Antonio Gates . He's the best tight end in the NFL and few others have more fantasy points than him this year. He's a must-start in every game, even if he is greatly hobbled. That might be the case today. Gates has injuries to both feet after popping the plantar fascia in his right foot last week. He's a true game-time decision, but he's not the only guy we're waiting for word on this morning. For the playing status of Gates, Percy Harvin , Beanie Wells and others, keep checking back on this post until kickoff of the 1 p.m. Eastern games. Official word is in and ANTONIO GATES IS INACTIVE. Get him out of your lineups. Upgrade Patrick Crayton and Seyi Ajirotutu since Malcom Floyd and Legedu Naanee are also out. And yet, Philip Rivers will still put up big numbers somehow. Harvin reportedly didn't look very healthy during pregame warmups, but he is active against the Cardinals. Now post-Moss, it'll be interesting to see if his stats regress to when the Vikings were pre-Moss. With more defensive attention and an obviously bothersome ankle injury, he's a very risky play. Sidney Rice is inactive, but he was on the field during warmups. He is clearly getting closer to playing. As expected, DeAngelo Williams is inactive for the Panthers-Saints game. Jonathan Stewart will get the start. Considering how ineffective that running game has been this year in Carolina, Stewart is a very low RB2 today. Donte' Stallworth will make his season debut for the Ravens, but is not a wise fantasy option. The Texans' Owen Daniels is inactive because of a hamstring injury. He should have been out of your lineup already anyway. Beanie Wells is active despite a knee infection from earlier this week. He practiced a good amount Friday and is a fine start against the Vikings since he's turned into a real touchdown threat. Reggie Bush is inactive as he continues to make his way back from a broken leg. We may see him in week 11. Pierre Thomas is also out, so Chris Ivory, Ladell Betts and Julius Jones will all be involved in the Saints' running game. Tough to depend on anything there. Deion Branch is active for the Patriots despite a hamstring injury. He's probably best left on your bench against the Browns. Colt McCoy will get another start at QB for Cleveland as both Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace are inactive. Steve Breaston is active for the Cardinals. He seemed to have a good connection with Derek Anderson last week. He's definitely worth a shot if you need WR help this week. Kevin Smith is active for the Lions-Jets game. The matchup is horrible, but expect him to steal another 10 or so carries from Jahvid Best. Among the players who have already been ruled out for week nine: Matt Hasselbeck, Joseph Addai, Mike Hart, Donald Driver, and Fred Taylor.

Fantasy Analysis:

Dealing with the inactives: Hasselbeck had a "minor" concussion coming out of week eight that turned out to be not-so minor. Charlie Whitehurst has been declared the starter for today's showdown against the Giants. He's never thrown a pass in a regular-season game and I don't like his chances of succeeding against that Big Blue defense. All options in the Seahawks passing game should be benched. Addai and Hart didn't practice all week and were ruled out yesterday. Donald Brown will get the bulk of the carries against the Eagles. He's an OK flex play. Javarris James will pitch in as well. Donald Driver took to the airwaves to say he wouldn't play in week nine because of his quad injury. He's hoping to return to the field after Green Bay's week-10 bye. James Jones and Jordy Nelson become sneaky sleeper starts against a Cowboys defense that doesn't know the meaning of pride. Taylor has now missed the last five games because of a lingering toe ailment. BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead will get a lot of work once again in his place. Both of them starter-worthy against Cleveland. I think BJG-E is the better option.