The Cowboys selected CeeDee Lamb, Wide Receiver, out of Oklahoma University. He was the 17th pick in the first round and was the third wide receiver drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Biography
CeeDee Lamb is 6’2” and 198 pounds. He played three years at Oklahoma and will be 21 years old at the beginning of the 2020 NFL Season. Lamb still was one of the most productive receivers in college, despite competing for targets with Mark Andrews for a season and first-round wide receiver Marquise Brown for two seasons while at Oklahoma. Conversely, Lamb was on the receiving end of passes from Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Jalen Hurts.
College Production
CeeDee Lamb broke out at the age of 19 (age during their first season with a 20% receiving dominator rating) in his second season for the Sooners. During Lamb’s junior season, he had his best production at 20 years old. Lamb had 62 receptions, for 1,327 receiving yards, and 15 scrimmage touchdowns for a receiving dominator rating (average percentage of their team’s receiving yards and receiving touchdowns) of 35.4% (63rd percentile). Lamb had unreal age-adjusted production by averaging 1,104 scrimmage yards (93rd percentile) and 11 scrimmage touchdowns (95th percentile) per season throughout his career in Norman, OK. He dominated Oklahoma’s offense with an average scrimmage dominator rating (average percentage of their team’s scrimmage yards and scrimmage touchdowns) per season of 14.1% (65th percentile) and rapidly accumulated outstanding counting stats throughout his collegiate career. Lamb was insanely efficient as well and averaged 1.17 scrimmage yards per team play (89th percentile). Lamb is in the top three for rookie wide receivers in most of the important stats and metrics mentioned in this article. In particular, he ranks first in average scrimmage yards, first in average scrimmage touchdowns, and second in average scrimmage yards per team play. Lamb even contributed on special teams too. He had 54 returns, for 475 return yards, and zero return touchdowns. Lamb’s production on special teams emphasized how Oklahoma’s coaching staff wanted Lamb’s dynamism on the field whenever possible.
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Athleticism
[profiler]CeeDeeLamb[/profiler]
CeeDee Lamb has a good height-adjusted speed score of 97.9 (65th percentile) after running a 4.50-second 40-time at the NFL Combine. He has an average burst score of 120.7 (48th percentile). Lamb is a tall, lean wide receiver that uses his frame and ability to attack the ball in the air to make acrobatic catches and beat defenders. He will also use his speed in the open field to display his elite run after the catch ability in the NFL this season.
NFL Landing Spot
Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott will be back. The 10th highest rated passer of 2019 was a success targeting most of the field. The Cowboys extended Amari Cooper, retaining him for at least the next few seasons. Michael Gallup’s sophomore campaign was fantastic. The sixth ranked Cowboys appropriately ran the sixth most amount of plays, but only passed on 58% of their plays. Randall Cobb and Jason Witten each had 83 targets, but each are now with new teams. Curiously and despite the talents of Ezekiel Elliot, the Cowboys utilized their running back as a receiver with one of the lowest frequencies of all teams. The depth chart behind Cooper and Gallup is razor thin, meaning there is some opportunity for a receiver to come in via the draft and take over the vacated Randall Cobb slot role. But his 83 targets weren’t necessarily viable, as receivers in that target range typically finished in WR4 territory.
Rivals’ Rapid Analysis
CeeDee Lamb is an ultra-talented wide receiver that will use his elite after the catch ability and ball skills to win against NFL defenders. The Cowboys invested a shockingly high amount of draft capital into Lamb with a first round pick. He has a complicated degree of opportunity and will compete with Cooper, Gallup and Jarwin for targets from Dak Prescott.
CeeDee Lamb is in Shawn’s first wide receiver tier, Shawn’s WR4, and Shawn’s Overall Rookie Rank 10. Shawn would target Lamb in the mid-to-late first round in superflex rookie drafts (Mid first round in single QB). This is just a real bummer. Lamb coming into the draft was the WR1. But this is one of the most complicated landing spots in the NFL. Michael Gallup is under contract for the next two years, and Cooper is there until 2024 (the Cowboys do have an out after 2021). The Cowboys weren’t a team that threw a lot, and this offense might get more aggressive under Mike McCarthy, but even if it does, there aren’t a ton of spare targets to go around despite Lamb becoming the WR3 by default. Lamb is still an all-world talent, but unfortunately, he dodged Adam Gase, the fantasy succubus, only to land in one of the most complicated receiver positions in football. His standing and fantasy viability for the next few years certainly took a hit here against his original projections.
CeeDee Lamb is in Dave’s first wide receiver tier, his rookie WR2 or WR3 depending on where Reagor lands, and ninth or tenth rookie overall. He would target Lamb at 1.09 or 1.10 in superflex rookie drafts (1.06 or 1.07 in single QB). Dave’s initial reaction is he didn’t think there could be another landing spot to rival the Jets as the worst landing spot for Lamb. He has to compete for targets with Cooper and Gallup in a run-heavy offense. As a reminder, talent matters more than landing spot. A.J. Brown illustrated this last season. However, landing with Dak Prescott in a new Mike McCarthy offense might provide some hidden value as other dynasty player’s sour on Lamb. Lamb is still a top-three wide receiver. However, he loses some of his upside his profile initially indicated during the pre-draft process. Additionally, Lamb landing in Dallas solidifies that dynasty players should be targeting the top four rookie running backs over the wide receivers in rookie drafts.
This article was written in collaboration with Dave Wright. For more analysis check out Dave and Shawn’s previous articles at Dynasty Football Factory. Additionally, you can also find Dave’s dynasty superflex rankings at Dynasty Football Factory. Stay tuned for more rookie wide receiver rapid reaction articles from us throughout the entire NFL Draft. We will also give you instant reactions for priority UDFA wide receivers to help you try and find the next Adam Thielen. Interact with Dave and Shawn on Twitter @ff_spaceman and @ff_walrus. You can listen to our rivalry on our podcast @ATaleofTwoRivals with @ff_banterman.
Information found in this article was gathered from @ff_spaceman’s College Prospect Database, PlayerProfiler.com, Sports-Reference.com, AirYards.com, and a prospect’s college team website.
