For both fantasy football managers and Baltimore Ravens fans, the status of Lamar Jackson’s ankle injury has been an important topic this week. What is the latest regarding Jackson’s ankle injury, what will the Ravens do if he cannot play, and what does this mean for fantasy managers?
Update 12/19/21: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is officially out for this game against the Packers. Tyler Huntley will be the starter for Baltimore.
Is Lamar Jackson playing today?
Jackson left the game against the Cleveland Browns in the first half on a cart. He was then later seen leaving the stadium in a walking boot. At that point, it was always likely Jackson would be questionable heading into the weekend. The positive was that the boot appeared to be a short one, suggesting that the injury was at least not a high-ankle sprain.
On Sunday night, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh described Jackson as day-to-day. The hope was that Baltimore would be able to get Jackson back on the practice field by the middle of the week.
Unfortunately, Jackson was listed as a non-participant on all three days this week. He is now listed as questionable on the Ravens’ injury report heading into Sunday. On Sunday morning, Adam Schefter revealed that the injury is a bone bruise and not an ankle sprain as was previously reported.
On FOX NFL Sunday, Jay Glazer reported that Jackson is not expected to play.
Tyler Huntley could start in Week 15 against the Green Bay Packers
If Jackson cannot play in Week 15, it would be Tyler Huntley under center. This would be Huntley’s second start of the season following his Week 11 stint. In that instance, Huntley stepped in when Jackson was unable to play due to illness. He also played 84% of the offensive snaps in Week 14 after Jackson was injured.
Huntley has performed reasonably well in Jackson’s absence. Across Weeks 11 and 14, he completed 53 of 74 pass attempts (71.6%) for 489 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. He has added 85 rushing yards on 13 attempts to provide a bit dual-threat element to the offense.
Baltimore adds Josh Johnson as a veteran backup
The Ravens made somewhat of a statement about their concerns of Jackson’s health by adding Josh Johnson from the New York Jets practice squad. Baltimore already had QB Chris Streveler on its practice squad, but they only recently acquired him. Therefore, the addition of Johnson feels like a clear signal that Jackson might not be available this week.
There is a chance this is more of a long-term plan for Johnson. Jackson has struggled with illness, and his vaccination status is not known. Thus, the Ravens could be without him at any point. If he is unvaccinated, he would have mandatory five- or 10-day quarantines if he is in close contact or tests positive.
What should Jackson’s fantasy managers do in Week 15?
Regardless of whether he is active or inactive, Jackson’s fantasy managers have serious concerns to deal with. If he plays, his ankle injury could limit his mobility. That mobility is a huge part of Jackson’s fantasy value. If he is limited in his rushing ability, fantasy managers are left relying on his arm.
Jackson averages 240 yards per game through the air with 1.25 passing touchdowns and 1.1 interceptions per game. That correlates to an average of less than 15 fantasy points per game. If Jackson cannot use his legs, his fantasy ceiling is extremely limited. He would still be a startable option in superflex leagues, but in 1QB formats, he would be a player to approach with caution.
If Huntley starts, fantasy managers have another tough decision. In Weeks 11 and 14, he has scored a total of 26.1 fantasy points at an average of 13.05 per game. That is not ideal, but there is a major caveat. In both games, the team practiced and planned for Jackson to start the entire contest.
The situation is different in Week 15, where Huntley will get the majority of preparation time. That does increase his ceiling somewhat, but not enough to make him a 1QB option you would feel comfortable using. In superflex, he is a solid QB2 thanks to his ability to add a handful of fantasy points with his legs.