Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wes Welker, Roddy White and Top WRs

Two of the top three fantasy football wide receivers are on a bye this week, which means the leaders for Week 9 are going to look much different. 

There are a number of intriguing matchups this Sunday, and it should be a great week for fantasy receivers. 

Calvin Johnson and Steve Smith have been almost single-handedly winning games for their owners, but since they're on a bye this week, it leaves some fantasy players in a bind. 

Still, though, there are a plenty of elite receivers that will step up and deliver big performances on Sunday.

Here are the top WRs for Week 9 of fantasy football. 

Wes Welker 

It's no secret that the New England Patriots love to air it out, and Wes Welker is Tom Brady's favorite target.

Welker has tailed off in the last couple of games, but he will reassert himself to the top of the fantasy scorers on Sunday when the Patriots take on the New York Giants. 

Brady and Welker were denied a great game last week by the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they're back at home on Sunday, and they're going to thrive. 

Welker is a machine for PPR leagues, but Sunday will be all about finding the end zone, which will greatly please his fantasy owners.

Roddy White 

The Atlanta Falcons' top wideout was a monster performer last season, but 2011 has been far from that. 

Fortunately for White, he is up against the winless Indianapolis Colts, who happen to be ranked 30th in the NFL against in passing defense.

Julio Jones will likely be a game time decision, but all the focus will be about White. He has only one game with over 100 yards this season, so he's due for a big day, and it will come on Sunday afternoon.

The Colts are really bad this season, and since the Falcons are coming off a bye, they will have no trouble dominating Indianapolis, as White will be a key contributor in Atlanta's big victory.

Greg Jennings 

The Green Bay Packers are well rested after their bye, and traveling out west to take on the San Diego Chargers won't be a setback for them. 

The Chargers have the third best passing defense in the NFL, but nobody have been able to shut down Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.

Green Bay has so many weapons on offense that the Chargers can't scheme for just Jennings, which is why he will still have a solid performance on Sunday.

The Packers will continue their hot streak, and Jennings will be a big reason why Green Bay beats the Chargers.

Rounding out my top five are Marques Colston of the New Orleans Saints and Vincent Jackson of the Chargers. Larry Fitzgerald was in the top 5, but a recent Adam Schefter tweet caused the Arizona Cardinals top wideout to drop.

Without Kolb, Fitzgerald will struggle even more so than with him. Colston takes on the 26th ranked passing attack of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he recorded his only 100 yard receiving game of the season against the Bucs earlier this year, which is why he thrives again on Sunday. 

The Packers secondary gives up a lot of yards, and there's no way Philip Rivers continues to play as poorly as he has been. Jackson will have a solid performance on Sunday because the Chargers need him to deliver if they want to be competitive against Green Bay.