The Autumn Wind Is a Pirate

Fall is supposed to be a peaceful time, a time for reflection. After a hectic summer, Mother Nature is closing the curtain on another year. The leaves are coming down, the harvest is coming in, and the squirrels are gathering up nuts for the long winter ahead.

Tell that to the Autumn Wind. Here off the coast of Savanna, Georgia, we've been dealing the past week with an infernal, howling wind that causes the nerves to jump, the skin to itch, and even the blood to curdle. Bar fights are breaking out, wives are attacking husbands, and the dogs are howling in unison at the full moon. As NFL Film's Steve Sabol first noted, and "the Voice of God," John Facenda, first narrated in 1974, the Autumn Wind is indeed a pirate:

The Autumn Wind is a pirate
Blustering in from the sea
With a rollicking song he sweeps along
Swaggering boisterously

This Autumn's pirates are three swashbucklers from Tampa Bay: Jeff Garcia, Warrick Dunn, and Joey Galloway. These "weather beaten" Buccaneers have their swagger back, and the offense features three of the top waiver options for Week 7. Garcia worked his magic Sunday against the Panthers while a re-born Dunn continues to conjure up visions of the late '90s version of the Bucs offense. Throw in the return of the playmaker, Galloway, and this week in Autumn belongs to the plundering Buccaneers.

On to the waiver wire, where we'll continue to try to emphasize bye week solutions this week. Here's how I rank the likely targets at each position this week. Full writeups of each player are below.

QUARTERBACKS
1. Jeff Garcia
2. Matt Ryan
3. Seneca Wallace
4. Chad Pennington
5. Brad Johnson
6. Dan Orlovsky

RUNNING BACKS
1. Sammy Morris
2. Dominic Rhodes
3. Warrick Dunn
4. Cedric Benson/Kenny Watson
5. Ryan Torain
6. Derrick Ward
7. Ahman Green
8. Maurice Morris

WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Joey Galloway
2. Devin Hester
3. Kevin Walter
4. Donnie Avery
5. Donte Stallworth
6. Kevin Curtis
7. Greg Camarillo
8. Bobby Wade

TIGHT ENDS
1. Vernon Davis
2. Billy Miller

DEFENSES
1. Texans

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QUARTERBACKS

Jeff Garcia, Buccaneers - Garcia relies on mobility more than most quarterbacks. It was never that Jon Gruden thought Brian Griese was better; he made the decision to go with Griese early on knowing Garcia was not healthy enough to roll out of the pocket and make plays.

Garcia is healthy now and a good bet to stay behind center. That doesn't make him any more than a mediocre QB2 for fantasy purposes, but it is good enough to make him the strongest bye week option sitting on your waiver wire.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Matt Ryan, Falcons - The rookie franchise quarterback would be a candidate to top this list if he didn't have a bye of his own this week. However, keep in mind that he is still a rookie and the roller coaster will be on the way back down in the second half of the season.

The wins against the Packers and Bears were highly impressive, but it's worth noting that both defenses were ravaged by injuries and haven't been stingy in the passing game. Make no mistake, Ryan has a very bright future. I'd just temper expectations for the next few games.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Seneca Wallace, Seahawks - I've always liked Wallace as an end of the roster stash in Dynasty leagues because he's a better fantasy player than NFL player. Whenever Matt Hasselbeck misses a game or two to injury, Wallace makes for a perfect in-season patch. But that always implied a healthy Wallace with an above-average receiving corps.

Wallace can still make plays with his legs, and I'd rather rely on him than Brad Johnson. But keep an eye on his injured calf this week and remember that he's dealing with a depleted collection of weapons.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a bye week fill-in

Chad Pennington, Dolphins - Even with both of Pennington's Week 6 fluke touchdowns to Patrick Cobbs, he's still averaging just one TD per game. He's playing extremely efficiently, but you don't want him as anything more than a bye week patch.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a bye week fill-in

Brad Johnson, Cowboys - Speaking of Pennington, a now 40-year-old Johnson is the destitute man's version of the noodle-armed, efficient veteran. It's easy to forget just how bad he was two years ago in Minnesota when the team turned to the rawest of rookies, Tarvaris Jackson, out of desperation. Here's a reminder: he played like a less accurate, less decisive, less mobile, weaker armed Pennington.

Recommendation: Pass

Dan Orlovsky, Lions - He's only worth a look if your other waiver wire options are Brodie Croyle and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Desperate Kurt Warner or Donovan McNabb owners can hope he connects with Calvin Johnson on a couple of Hail Mary's, but that's all Orlovsky would be this week: a prayer.

Recommendation: Pass

RUNNING BACKS

Sammy Morris, Patriots - With injuries to Laurence Maroney and LaMont Jordan, Morris was the feature back against the Chargers in Week 6. If Maroney and Jordan can't come back soon, Morris will shoulder the load against the woebegone rush defenses of the Broncos, Rams, and Colts in the next three games.

Morris remains a good bet to get in the end zone and haul in a few passes as long as Maroney and/or Jordan are out. Against those three defenses, his ceiling is even higher.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Dominic Rhodes, Colts - Finding updated info on Joseph Addai's hamstring injury is like cracking a secret government code. All we could drag out of Tony Dungy is that Addai should be "OK," but that simply translates into a week of parsing practice reports for meaningful updates.

