Cowboys' playmaker has what he needs around him to flourish
There's no denying that the Dallas Cowboys have an offense loaded with playmakers. One of its best, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, has had about as good of a start to his career as he could have asked for. Despite not having quarterback Dak Prescott for 11 games as a rookie due to the compound fracture […]
There's no denying that the Dallas Cowboys have an offense loaded with playmakers. One of its best, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, has had about as good of a start to his career as he could have asked for.
Despite not having quarterback Dak Prescott for 11 games as a rookie due to the compound fracture and dislocation of his ankle, Lamb was brilliant. He was able to produce 74 receptions for 935 yards and five touchdowns.
After a 1,100-yard campaign in 2021, Lamb put up 107 catches for 1,359 yards and nine touchdowns last season. It was his second consecutive year receiving Pro Bowl honors and he was named a second-team All-Pro.
Lamb has put together a resume that has him side-by-side with the best receivers in the game. Pro Football Focus also knows that, and they ranked him as the ninth-best receiver in the NFL.
Lamb’s production should only go up in 2023 now that Brandin Cooks is on the roster to keep defenses on their toes. Last season, with no Amari Cooper, Lamb set career highs in targets, catches, yards, touchdowns and yards per route run. He posted the lowest drop rate of his career and looked like one of the best receivers in the game. This season could be even better.
Lamb has what he needs around him to keep that type of production up.
Cooks will be mainly on the outside despite being 5'10, and he'll be the consistent deep threat the Cowboys need to stretch defenses vertically. Lamb is at his best in the slot. So, with a healthy Michael Gallup in 2023, he and Cooks will give Lamb more one-on-one chances.
Lamb is also equipped to make plays as an outside weapon, with the biggest evidence being in his second year when over half of his snaps were taken there. So, if the Cowboys do implement more slot opportunities for Gallup as reported and he can work the middle of the field effectively, Lamb will be in single coverage a lot more which won't end well for opposing defenses.
The Cowboys also have the potential for a three-headed monster at tight end as rookie Luke Schoonmaker joins Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot. Also, running back Tony Pollard has ability in the passing game out of the backfield and in the slot, and with teams fearing his explosiveness, he can open things up for Lamb.
One thing fans can expect is another big year from Lamb.