Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray hasn't officially been announced as active for Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts. No word will be made public on that until right before game time as Murray continues to heal from hand surgery. But all signs point to Murray suiting up on Sunday.
"He's playing this weekend," ESPN analyst Darren Woodson said Friday morning on Mike & Mike. "He's absolutely playing this weekend.
"I know from just talking to people within the organization that DeMarco Murray is a guy right now that wants to get that moniker off his back that he hasn't played a 16-game season."
Despite Murray's willingness, it remains unclear how his hand will hold up.
"The fear is will he be able to pass protect?...That's my biggest fear. It's not holding onto the ball, it's pass protection.
"Inside knowledge: He is absolutely playing."
That's good news for fantasy owners counting on Murray to chip in to their championship performance.
"The Cowboys' identity has been the running game and the offensive line," ESPN's Todd Archer wrote. "I do believe they have faith in backups Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar. To me, Randle would get the bulk of the carries if Murray can't go. Even if Murray does play, I would think the Cowboys would monitor his snaps anyway, considering he had surgery on Monday.
"The Cowboys just can't abandon the run. The run has made Tony Romo a better quarterback. He has been able to take advantage of coverages teams play because the defense has to commit to stopping the run. Romo has thrown more than 30 passes in a game this season just three times. It would surprise me if he is over that number this week if the game is not out of whack with the Colts leading big."
