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There is plenty for Cowboys fans to be disappointed about so far in the 2020 season. Top of that list of complaints is the record of 1-3. Next up would be a defense that is the major cause of that poor record, and then some combination of turnovers by the offense and a bumbling special teams unit. It’s enough to send fans to primal scream therapy.
One thing that Cowboys fans should be happy about, though, is the play of rookie CeeDee Lamb. He is as advertised. He has seamlessly fit into the Cowboys offense and has contributed every single week. Last week against the Browns Lamb caught two touchdown passes, the first ones of his career, and he earned our game ball of the week.
Lamb has been so consistent. In three different games he has caught five passes in each contest, while in the fourth game he brought in six passes. He has 309 yards on the season which projects to 1,232 yards on the year. He’s averaging 14.7 yards per reception and is sporting a 72.4% catch rate.
As noted, he is as advertised.
But just how does he stack up against his fellow rookies? ESPN polled six NFL observers and came up with a ranking. Lamb comes in at #7.
7. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Stats: 21 receptions, 309 yards, 2 TDs
Drafted: No. 17 overall
The Cowboys have five players with at least 24 targets over the season’s first four weeks, yet Lamb has been able to carve out his spot. He’s third on the team in targets (29) and has had at least 59 yards receiving in each of his four games, with his first two touchdowns of the season coming in Week 4 against the Browns.
Leading the list is Joe Burrow. That’s probably fair although Justin Herbert is giving him a run for his money in the quarterback department (Herbert is fifth in the rankings). The ESPN poll has a receiver second, but as we noted it’s not Lamb, instead it’s Justin Jefferson. His stats (16 catches, 348 yards, 1 TD) are comparable to Lamb but show a big-play bias that is probably getting him the nod over Lamb.
Antoine Winfield, Jr., a player many Cowboys fans had their eyes on during draft season, is third as he has been a force coming out of the gate. From there you got tackle Mekhi Becton, Herbert, and the now-injured Chase Young before getting to Lamb.
What’s your call, BTB? Too high, too low, or just right for Lamb?