WR CeeDee Lamb, DAL (1 Viewer)

[msudaisy26]

He's WR8 in Points Per Game

https://www.footballguys.com/playerhistoricalstats?profile=p&pos=wr&yr=2025&sortby=21&startwk=1&stopwk=18

Which is not mid 1st rd pick material (going as 3rd or 4th wr overall) but hes still a wr1. This was exactly my point. Not a bust but also a bit disappointing.

He also has two games where he left very early and one of those games is a zero. Other than injury I don't think he has been disappointing at all.

 

[-OZ-]

He's WR8 in Points Per Game

https://www.footballguys.com/playerhistoricalstats?profile=p&pos=wr&yr=2025&sortby=21&startwk=1&stopwk=18

Which is not mid 1st rd pick material (going as 3rd or 4th wr overall) but hes still a wr1. This was exactly my point. Not a bust but also a bit disappointing.

Maybe I’m just pessimistic but I think given the other first round picks - Saquon, JJ, Nabers, Jeanty, and even Derrick Henry, I wouldn’t be overly disappointed with having drafted Lamb.

 

[Joe Bryant]

He's WR8 in Points Per Game

https://www.footballguys.com/playerhistoricalstats?profile=p&pos=wr&yr=2025&sortby=21&startwk=1&stopwk=18

Which is not mid 1st rd pick material (going as 3rd or 4th wr overall) but hes still a wr1. This was exactly my point. Not a bust but also a bit disappointing.

My point is if you project a guy for WR2 and he winds up WR8 (so far) in PPG, I'm not very disappointed.

 

[jobarules]

He's WR8 in Points Per Game

https://www.footballguys.com/playerhistoricalstats?profile=p&pos=wr&yr=2025&sortby=21&startwk=1&stopwk=18

Which is not mid 1st rd pick material (going as 3rd or 4th wr overall) but hes still a wr1. This was exactly my point. Not a bust but also a bit disappointing.

My point is if you project a guy for WR2 and he winds up WR8 (so far) in PPG, I'm not very disappointed.

OK maybe you aren't but I am

 

[jobarules]

He's WR8 in Points Per Game

https://www.footballguys.com/playerhistoricalstats?profile=p&pos=wr&yr=2025&sortby=21&startwk=1&stopwk=18

Which is not mid 1st rd pick material (going as 3rd or 4th wr overall) but hes still a wr1. This was exactly my point. Not a bust but also a bit disappointing.

Maybe I’m just pessimistic but I think given the other first round picks - Saquon, JJ, Nabers, Jeanty, and even Derrick Henry, I wouldn’t be overly disappointed with having drafted Lamb.

I took him over cmc who went one pick later.

 

[Joe Bryant]

He's WR8 in Points Per Game

https://www.footballguys.com/playerhistoricalstats?profile=p&pos=wr&yr=2025&sortby=21&startwk=1&stopwk=18

Which is not mid 1st rd pick material (going as 3rd or 4th wr overall) but hes still a wr1. This was exactly my point. Not a bust but also a bit disappointing.

My point is if you project a guy for WR2 and he winds up WR8 (so far) in PPG, I'm not very disappointed.

OK maybe you aren't but I am

This is actually a really good illustration.

I see the first round as mostly wanting to "hold serve". There's very litle room for upside obviously in the first so you just want to stay in the game. You want to avoid the 2025 Justin Jefferson.

Where I think you win is with the mid and late rounds. Where you can pull guys who vastly out perform their draft capital.

Basically, few if any teams are not winning their league this year because they drafted CeeDee Lamb.

 

[Joe Bryant]

I took him over cmc who went one pick later.

Ah. This makes more sense now.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

In 2022, the first year Cooper left the team, CD Lamb had 156 targets which got him a 107/1359/9 year (WR6).

George Pickens so far this year has 120 targets.

Again; lamb missed 3 games. Hard to compare apples to oranges.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Lamb hit his projections twice all season. 3 tds total. Two injuries. Hard to say he was a bust when he put up double digit points every single week but also not difficult to feel disappointed with the season he had.

Yeah, he has not been the alpha of alphas. But 21.5 this week for me likely helped me advance in the playoffs. He’s been more a high floor player. Ceiling feels like it’s right around the corner.

IMO a lot has to do with DAL playcalling - it’s a very disjointed offense that never seems to keep defenses off balance. When they run on 1st down 5x in a row, the defense gears up for it. One might think they take a deep shot off of play action but that’s a rare play for them.

