San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates set the record straight regarding his injury status. He says he'll play. "This is more of a dire need," Gates said. "Considering how important this game is and what this mean to our whole season I'd like to that, speaking in the third person, Antonio Gates will play." He has played in two straight games despite having a torn plantar fascia in his right foot. Plantar fascia is a thick connective tissue that runs along the underside of a foot. In any case, a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend would effectively end the Chargers playoff aspirations. "Something would have to really, really be hurting for me to not go," Gates said.

Fantasy Analysis:

Well, that's a relief. It's been a bit of pain double- and triple-checking Gates status on a daily basis and ultimately just before game-time every week. But this is a big game for the Chargers. Kansas City may have a two-game lead in the AFC West, but they are far from dominant. The Chiefs have only one victory over a team that currently has a winning record (Week 7, Jacksonville Jaguars). Gates is a must-start during any week that he plays. In his two games since returning from injury, he's had a total of 10 receptions, 119 receiving yards and a touchdown.