We can't assume that Rhodes will get a full workload against Green Bay in Week 7, but we should assume that he'll be significantly involved even if Addai plays. I'm considering him a committee back for the next couple of games.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Warrick Dunn, Buccaneers - Sunday's 22-carry, 115-yard effort was an aberration due to game momentum and a dire need for Ernest Graham to play the blocking back role. Still, Dunn has been a reliable flex all year, and there's no reason to believe he won't continue to rack up 50-75 yards per week the rest of the way.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Cedric Benson/Kenny Watson, Bengals - Marvin Lewis hinted that changes were coming at the starting running back position, but don't get your hopes up too high on Benson and Watson. That offense, especially the offensive line, will not support a successful running game right now.

Right now it's virtually 50/50 between Benson and Watson as far as who leads the team in rushing the rest of the way. Benson has that "we're 0-6 and he's a former first-rounder, so let's see what he can do" thing going for him. Watson is a reliably productive veteran with greater versatility. Trying to guess which way this bumbling Bengals franchise will turn is a fool's errand.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Derrick Ward, Giants - Ward is owned in less than half of all fantasy leagues despite his status as a must-handcuff for Brandon Jacobs owners. Throw in his surprising flex value most weeks, and Ward's blend of insurance and potential makes for a perfect RB4.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Ryan Torain, Broncos - Michael Pittman put his stamp on the starter's job during Sunday's game against the Jags, but we all know that Mike Shanahan will find a way to send it to committee in the next few weeks. Torain is expected to practice this week and return after the Week 8 bye. There's no guarantee that he'll have a significant role, but his potential is worth a stash if you have the roster space.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Ahman Green, Texans - Our game charter noted that Ahman Green looked as good Sunday as he has in years. He's the clear backup to Steve Slaton at the moment - and never a good bet to stay healthy for a long stretch - but if Slaton stumbles, Green could work his way into a more prominent role.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Maurice Morris, Seahawks - Julius Jones had a chance to put a stranglehold on the starter's job, but the last two games have left the Seahawks wanting more from the running game. This has a much better chance of being a pure committee attack than Morris' starting job, so keep expectations in line.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

WIDE RECEIVERS

Joey Galloway, Buccaneers - Galloway has been dropped in half of all fantasy leagues, but he's expected to return to his starting split end position in Week 7 against the Seahawks. The Garcia-to-Galloway connection was money last season, and there's no reason to believe a healthy Galloway won't be the No. 1 receiver in the Bucs offense.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Devin Hester, Bears - Something clicked when John Madden called him out three Sundays ago for not being a true receiver. Ever since then, Hester has been exactly that: a true receiver. There's a corner being turned in his game, and Hester has displayed legit receiving ability for three straight games. Considering his talent level, he's likely earned the No. 1 role in the offense even when Brandon Lloyd comes back healthy.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Kevin Walter, Texans - In the seven-year history of the Houston Texans franchise, the offense has never supported two fantasy receivers simultaneously. Walter may be the first receiver opposite Andre Johnson to make the position valuable for fantasy purposes. He'll remain the definition of inconsistency, so you'll have to gamble on matchups.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Donnie Avery, Rams - Avery may have been a reach as the first receiver off the board in the NFL draft, but he's a player. With Torry Holt struggling to separate, Marc Bulger is targeting the rookie enough to make him worth a look in deeper leagues.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Donte Stallworth, Browns - Can the Browns passing offense support a third option behind Braylon Edwards and a healthy Kellen Winslow? Call me skeptical, but I don't believe the Monday night performance against the Giants is the start of an explosive weekly air show. Stallworth might be worth a spot start here and there, but he's not reliable option.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Kevin Curtis, Eagles - A healthy Curtis may be the best fantasy receiver on this list, but he's not much more than a stash considering the Eagles Week 7 bye. DeSean Jackson is established in the offense, but it remains to be seen what role Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown will play when both of them return in Week 8 against the Falcons. Bet on Curtis having more value in the second half.

Recommendation: Worth a stash in 12-team leagues

Greg Camarillo, Dolphins - Meet the new No. 1 receiver in Miami. While the Dolphins wait on the potential of Ted Ginn, Camarillo has jumped to the front of the line as Chad Pennington's favorite option. There's not a high ceiling here, but he's a legit bye week patch.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a bye week fill-in

Bobby Wade, Vikings - Purely a one-week fix against the Bears 27th ranked passing defense in Week 7, Wade has quietly posted quality PPR numbers the past three weeks. Sidney Rice should return to full health after the Vikes' Week 8 bye, so Wade's window is now.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a bye week fill-in

TIGHT ENDS

Vernon Davis, 49ers - You feelin' lucky? As so often happens, the squeaky wheel gets the grease in the passing game. Whenever that much attention falls on a receiving option not getting passes his way, said receiver sees an uptick the following week. We may look back on Week 6 as a one-week outlier, but Davis' talent makes him worth stashing to see if he can prove it again next week.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Billy Miller, Saints - There's a chance that Jeremy Shockey sits one more week with his groin injury. If he does, consider that Miller has averaged almost 50 yards per game the last three weeks.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a bye week fill-in

DEFENSES
The Texans' Mario Williams continues to be a pass rushing terror, but that's not why the Texans are a recommended pickup this week. Consider the next two opponents: Dan Orlovsky's winless Lions in Week 7 followed by Ryan Fitzpatrick's winless Bengals in Week 8, both at Houston. Now that's a recipe for offensive blunders galore.