Through all of the contrary speculation from sources, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Sidney Rice will indeed make his 2010 season debut this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. How do we know? Because he guaranteed it to ESPN. "I'm going to play," Rice said. "I don't think I can go the whole game but I'm going to play as much as I can." Rice has been recovering from August hip surgery, residing on the PUP list all season. If the Vikings hadn't activated Rice from that list by Nov. 24, they would be forced to place him on injured reserve. But since he says he'll play this week, that shouldn't be a concern.

Fantasy Analysis:

Earlier this week, two Vikings beat reporters doubted that Rice would play at all this season, thinking that he would choose to sit out the rest of this disappointing Minnesota season rather than risk re-injury and hurt his value in free agency next year. Well, that's why those are only opinions. As Rice said, he won't play the whole game. Does that mean 20 plays? 30? More? Of course, we won't know until after Sunday, so keep Rice out of your lineup. But watch how involved he is in the offense and how he moves on his repaired hip. Rice's presence should help Brett Favre, but probably not enough immediately to make him a comfortable play either. I think it'll take a couple of games for Rice to knock off the assumed rust, but depending how he feels after the Packers' game, he may be start-worthy next week at Washington.