The Patriots will be thin along both lines during Sunday’s game against the Bills.

Teams have released their practice participation reports for Thursday. Here are some of the notable developments.

Here are a few quick fantasy news and notes to consider as we enter Sunday’s early games.

The Patriots downgraded five players — CB Shawn Springs, RB Fred Taylor, WR Julian Edelman, OL Sebastian Vollmer and DB Bret Lockett — to out for Sunday’s game against the AFC East rival Dolphins.

After not being listed on the Dolphins’ injury report all week, LB Joey Porter missed Friday’s practice with a knee problem and is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Patriots.

Here are a few tidbits to monitor as we get ready for the seventh week of the fantasy season.

Patriots RB Laurence Maroney could be in line for more carries, and more fantasy value.

Chicago Tribune columnist Rick Morrissey writes that what Bears fans didn’t like about Kyle Orton as a quarterback, fans in Denver have completely accepted. What Orton lacks in style, he more than makes up for in results. He’s 25-12 as a starter.

There is a laundry list of notable injury updates heading into the Patriots-Broncos game this Sunday.

The Thursday injury report has been released and includes some notable players — Bengals RB Cedric Benson, Texans DE Mario Williams and Cowboys WR Roy Williams among them — sitting out for the second day in a row.

Fantasy owners got a scare on Thursday night when Maurice Jones-Drew suffered an injured leg. The ailment doesn’t seem serious, but it does bring up some concerns for the 2009 season.

I think some quarterbacks are coming off the board way too soon in fantasy drafts. Want proof? Check out a recent draft I held with some friend and family from back on the east coast. You won’t believe who went first overall!

As part of my 15-team training camp tour, I was able to take in a day of practices from the New England Patriots camp. Here are my 10 oberservations on Vince Wilfork, Joey Galloway and the rest of Bill Belichick‘s training camp.

Packers fans apparently aren’t too happy with all this talk about Brett Favre possibly playing for the Vikings, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Few can argue that Phil Jackson might be the best coach in the history of professional sports. Ten NBA world championships in the modern era speak for themselves. But upon closer examination, I find similarities between Jackson and New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick.