CeeDee Lamb

Lamb has improved upon his totals for targets, catches, yards and touchdowns with each passing year since the Cowboys drafted him 17th overall in 2020, peaking last season as the highest-scoring wide receiver for both PPR and standard scoring. He finished at WR5/6 overall in 2022, then took a massive leap forward last season with 25 more targets and 390 more receiving yards while posting career highs for catch rate (74.6 percent) and yards per target (9.7). In addition to leading the NFL in catches and targets, Lamb tied for third among WRs with 14 carries and took them for 113 yards and two touchdowns (14 TDs total). Many of his peripheral stats were similar to previous years (e.g. 9.3 aDOT, 5.1 YAC average) but he was targeted on a career-high 28.3 percent of his routes and caught nearly three-fourths of those passes even though defenses knew what was coming. While neither particularly big (6-2. 200) nor fast (4.50), Lamb is silky-smooth both before and after the catch and seems to have an innate understanding of footwork and angles like DeAndre Hopkins or Isaac Bruce. If there's one possible criticism, it's that Lamb was a bit more volume-reliant than fellow elite WR1 Tyreek Hill, who ran 193 fewer routes but was targeted on an incredible 38.2 percent of them. Even that's just nitpicking, though, as Lamb had the sixth-highest target rate over the seventh most routes (641)., i.e., he can afford to lose some volume in 2024 and still be a high-end WR1.

Lamb has progressed as expected since going 17th overall in the 2020 draft, jumping from 935 yards as a rookie to 1,102 as a sophomore all the way to 1,359 last season. Amari Cooper's departure from Dallas in a trade paved the way for Lamb to become the unquestioned No. 1 receiver and average 9.2 targets per game -- volume that he could repeat even after the Cowboys added Brandin Cooks this spring. Lamb had fairly modest numbers through six games last season, averaging 5.5 catches for 68.2 yards with two touchdowns, then really got going once Dak Prescott returned from an injury Week 7, putting up 6.7 catches for 86.4 yards with seven TDs in the final 11 games. A healthier season from Prescott combined with the offseason departures of TE Dalton Schultz and RB Ezekiel Elliott would help Lamb avoid any problems from increased target competition at WR in the form of Cooks. The 24-year-old is set up well to at least approach his 2022 production, if not exceed it.

Lamb made progress between Years 1 and 2, but it wasn't the leap forward some expected as he instead settled for incremental gains in a balanced Dallas offense. This year it's less crowded, after Amari Cooper was traded to Cleveland and Cedrick Wilson left for Miami. The Cowboys added wideouts James Washington and Jalen Tolbert, and they kept both TE Dalton Schultz and WR Michael Gallup, but there's no longer any question about who's the No. 1 receiver. Lamb previously filled that role with aplomb at Oklahoma, progressing from 807 yards as a true freshman to 2,485 (and 25 TDs) combined in his sophomore and junior seasons. He then put up mediocre numbers at the 2020 Combine, including a 4.50 40, and fell to Dallas in the middle of Round 1. He's no speed demon, to be sure, but makes up for it with agility, balance and precision. He's also a proverbial "plays bigger than he is" guy, having ranked second among WRs with 12 broken tackles last year. Versatility is another plus for Lamb, who has 19 career carries for 158 yards and a TD, in addition to playing both the slot and perimeter. After taking more than 90 percent of his snaps in the slot as a rookie, Lamb dropped to 36 percent in 2021, with his aDOT rising modestly from 9.3 to 10.3. He should see even more work downfield this season, entering Year 3 as the clear No. 1 receiver in an offense that has quality QB and O-line play.

Lamb had a solid rookie year, but it could have been so much better. Through five games with Dak Prescott, Lamb put up a 40-29-433-2 line, numbers which prorate to 128-93-1,386-6. He fell off sharply when Andy Dalton took over, but Prescott is expected to be back for the start of training camp. At 6-2, 189, Lamb is a tall, smooth receiver who runs polished routes for a 22-year-old and has excellent burst when he catches the ball. Lamb probably won’t torch teams downfield that often — 4.50 40 time and two teammates who are bigger deep threats — but he’s ideal for the slot where the Cowboys used him most of the time. The biggest issue for Lamb is the competition for targets. Both Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup had north of 100 last year, but it’s worth noting Lamb seemed to be Prescott’s favorite look early last season, when they barely even had time to develop a rapport.

Lamb was a monster at Oklahoma the last two years with 26 TDs, including a rushing one, on 184 targets in 27 games. And lest one think his 2018 season was due to having last year's No. 1 pick Kyler Murray at quarterback, Lamb's 2019 season was even bigger and more efficient with Jalen Hurts. At 6-2, 189, Lamb is tall and rangy with elite ball skills and excellent hands. He's elusive after the catch, quick in and out of breaks and dangerous in open space. Despite not being a true burner, he'll make plays down the field by tracking the ball in the air and going over top of smaller defenders. Lamb's route running should improve in the pros, and he has the physical tools and football instincts to be an elite NFL receiver. Landing in Dallas with the 17th pick wasn't ideal - the Cowboys have two established receivers in Michael Gallup and Amari Cooper. But Randall Cobb's 83 targets have left for Houston, the Cowboys had the 10th-most pass attempts last year, and they don't have an established receiving threat at tight end. There's also a good chance the team throws more passes in the red zone under new coach Mike McCarthy.