Contenders, trade Lamar Jackson now, because his season's gone and yours isn't

If you're playing for an RSO title this year and Lamar Jackson is on your roster, he should be on somebody else's by the weekend. I know how that sounds about a quarterback like him. Trade him anyway, while the managers who aren't playing for this year still want him.

Here's where it stands. Coach Jesse Minter said after Sunday's 36-10 loss at Buffalo that Jackson needs surgery on his right thumb and is going on injured reserve, and he called it potentially season-ending. On Monday, Ian Rapoport said Jackson is likely to miss the rest of the season. He got hurt on Baltimore's first offensive play, in his first game back after three straight missed with a high ankle sprain. One play. That's what his managers got for waiting out the ankle.

My colleague Nora Pike told you on Friday to buy him from the manager spooked by the ankle. She wasn't wrong about the player, and I'd have made the same call on Friday. Being right about the player doesn't help your lineup this year, though, and that's the only question a contender gets to ask.

Look at what Baltimore's doing for a quarterback. Tyler Huntley has turf toe, and Rapoport says he's out for the foreseeable future. Joe Fagnano, an undrafted rookie, is next up Thursday night against Jacksonville, and the Ravens signed Austin Reed to the practice squad Monday to back him up. Rapoport also says they're expected to consider trading for a quarterback. Baltimore's lost three straight. Your title shot shouldn't hang on any of that.

For you, Jackson's now a roster spot and a salary that won't score a point this year. For a rebuilder, he's a 2027 starter you can buy at an injury discount. That's the rare trade where both sides are right, and the only thing that kills it is a contender too sentimental to make the call. Ask for a starter who plays this Sunday. Don't hold out for a healthy-Lamar price, because nobody's paying one, and the guy who offers you real help today is doing you a favor.

The best argument against me is Minter's own answer. Asked whether it's season-ending, he said "we'll see." If Jackson's back for a December run, the contender who sold looks foolish, and I'll be the one who told him to. I'll also concede the obvious to the buyer. That's an ankle and a thumb in one season, and a rebuilder who doesn't flinch at that isn't paying attention.

So read your league's contract before anybody shakes hands. If Jackson's RSO deal runs past this season, rebuilders should be calling you right now. If it runs out this year, he's worth very little to anybody, and the contender's best move is whatever gets his salary off the books under your league's rules.

I'd rather sell a hurt superstar a week too early than spend November staring at his name in my IR slot while somebody else's quarterback wins my matchup. If he comes back in December and beats me in the playoffs, I'll buy the beer.

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