In about 48 hours, Brett Favre has gone from out to questionable to active and starting. Favre will start against the Chicago Bears tonight despite a sprained right shoulder and other injuries. Vikings beat reporters wrote that Favre was throwing the ball well in pregame warmups and wasn't showing any obvious signs of limitation. Expected starter Joe Webb will back him up. An even a bigger surprise is that Favre won't have Adrian Peterson in the backfield. According to ESPN's Ed Werder, Peterson tested his thigh bruise, which he suffered last week in a collision with Tarvaris Jackson. But interim head coach Leslie Frazier watched him and didn't like what he saw. So, he told Peterson he would not play. He is officially inactive. Toby Gerhart will get the start against the league's second-best run defense.

Fantasy Analysis:

The Peterson news is stunning and a death blow to many fantasy teams, I'm sure. The matchup is really tough, but you were never going to bench him. He rested during Thursday and Friday practice sessions, but went through Saturday's workout, and everything seemed to be all systems go for Monday night. Alas, the head coach has the final word and he didn't want to risk further injury to Peterson in very difficult playing conditions. If you need to, there's still time to pick up Gerhart. Expectations should be tempered, but he should get plenty amount of work. It's snowing at TCF Bank Stadium. The current temperature is in the teens and dropping. Favre always played well in cold at Green Bay, but can he do it again at age 41 with all of his health concerns? That's what we'll see tonight. I am less than optimistic about the entire Vikings offense with him at the helm. I think Joe Webb, while certainly not a miracle-worker, provided a better chance for Minnesota to win. At least he's relatively healthy and a tremendous athlete. However, maybe Favre has one last amazing effort in him. The best fantasy play in this entire game is the Bears' defense. It should be able to get to that broken quarterback and you know Favre will hand them some gift turnovers, just in time for Christmas.