Divisional Round: Essential NFL Practice News & Notes
Patriots QB Tom Brady (ankle, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 19. No worries here. Brady has a nice matchup against Baltimore (#24 in QB aFPA).
Broncos QB Peyton Manning (thigh, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 19. Manning will definitely play against Indianapolis, but he has only averaged 11.4 fantasy points in his last four games.
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (calf, probable) took limited practice reps again Friday and is probable for Week 19. Rodgers is going to play against Dallas on Sunday, but he may not be 100 percent in terms of mobility inside and outside of the pocket. He reportedly has a partial tear in his calf.
Cowboys QB Tony Romo (back, probable) took full practice reps again Friday and is probable for Week 19. Romo is going through his usual routine. He’ll be fine to face Green Bay this weekend.
Patriots RB LeGarrette Blount (illness) was removed from the injury report Friday. Blount has averaged 12.8 touches in the last five games he’s played, but may not see a big workload with New England likely to take a pass-heavy approach against a shaky Baltimore secondary.
Patriots RB Jonas Gray (ankle, probable) took limited practice reps all week and is probable for Week 19. Gray has taken a backseat to LeGarrette Blount after missing practice on the heels of his huge Week 11 (38 carries for 199 yards and four touchdowns). Expect a handful of carries against a tough Baltimore rush defense.
Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch (back, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 19. This season, Lynch has averaged 14 more yards and 0.54 more touchdowns at home than he has on the road. However, Carolina has posted the top RB aFPA over the last 10 weeks.
Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray (hand, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 19. Murray accounted for 55% of his team’s touches versus Detroit last week. He accounted for 53.7% of the Cowboys’ touches during the season, so it doesn’t appear that the hand is limiting his workload at all.
Broncos RB Juwan Thompson (hip, knee, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 19.
Panthers WR Corey Brown (shoulder, questionable) took limited practice reps again Friday and is questionable for Week 19. Brown is iffy for Saturday’s game. Brenton Bersin is the next man up, but there was even some talk of the team calling up Stephen Hill from the practice squad.
Patriots WR Julian Edelman (concussion, probable) took limited practice reps all week and is probable for Week 19. The probable tag means that Edelman will suit up in a nice matchup against Baltimore. He was the #13 WR in PPR formats (17 in standard) through 15 weeks, prior to his concussion. He should be a nice start in daily formats.
Seahawks WR Jermaine Kearse (hamstring, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 19. Kearse’s return puts a dent in Paul Richardson’s upside.
Patriots WR Brandon LaFell (shoulder, toe, probable) took limited practice reps all week and is probable for Week 19. LaFell was a nice surprise this season. He finished as the #22 WR in both standard and PPR formats, and he has a nice matchup against a shaky Baltimore secondary.
Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas (ankle, finger, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 19. Thomas was the #2 WR this season, and that was after he was the #41 receiver through the first three weeks. Vontae Davis is a concern, but he typically plays on one side of the field, so the Broncos can avoid him if they choose to.
Colts WR Reggie Wayne (not injury related) missed practice Friday. Wayne is expected to play, though his production has fallen off of a cliff this season. He has broken the 40-yard mark once in his last seven games.
Packers TE Brandon Bostick (illness) was removed from the injury report Friday after taking full practice reps Thursday.
Ravens TE Owen Daniels (not injury related, probable) took full practice reps again Friday and is probable for Week 19. Daniels should be fine to face New England. He has scored one touchdown in his last nine games.
Cowboys TE James Hanna (knee, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 19.
Seahawks TE Cooper Helfet (ribs, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 19.
Seahawks TE Tony Moeaki (calf, questionable) missed practice all week and is questionable for Week 19. Moeaki is considered to be a game-time decision for Saturday. If he’s out, Luke Willson would be more attractive as a Sneaky Start, though he has seen five or more targets just three times this season.
Broncos TE Julius Thomas (ankle, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 19. Thomas is going to play but he has just five catches for 66 yards in his last four games after posting the #1 TE numbers through the first 10 weeks.
