Is George Pickens playing today? Cowboys WR start-sit injury update vs. Cardinals

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is expected to play today against the Arizona Cardinals despite a questionable tag, so fantasy football managers can keep him in Week 8 lineups while watching how many snaps a sore hamstring allows.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday morning that Pickens is expected to suit up after he was limited in all three practices this week with shoulder and hamstring injuries. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Friday he expects him to play.

Pickens first landed on the injury report with a shoulder issue Oct. 22, and he played through it in the Oct. 26 win at Philadelphia without a game designation. The hamstring was added this week, and that's what pushed him to a questionable tag for Sunday.

Schottenheimer sounded unconcerned Friday when he said, "I think we're pretty healthy ." Dallas did rule out linebacker Dee Winters and returner KaVontae Turpin, but Pickens, rookie safety Caleb Downs and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams are all expected to play after limited weeks.

Playing time is the bigger fantasy concern. Pickens played 41 snaps at Philadelphia as Dallas ran 38 times for 204 yards, and he still caught four of six targets for 57 yards, including a one-handed, toe-tap touchdown before halftime. If the Cowboys jump out to an early lead, they would likely dial back the passing game early and lean on their running backs.

George Pickens fantasy football outlook vs. Cardinals

The Georgia product has 37 catches for 485 yards and two touchdowns, second on the team behind CeeDee Lamb's 651 yards. He posted at least 73 receiving yards in four straight games before last week's run-heavy script.

Part of the snap dip ties back to blocking. Before the Eagles game, Schottenheimer said Pickens "needs to understand that he impacts us in the running game as well." Pickens logged 13 run-blocking snaps at Philadelphia, the fewest among Cowboys receivers who played on offense.

The 2-5 Cardinals should push Dallas to throw more than it did against the Eagles, because Jacoby Brissett attempted 48 passes in last week's 30-16 loss to Denver and tight end Trey McBride caught 10 balls for 111 yards. Start Pickens as a WR2 once Dallas confirms he's active roughly 90 minutes before kickoff, with the understanding that the hamstring carries some risk of an early exit.

Should you start Pickens on your fantasy football team? Absolutely. He's a low WR1 against the Cardinals, just outside the top 10 at his position.

Lamb caught five of 12 targets for 74 yards and two touchdowns against the Eagles and remains a locked-in WR1. Ryan Flournoy caught all four of his targets for 70 yards in that game, and he'd see more snaps if the hamstring limits Pickens.

Tight end Jake Ferguson went without a catch on his lone target last week, and Luke Schoonmaker had to test a groin injury Friday before Dallas settled its tight end plan.

This is a plus fantasy football matchup for practically all involved. Including Dak Prescott, who threw three touchdown passes at Philadelphia, and the 2-5 Cardinals visit the 3-4 Cowboys at 1 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium.