Lamar Jackson starts Sunday, and the manager spooked by his ankle is your trade partner

If somebody in your league is still nervous about Lamar Jackson's ankle, you've got until Sunday to take advantage of it. After that the discount's gone, and you'll be paying full price for a quarterback who just reminded everyone what he is.

Jesse Minter said Friday that Jackson will start at Buffalo after missing three games with a high ankle sprain. Ian Rapoport had him as a full participant in practice again, and the Ravens left him off their game status list entirely, which Tom Pelissero and Adam Schefter both confirmed. Coaches say hopeful things on Fridays all the time. Leaving a player off the status list is the team putting its answer in writing.

Then there's the part your league-mate can't stop thinking about. Jackson told reporters he still feels pain when he plants his foot, and called it manageable, per Underdog NFL. I'm not going to pretend that's nothing. A high ankle sprain can cut into how often a quarterback runs, and the designed runs are a big reason Jackson costs what he costs. If Baltimore keeps him in the pocket Sunday, he could post a quiet line, and whoever sold him will feel smart for about a day.

That's the injury question, though, and the managers who panic are the ones who mix it up with the asset question. A sore plant foot in his first game back tells you something about this week. It tells you very little about what Jackson's worth on your roster next season and the one after, and in a contract league that's the whole conversation. Selling now means pricing three missed games and one honest quote as if they were a decline.

I'll own my part of this. Last Saturday I misread his practice week, and he ended up sitting a third straight game. I said hold him anyway. The managers who listened get their starter back for nothing. The ones who didn't spent three weeks streaming fill-ins, and now they get to watch somebody else start him in Buffalo.

So who do you call? Look for the manager who grabbed a short-term starter during the absence and now has two quarterbacks and a bad feeling. In a one-quarterback league they're carrying a spare, and they'll be tempted to keep the guy who never scared them. Ask about Jackson, not the fill-in. If they hesitate, that pain quote is doing your negotiating for you.

How hard you push depends on the deal in your league. If Jackson's on a multiyear contract, I'd pay real value, because the years left are what you're buying and the ankle doesn't touch them. If he's on a one-year deal, I'd only chase him as a contender who needs the points right now.

And if the ankle flares up Sunday and he's back on the injury report Monday, I'll have told you to buy a quarterback right before his worst week, and you're welcome to send me the screenshots. I'd still rather take that risk at Friday's price than pay what he'll cost on Tuesday.

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