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    Will Dak Prescott play Sunday night? Latest injury update on Cowboys QB

    Dak Prescott's calf injury has him in real question as to whether or not he'll play in Week 8. Will the Cowboys QB be available?

    Heading into a bye week, the general expectation was that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had a calf injury that he could rest for a week before coming back at full strength. But two days before the Cowboys’ Sunday Night Football game against the Minnesota Vikings, there are suddenly concerns about Prescott’s availability. The signal-caller, who’s averaging the fourth-most passing yards per game in the NFL, is very much in question for Week 8. How should fantasy football managers proceed?

    Update 10/31, 7:00 PM EST: The Dallas Cowboys have officially announced that QB Dak Prescott will be inactive for their Sunday Night Football matchup against the Vikings. Cooper Rush will be the starter.

    Will Dak Prescott play on Sunday Night Football?

    After Prescott ramped up his intensity during a second consecutive limited practice on Thursday, his calf was reportedly sore. Asked whether Prescott would play on Sunday, head coach Mike McCarthy indicated that Prescott’s status is about more than just one game, adding there is a ton of football left to play.

    McCarthy sounded like a head coach who is prioritizing Prescott’s health for the remainder of the season — not just this week.

    With a record of 5-2, the Cowboys are comfortably in first place in the NFC East. The rest of the division is a combined 6-15. This is Dallas’ division in 2021, as long as they stay healthy. Sitting Prescott for another week to make sure he’s good for the rest of the season — even if it risks a loss in Week 8 — would be a wise decision for the remainder of the year.

    There’s no official word yet on Prescott’s status, but signs are pointing to him not playing.

    The reports about Prescott have been conflicting

    While there are reports that Prescott was sore after Thursday’s practice and McCarthy also appears to be taking a big-picture approach, multiple Cowboys beat writers are saying that they expect Prescott to play. Prescott has apparently been focused all week on being able to play and worked with the first team in all walkthroughs.

    The conflicting information makes this very muddy for fantasy managers, and we will likely have to wait to receive clarity.

    What are we doing in fantasy?

    At this point, we have to hope that we get word in advance of making a late decision. The Cowboys are playing the Vikings on Sunday Night Football, which is a hard matchup as it is. Minnesota is allowing the third-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, holding them to 16.2 points on average.

    If we know in advance that Dak is playing, then you have to play him despite the matchup. The offense is too good. The combination of Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, Dalton Schultz, and Blake Jarwin makes up a formidable unit that has been explosive all season.

    If we don’t have word heading into Sunday morning, or if reports indicate Prescott is a game-time decision, then it’s time to come up with another plan. If you roster Prescott, I would make sure to have another QB waiting in the wings, just in case.

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