Divisional Weekend: Essential NFL Practice News & Notes for Friday

Patriots QB Tom Brady (thigh) was removed from the injury report Friday. No worries here.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger (foot) took full practice reps again Friday. There was no risk of Roethlisberger missing this weekend’s game. He’s good to go.

Texans QB Tom Savage (concussion) took full practice reps all week. Brock Osweiler will get the start.

Steelers RB LeVeon Bell (not injury related) was removed from the injury report Friday. No worried here.

Patriots RB LeGarrette Blount (illness) was removed from the injury report Friday.
Blount is apparently sick, but he should be fine to play on Saturday.

Seahawks RB C.J. Prosise (shoulder, questionable) took full practice reps again Friday and is questionable for Week 19. Prosise may be able to make his return, but he’s not 100 percent. Thomas Rawls will lead the backfield. Prosise may see a role as the third-down back, but that’s probably a best case scenario at this point.

Seahawks RB Thomas Rawls (not injury related) took full practice reps again Friday. After his performance last week, we’re expecting Rawls to carry the load in a nice matchup against the Falcons.

Packers RB James Starks (concussion, out) missed practice all week and is out for Week 19.

Steelers RB Fitzgerald Toussaint (concussion, questionable) took limited practice reps again Friday and is questionable for Week 19.

Chiefs RB Spencer Ware (rib) took full practice reps all week. Ware is good to go to face the Steelers in tough conditions in Kansas City.

Patriots WR Danny Amendola (ankle) took full practice reps all week.

Packers WR Randall Cobb (ankle) took full practice reps all week. Cobb is coming off of a stellar 5-116-3 (7) effort against the Giants in the Wildcard Round. With Jordy Nelson out, he should see plenty of quality targets from Aaron Rodgers.

Falcons WR Taylor Gabriel (knee) took full practice reps all week. Gabriel is good to go. He has scored seven touchdowns in his last eight games.

Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (knee) took limited practice reps all week. Hopkins will be out there against the Patriots.

Packers WR Jeff Janis (quadricep, questionable) took limited practice reps again Friday and is questionable for Week 19. Geronimo Allison is the better play with Jordy Nelson sidelined and Janis dinged up. He’s a tournament play only.

Falcons WR Julio Jones (toe) took full practice reps all week. Jones is good to go for a tough matchup against the Seahawks.

Patriots WR Malcolm Mitchell (knee, questionable) took limited practice reps all week and is questionable for Week 19. Mitchell is iffy, so he’s a risky play without watching the inactives. Michael Floyd is likely to get the start if Mitchell is out. Danny Amendola is back, so the New England receiving corps is suddenly crowded.

Packers WR Jordy Nelson (ribs, out) missed practice all week and is out for Week 19. With Nelson out, Geronimo Allison will likely pick up most of his snaps. He played 58% of the snaps against the Giants, and had a quiet game, but that was with Nelson playing 23% of the snaps. In the two previous games, with Randall Cobb sidelined, Allison played 73% and 81% of the snaps, posting 4-66 (on seven targets) against the Vikings and 4-91-1 (on six targets) against the Lions.

Seahawks WR Paul Richardson (foot) took full practice reps all week. Richardson has cleared 40 yards in three straight games and has 16 targets in that span. He’s a pretty nice cheap play in DFS this week.

Patriots WR Matt Slater (foot) was removed from the injury report Friday.

Seahawks TE Jimmy Graham (not injury related) took full practice reps again Friday. Graham is good to go.

Steelers TE Ladarius Green (concussion, doubtful) missed practice all week and is doubtful for Week 19. Green isn’t going to play, so Jesse James should continue to see most of the snaps at tight end. He’s a touchdown-or-bust option at this point.

Texans TE Ryan Griffin (quadricep) took full practice reps all week.

Falcons TE Austin Hooper (knee) took full practice reps all week. Hooper is back. He’s a decent low-cost dart throw, though he hasn’t had a good fantasy line since Week 9, when he posted 3-46-1 on six targets. He only saw 10 targets over his next five games before being sidelined.