Update: Matthew Berry, on his Twitter account, is reporting that Chargers TE Antonio Gates (toe) will be active for this afternoon's game against the Patriots.

Fantasy Impact: This is what was expected of Gates all week. Gates has been battling toe problems, but most expected him to play this week, especially with Rivers missing his top WR Malcom Floyd. Even a less than 100% Gates is far better than most TEs in the NFL.

Update: According to the NFL Network, 49ers QB Alex Smith has been knocked out of the game against Carolina. He was injured on a play in which he was sacked.

Fantasy Impact: David Carr has now been put into the game for San Francisco. Alex Smith, and the 49ers in general, have had a rough start to this 2010 season. They only got their first win last week. Maybe Carr can put a spark into this offense.

Update: The NFC West blog on espn.com is reporting that Cardinals WR Steve Breaston (knee) will be inactive against Seattle this afternoon. He was listed as questionable coming into today.

Fantasy Impact: The Cardinals continue to have a depleated WR group. Larry Fitzgerald has been dealing with an inury all year and Early Doucet is questionable today after still recovering from sports hernia surgery. Rookie Andre Roberts will start in Breaston's place.

Update: According to CSN Washington, Chicago Bears LB Lance Briggs has had to leave the game early with an ankle injury. Briggs has been dealing with this ankle injury for weeks now and tried to give it a go and obviously was not ready.

Fantasy Impact: Briggs' return to the game is questionable. He adds so much to the Bear's defense. The Redskins have already come back and scored a TD with Briggs off the field.

Update: According to Jay Glazer of foxsports.com, Pierre Thomas could lose his starting RB job to Chris Ivory. Coach Sean Payton has been frustrated with his inability to play week to week.

Fantasy Impact: Chris Ivory has performed exceptionally in Thomas' absence. I expect Thomas to start once he returns from injury, but maybe look for a shared backfield if Ivory proves he belongs.

Update: Adam Schefter is reporting that Chargers WR Malcom Floyd will miss the next two weeks due to his hamstring injury. Floyd was listed as doubtful on this week's injury report.

Fantasy Impact: Floyd, along with Antonio Gates, have been the Chragers leading receivers this year. The Chargers are the league's number one offense, but that might be a deceiving fact for this week against New England. The Chargers will be without Floyd, Legedu Naanee (doubtful), and Antonio Gates is not 100% and who knows what to expect from him today. The Chargers do expect to have Ryan Matthews back in full force today.

Update: According to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Eagles QB Mike Vick will be the 3rd QB today against the Titans.

Fantasy Impact: Reports all week had Vick being the number 3 emergency QB behind rookie Mike Kafka and this confirms that. Vick will be dressed on the sidelines in case something were to happen to Kolb and Kafka. Vick should be fully healthy by the Eagles bye week. Then the QB controversy will heat up once again.

Update: According to Adam Schefter, Bucs TE Jerramy Stevens was arrested last night for illegal drug possession. He will not play today against the Rams. A suspension should be looming for Stevens.

Fantasy Impact: Stevens has only 3 catches this year. Since joining the Bucs in 2007, he has not lived up to the expectations of taking over their vacant TE spot. In Seattle he proved to be a good TE option, but teams are now finding out if he really is worth all the trouble as he has had a long history with the law.

Update:
According to Adam Schefter, the Browns have downgraded WR Mohammed Massaquoi to Out for Sunday’s matchup against the Saints.
Fantasy Impact:
Massaquoi suffered a concussion last week from James Harrison. Massaquoi could not practice all week therefore it was quite obvious he was not going to play.

Update:
Kenny Britt will not start against the Eagles, according to Jim Wyatt of the Nashville Tennessean.
Fantasy Impact:
Britt was involved in a bar fight late Friday night and because of his involvement, Coach Jeff Fisher has decided not to start the WR. With Justin Gage still on the mend, it is obviously likely that Britt wont be benched for long.

Update: According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Darren Sharper (knee) has finally been activated from the Saints' physically unable to perform list. Fantasy Impact: Darren Sharper is a huge upgrade at the safety position for the Saints. Sharper will play on Sunday but his time is likely to be limited. This is his first game action since the Saints super bowl victory in February, so he may be a little rusty.

Update:
DeSean Jackson is officially out for Sunday according to Peter King of Sports Illustrated.
Fantasy Impact:
The Eagles plane left without their offensives most explosive weapon, and he should be benched in all leagues. If he is available, Jeremy Maclin could be a solid fill-in for Jackson this week.

Update:
Wide receiver Dez Bryant practiced fully for the first time in three weeks Saturday, and is probable to play.
Fantasy Impact:
Bryant played last week and caught a touchdown for the Cowboys. He finally completed a full practice today and he will play this Monday night against the Giants. This game is a must win for the Cowboys and they will have all of their offensive weapons to their pleasure.

Update:
According to Adam Schefter, the Seahawks have released tackle Breno Giacomini and signed running back Chris Henry from the practice squad.
Fantasy Impact:
The Seahawks already have Justin Forsett and newly acquired Marshawn Lynch on the roster, so the addition of RB Chris Henry doesn’t do anything for his stock as he will get very limited touches.