Lamar Jackson: Ravens hopeful on ankle for Week 8
THE FACT. Baltimore's head coach said Monday that Lamar Jackson is working hard on his ankle and should be in a decent spot ahead of Week 8, with a clearer read expected Wednesday, per NFL.com. Jackson sat out Week 7 against Cincinnati. The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec reported the injury as a high ankle sprain, and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport has reported Jackson is expected back for Week 8 against Buffalo.
THE VERDICT. Redraft: hold him and plan to start him, but keep a contingency warm until Wednesday's practice report lands. A high ankle sprain on a quarterback who runs this much can linger well past the day he is cleared. If he suits up against Buffalo, start him with confidence. Dynasty: no change, this is a short-term absence on a franchise quarterback. DFS: do not pay up before Friday's designation, because a limited Jackson at full price is a fade.
Respectfully taking the other side of the redraft call here. This isn't a one-week thing - he has missed three straight games, and the staff only told him it was a high ankle sprain on the 23rd, weeks after he left the Tennessee game. Rapoport said it isn't a typical one and Lamar himself still called it painful. Twenty-plus years of playing this game has taught me a running quarterback's legs are the last thing to come back, and his legs are why you drafted him. First game back in Buffalo, he's my contingency, not my starter.