Jake Ferguson was eating like crazy the first 7-8 weeks. He’s been a total afterthought since.

There’s just so much talent in that offense. I truly believe a lot of this is on the OC.

To comment on Jake Ferguson here. He's been banged up, and honestly maybe shouldn't have even been active last night, but I'm not sure he's actually a good TE. Dak just throws over the middle well in my opinion. I think Ferguson is probably less talented than Dalton Schultz was, and we've seen the difference in his stats with/without Dak. I don't think he's being wasted at all, and probably should be an afterthought, his extension was a bad move in my eyes.

As good as Javonte has been, I feel like extending him would be a mistake too. Its not like he's been better than Tony Pollard was, he just had lower expectations.

A top-10 QB shines up a lot around them, and Dak is that. I will still very much argue Lamb>>>Pickens, in the same way Chase>>>Higgins. Lamb is more QB proof, as we saw with the disaster that was Cooper Rush. Pickens, I don't think is. I'd want to keep Pickens if I were Dallas, but not if he wants Lamb money. Lamb is arguably slightly overrated, in the sense that he's more a top-10 WR than a top-3 guy, but I think he's the better WR for Dallas.

Agree with most of this. I do think Ferguson is a better TE than Schultz. More athletic, can do more after the catch, and better hands. Schultz drops a lot of bunnies.

 

[Terpman22]

In 2022, the first year Cooper left the team, CD Lamb had 156 targets which got him a 107/1359/9 year (WR6).

George Pickens so far this year has 120 targets.

Again; lamb missed 3 games. Hard to compare apples to oranges.

All I'm saying really is "If you expect Lamb to get 150+ targets/aka back to that WR5 level" Its not happening if Pickens comes back.

 

[Chaka]

Pickens is a better WR and that's not something that's negotiable.

Exactly. He has been better for 7ish weeks while Lamb was hurt. Lamb has been better for their entire career and that equals Pickens is better.

You really going with Lamb is the better WR because of past stats? Come on, lol.

Better, how? Because he was in Dallas?

Eye test

CeeDee is like the old heavyweight champ who everyone loves...until he gets knocked off.

One indicator will be targets. NFL teams typically target their top dawg the most. It kinda depends on how much focus Ds put on the more dangerous WR (Pickens), but it wouldn't surprise me if he still out-targets CeeDee. Just the difference in RAC ability is huge. Pickens is also more physical.

We'll likely know the answer to this question by the end of the season.

When they are both on the field, which one draws the most double coverage ? I think both were drawing double coverage quite a bit last night and Lamb seemed to be the one getting open.

I thought the Lions were clearly shading Pickens.

Even when Lamb went out it was easy for me to see that Pickens was rarely his first read. Most of the time he'd drop back he never looked his way. I know he got 9 targets but they were kind of empty, not quality, some desperate heaves when nothing else was available.

This all just seemed to me that the Lions game plan was focused on taking out Pickens.

I'm no saying any of this in an attempt to say Pickens is the better receiver. I think he might be more naturally talented, but I'm not willing to say he's better.

Yeah, it's clear who teams are trying to limit. It's probably best to let opposing Ds decide who is better.

FF is a different story. Lamb has a chance due to a lot more single coverage, but Pickens has more TD potential because of his physical advantages.

The best receivers don't get taken away. A couple of years ago the Cowboys only had Lamb and he still was awesome. Pickens has had a good year and is very talented. He isn't on the level of Lamb or any of the other top tier wrs.

They don't? I assume Justin Jefferson is one of your top tier WRs and he gets taken away all the time now. What about Lamb's 61, 67, 62, and 47 yard games with no TDs last season in 9 weeks before Dak got hurt last season?

Pickens is freeing up Lamb and that's not something that's negotiable. Besides, it's best to let opposing Ds decide who Dallas' #1 WR is. Our only concern should be FF and we still got a ways to go before we know who their top FF WR will be in the long run.

I appreciate how committed you are to the bit.

 

[-OZ-]

Pickens is a better WR and that's not something that's negotiable.

Exactly. He has been better for 7ish weeks while Lamb was hurt. Lamb has been better for their entire career and that equals Pickens is better.

You really going with Lamb is the better WR because of past stats? Come on, lol.

Better, how? Because he was in Dallas?

Eye test

CeeDee is like the old heavyweight champ who everyone loves...until he gets knocked off.

