it certainly is nerve-wracking watching him if you own a Bronco.

Tebow has played some very mediocre football—and that's the kindest way to phrase it. It certainly has hurt some of the other players on his team.

One person it may end up not hurting is second-year wide receiver Eric Decker. Decker may already be gone on a lot of waiver wires based on the two-touchdown performance against Green Bay in Week 4.

It's equally possible though that the owner who grabbed him post-Week 4 dropped him after his two-catch, negative-two-yards performance the next week.

Let their mistake be your good fortune. Decker's route running and excellent hands will make him a tremendous asset to Tebow, especially with Brandon Lloyd in St Louis. Lloyd had the ability to gather in some awkward passes Tebow threw and Decker has some of that skill.

It's hard to say how the Broncos offense will pan out under Tebow. One thing for certain is, Decker can catch what Tebow throws. With the team struggling, that will make him an important piece of the offense.

Decker is a guy who you can stash on your bench and use in a flex spot, but who also has the upside to be a larger part of both the Broncos and your own fantasy offense.

Christian Ponder, QB, MIN

Let's face it, no position is thinner on the waiver wire than quarterback.

You can always find a dark horse wide receiver or running back. Even at tight end, there are guys who can at least fill in for a little while.

If you're looking for a backup or "Hail Mary" quarterback right now, you have few choices.

Christian Ponder could be one of them.

Ponder was felt by many to be the most pro-ready quarterback in the 2011 NFL Draft class, a sentiment I shared after watching him at the Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, Ala. Still, it felt as though the former Florida State Seminole would benefit from a year sitting behind an experienced starter so he could learn.

That didn't happen and Ponder was thrown into the pit way quicker than the Vikings wanted him to be. Yet he has acquitted himself well even though he started his first game against the Green Bay Packers.

Ponder has an OK offensive line, a great wide receiver in Percy Harvin, an all-world running back to pull the defenses off his receivers and good role players across the offense.

While he comes off his bye week and falls into a rough few games (Packers, Raiders and Falcons), he sees the Broncos in Week 13, faces Lions and Saints teams that can be thrown on and plays a Redskins team falling apart as we speak during fantasy championship time.

One hopes your quarterback stays healthy, but Ponder actually looks poised to have a few games where he can score some points if you have a need.

Jon Baldwin, WR, KC

As I write this, Kansas City wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin is having himself a very solid game against San Diego after a quiet one against Oakland.

Baldwin came out of the NFL Draft with a bit of a reputation as a slacker with an attitude, a perception not helped by his alleged fight with veteran running back Thomas Jones.*

After breaking his hand in that alleged melee, Baldwin spent most of the season so far hurt and inactive.

Last week was his debut. This week against the Chargers was his coming-out party.

Baldwin had five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown and looked pretty good doing it.

Dwayne Bowe has been in need of someone to pull the coverage off him, especially since Jamaal Charles was lost for the season. The rest of the wide receivers corps is OK, but certainly not dominant.

Baldwin could easily have an impact in this offense, which is beginning to look like it might have some life.

*Note to Baldwin: If you are going to pick a fight, don't choose the guy who works out like a fiend and has abs as hard as boulders. Punch the kicker.

Antonio Brown, WR, PIT

The first of two Steeler wide receivers on this list, Brown is coming off two very good weeks in a row. He can be a bit hit-or-miss, this is true, but his speed and athletic ability make him a very dangerous threat.

The Steelers are not a running team, not like they used to be. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger needs weapons to go with his primary guy, Mike Wallace. He spreads the ball around when he can and Brown has proven himself reliable and capable of making a big play when the Steelers need it.

And he's not the only one.

Emmanuel Sanders, WR, PIT

Emmanuel Sanders is a very good wide receiver, but I have him behind Brown because he is not utilized in the same way as Antonio Brown, which hampers him when it comes to big and consistent plays.

If/when Hines Ward returns, Sanders is likely to be low man on the totem pole, and watch his targets decrease again. If Ward's injury lingers, Sanders will continue to get some great opportunities to tear up defenses with his crisp routes and good run-after-the-catch ability.

Sanders will be a feast or famine guy in that he may not get the targets, but you're more looking for the big plays. That's the risk, whereas Brown is a guy who consistently gets targets and is more consistent in his production.

Both are excellent choices to have on your bench and both will have value in your lineup for many weeks to come.

Kyle Orton, QB, DEN

OK, hear me out on this.

First off, this is your Hail Mary, I have a bench spot to burn, just in case of a what-the-heck flex-type call. I'm not saying dump a really good player for him or even a guy you know will produce if not incredibly well. I'm saying that if you have room, this is a good play.

Second, I think the Broncos need to know what they have in Tebow and should play the string out with him. Denver isn't going to the playoffs no matter who is at quarterback.

Three, winning is everything.

Given the third, the first two aren't nearly as important.

I'm not hating on Tebow, though I can already feel the wave of rage from Tebow Nation. I really do want the guy to succeed because the story would be great and I love when hard work is rewarded.

However, given that seven and five-eighths out of eight quarters he has been beyond bad, I think there is a strong chance head coach John Fox replaces Timmy Football if Tebow continues to stumble as bad as he has the last two weeks.

There could be a myriad of rationalizations about it, but it would come down to winning, something every team wants (there really is no "Suck For Luck"—us draft types thought it was clever and it's out of control now). If Tebow keeps playing the way he does, I can't imagine that there will be supporters in Denver as fervent as there are now.

If Tebow continues to struggle, a change could very well be made.

We know it won't be Brady Quinn if it is.

That leave Kyle Orton. Listen, Orton isn't going to win games in the way Tebow can. He won't put a team on his back and literally will it to victory. Hell, he falls apart when the offense hits the red zone.

He moves the ball better than Tebow does (even if he turns it over more often, as well) and keeps the opposing offense off the field, giving the Denver defense a break.

There's a lot of advantage to having Orton under center and if he's there, you could end up with some very good fantasy points.

The Broncos have a rough schedule coming up. I just think it's very possible Tebow loses his job again in the next month or so.

Whether that is a mistake or not from an NFL standpoint is another debate. What isn't up for a debate is that Kyle Orton can put points on your fantasy board and he's worth stashing—just in case.

Andrew Garda is a staff writer at Footballguys.com. Check them out for rankings, projections and player analyses. More than 50,000 pages of content every year to lead you to the championship.