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Rishi Patel's 2020 fantasy football value analysis of Dallas Cowboys rookie wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Is he a 2020 fantasy football draft sleeper and top dynasty WR target?
The Dallas Cowboys made a huge splash and unexpectedly bolstered their offense after Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was still available to pick up at Number 17 in the NFL Draft. The addition of the star collegiate receiver makes the ‘Boys offense quite formidable considering the talent they already have.
The talented wideout ranks fifth in the RotoBaller rookie rankings and is sure to be a high pick in dynasty rookie drafts.
Let’s break down what Lamb brings to the league and how he will fit in right away.
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Profile
Team: Dallas Cowboys
College: Oklahoma
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 198 lbs
NFL Draft Pick: Round 1, Pick 17
Stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com
Scouting Report
CeeDee Lamb was considered a top prospect at WR on draft boards. Many pundits predicted him as the top prospect or a top-three prospect at the very least. Therefore, it will always remain to be seen if any teams should have traded up for Lamb if the Cowboys did not draft him at 17 (Hint: Maybe those Eagles). This is also considering fellow top receiver prospects Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy were drafted before him.
Draftwire of USA TODAY predicted the Oklahoma product would go in the top 10 while Bleacher Report also predicted big things for Lamb. There is no doubt the 21-year-old can be an impact player and headache for opposing defenses as part of a stacked WR trio on Dallas.
He brings size, explosiveness, and has huge playmaking capabilities. He’s a tough player and often a formidable matchup for many cornerbacks. He also has great hands and can produce the numbers needed for fantasy owners and his team.
There are no glaring weaknesses for Lamb’s skill set. The only minor concerns would be lack of elite speed and less knowledge of complex routes to run. He ran a 4.50 40-yard dash, which is a higher number than fellow receivers from his class like Jerry Jeudy, Denzel Mims, Chase Claypool, and Jalen Reagor.
Other than that, owner Jerry Jones should be quite content with his selection (that he made from his yacht). Bleacher Report even went as far as to compare Lamb to prolific Cardinals wideout DeAndre Hopkins. Nevertheless, it was one of the more surprising, yet high-impact picks made early in the draft.
As the 2020 wide receivers take the field for their combine workout, here's a look at the top prospects by Production Score.
CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma), Jerry Jeudy (Alabama) and Tyler Johnson (Minnesota) top our list of the most productive WRs in this year's class.#NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/VHQAYauUnN
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) February 27, 2020
Cowboys offensvie skill players:
QB: Dak Prescott
RB: Ezekiel Elliott
RB2: Tony Pollard
WR: Amari Cooper
WR: CeeDee Lamb
WR: Michael Gallup
TE: Blake JarwinLoaded.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 24, 2020
2020 Outlook
CeeDee Lamb has a boom-or-bust type of fantasy outlook this season considering the Cowboys have two other 1,000-yard receivers on the roster in Michael Gallup and Amari Cooper. Nevertheless, owners should not hesitate to draft the Oklahoma product for their fantasy team in redraft leagues as a WR3 or flex starter.
Lamb will certainly receive playing time on this offense. The biggest question fantasy owners need to consider is his potential production. With three capable receivers, any single one could have a big week at any given time. Therefore, the value of Gallup, Cooper, and Lamb all take a bit of hit. However, when given the opportunity, there is no doubt Lamb can be an impact player and a huge fantasy asset for any owner. He had two 1,000-yard seasons in college and averaged a robust 19 yards per catch in his career.
Nevertheless, Gallup and Cooper have proved they are equally capable. Cooper finished with 79 receptions, 1,189 yards, eight receiving touchdowns, 15.1 yards per reception, and 74.3 yards per game. The total yards, yards per reception, and touchdowns were all career-highs for the 25-year-old.
The Alabama product also led the team in targets during the 2019 season (119/597, 19.9%). Because of his successful season, he ranked eighth in receiving yards among all NFL WRs.
Colorado product Michael Gallup also had a huge 2019 season, racking up 66 receptions, 1,107 receiving yards, six touchdowns, 16.8 yards per catch, and 113/597 team targets (18.9%). Both are integral pieces on this offense and rather young as Gallup is 24 while Cooper will enter the 2020 season at age 26.
Considering QB Dak Prescott already has chemistry with Gallup and Cooper, Lamb will need time to develop it with his QB. Therefore, consider him a WR3 or flex piece when drafting, and then assess how he progresses throughout the season. The numbers could realistically fluctuate week-to-week depending on how games play out and who is getting targets. Cooper is a WR1 in fantasy and Gallup could be considered a WR2 or WR3.
Dynasty Outlook
The landing spot in Dallas isn't the perfect scenario for Lamb in the short term, but it couldn't be better for dynasty. Lamb is now tied to an elite quarterback (yes, Prescott has proven himself enough to earn that label). He could supplant Gallup as the WR2 in Dallas and even if he doesn't, there will be plenty of passes flying around in Mike McCarthy's offense.
Lamb and Jeudy have been the top two rookie wideouts on draft boards all preseason and that hasn't changed since the NFL Draft. He should be viewed as the top rookie WR and a top-five rookie pick. In dynasty startups, Lamb is worthy of a top-50 overall pick, ranking 42 in RotoBaller's post-NFL Draft dynasty rankings.
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