One indicator will be targets. NFL teams typically target their top dawg the most. It kinda depends on how much focus Ds put on the more dangerous WR (Pickens), but it wouldn't surprise me if he still out-targets CeeDee. Just the difference in RAC ability is huge. Pickens is also more physical.

We'll likely know the answer to this question by the end of the season.

When they are both on the field, which one draws the most double coverage ? I think both were drawing double coverage quite a bit last night and Lamb seemed to be the one getting open.

I thought the Lions were clearly shading Pickens.

Even when Lamb went out it was easy for me to see that Pickens was rarely his first read. Most of the time he'd drop back he never looked his way. I know he got 9 targets but they were kind of empty, not quality, some desperate heaves when nothing else was available.

This all just seemed to me that the Lions game plan was focused on taking out Pickens.

I'm no saying any of this in an attempt to say Pickens is the better receiver. I think he might be more naturally talented, but I'm not willing to say he's better.

Yeah, it's clear who teams are trying to limit. It's probably best to let opposing Ds decide who is better.

FF is a different story. Lamb has a chance due to a lot more single coverage, but Pickens has more TD potential because of his physical advantages.

The best receivers don't get taken away. A couple of years ago the Cowboys only had Lamb and he still was awesome. Pickens has had a good year and is very talented. He isn't on the level of Lamb or any of the other top tier wrs.

They don't? I assume Justin Jefferson is one of your top tier WRs and he gets taken away all the time now. What about Lamb's 61, 67, 62, and 47 yard games with no TDs last season in 9 weeks before Dak got hurt last season?

Pickens is freeing up Lamb and that's not something that's negotiable. Besides, it's best to let opposing Ds decide who Dallas' #1 WR is. Our only concern should be FF and we still got a ways to go before we know who their top FF WR will be in the long run.

I appreciate how committed you are to the bit.

There will be no negotiation!

 

[jobarules]

He's WR8 in Points Per Game

https://www.footballguys.com/playerhistoricalstats?profile=p&pos=wr&yr=2025&sortby=21&startwk=1&stopwk=18

Which is not mid 1st rd pick material (going as 3rd or 4th wr overall) but hes still a wr1. This was exactly my point. Not a bust but also a bit disappointing.

My point is if you project a guy for WR2 and he winds up WR8 (so far) in PPG, I'm not very disappointed.

OK maybe you aren't but I am

This is actually a really good illustration.

I see the first round as mostly wanting to "hold serve". There's very litle room for upside obviously in the first so you just want to stay in the game. You want to avoid the 2025 Justin Jefferson or Malik Nabers.

Where I think you win is with the mid and late rounds. Where you can pull guys who vastly out perform their draft capital.

Basically, few if any teams are not winning their league this year because they drafted CeeDee Lamb.

He missed 4 games, one with a 0 in lineups. Losing a first rounder for 4 games certainly can cost teams a playoff spot

 

[Football Jones]

They're literally dead even in PPR PPG in their first season together and there's people convinced they know who the better FF WR is. Gotta love it, lol.

There's no comparison in non-PPR, though. At least not right now. Much better contested catch ability and quite a bit better RAC gives George the clear edge where TDs are more important (as it should be). PPR is so 2000 when there was an effort to give WRs an advantage. Needless to say, a lot has changed in 25 years.

That said, if not specifically stated, I always assume conversations are centered around PPR simply because it's the most common format.

 

[Joe Bryant]

In 2022, the first year Cooper left the team, CD Lamb had 156 targets which got him a 107/1359/9 year (WR6).

George Pickens so far this year has 120 targets.

Again; lamb missed 3 games. Hard to compare apples to oranges.

All I'm saying really is "If you expect Lamb to get 150+ targets/aka back to that WR5 level" Its not happening if Pickens comes back.

Yes. A good bit of the calculation for Lamb this preseason didn't account for PIckens being as great as he's been.

 

[Football Jones]

In 2022, the first year Cooper left the team, CD Lamb had 156 targets which got him a 107/1359/9 year (WR6).

George Pickens so far this year has 120 targets.

Again; lamb missed 3 games. Hard to compare apples to oranges.

All I'm saying really is "If you expect Lamb to get 150+ targets/aka back to that WR5 level" Its not happening if Pickens comes back.

Yes. A good bit of the calculation for Lamb this preseason didn't account for PIckens being as great as he's been.

I was getting ready to post this exact thought. There were indications Pickens could produce big-time numbers (especially with his contested catch ability), but if somebody has never done it, it's kinda hard to give them the benefit of the doubt.

George was in WR hell with the Steelers. Turns out he just needed a competent QB. Pickens is finally starting to climb up to his very tall ceiling, but he's still got a ways to go. If George can control his emotions and master most of the mental stuff, we could see a HOF-type career.

 

[Terpman22]

In 2022, the first year Cooper left the team, CD Lamb had 156 targets which got him a 107/1359/9 year (WR6).

George Pickens so far this year has 120 targets.

Again; lamb missed 3 games. Hard to compare apples to oranges.

All I'm saying really is "If you expect Lamb to get 150+ targets/aka back to that WR5 level" Its not happening if Pickens comes back.

Yes. A good bit of the calculation for Lamb this preseason didn't account for PIckens being as great as he's been.

I was getting ready to post this exact thought. There were indications Pickens could produce big-time numbers (especially with his contested catch ability), but if somebody has never done it, it's kinda hard to give them the benefit of the doubt.

George was in WR hell with the Steelers. Turns out he just needed a competent QB. Pickens is finally starting to climb up to his very tall ceiling, but he's still got a ways to go. If George can control his emotions and master most of the mental stuff, we could see a HOF-type career.

I have to agree with almost all of this, other than the HOF part, b/c having the mental tougness to play in this league for 8-12+ years to get that far is probably the hardest part besides avoiding major injury. But yeah he was putting up #s with some of the worst QBs while he was in Pitt so the talent seemed always be there. His ceiling seems to be a guess at this point of how high it really is or can be, depending on a lot of factors of course

 

[Football Jones]

In 2022, the first year Cooper left the team, CD Lamb had 156 targets which got him a 107/1359/9 year (WR6).

George Pickens so far this year has 120 targets.

Again; lamb missed 3 games. Hard to compare apples to oranges.

All I'm saying really is "If you expect Lamb to get 150+ targets/aka back to that WR5 level" Its not happening if Pickens comes back.

Yes. A good bit of the calculation for Lamb this preseason didn't account for PIckens being as great as he's been.

I was getting ready to post this exact thought. There were indications Pickens could produce big-time numbers (especially with his contested catch ability), but if somebody has never done it, it's kinda hard to give them the benefit of the doubt.

George was in WR hell with the Steelers. Turns out he just needed a competent QB. Pickens is finally starting to climb up to his very tall ceiling, but he's still got a ways to go. If George can control his emotions and master most of the mental stuff, we could see a HOF-type career.

I have to agree with almost all of this, other than the HOF part, b/c having the mental tougness to play in this league for 8-12+ years to get that far is probably the hardest part besides avoiding major injury. But yeah he was putting up #s with some of the worst QBs while he was in Pitt so the talent seemed always be there. His ceiling seems to be a guess at this point of how high it really is or can be, depending on a lot of factors of course

This is his 4th season so I think some people forget he's only 24 (2 years younger than Lamb). In general, I believe George has made some strides with the mental part, but needs to do even better if he's going to realize his vast potential.

 

[chad in Indy]

In 2022, the first year Cooper left the team, CD Lamb had 156 targets which got him a 107/1359/9 year (WR6).

George Pickens so far this year has 120 targets.

Again; lamb missed 3 games. Hard to compare apples to oranges.

All I'm saying really is "If you expect Lamb to get 150+ targets/aka back to that WR5 level" Its not happening if Pickens comes back.

Yes. A good bit of the calculation for Lamb this preseason didn't account for PIckens being as great as he's been.

I was getting ready to post this exact thought. There were indications Pickens could produce big-time numbers (especially with his contested catch ability), but if somebody has never done it, it's kinda hard to give them the benefit of the doubt.

George was in WR hell with the Steelers. Turns out he just needed a competent QB. Pickens is finally starting to climb up to his very tall ceiling, but he's still got a ways to go. If George can control his emotions and master most of the mental stuff, we could see a HOF-type career.

I have to agree with almost all of this, other than the HOF part, b/c having the mental tougness to play in this league for 8-12+ years to get that far is probably the hardest part besides avoiding major injury. But yeah he was putting up #s with some of the worst QBs while he was in Pitt so the talent seemed always be there. His ceiling seems to be a guess at this point of how high it really is or can be, depending on a lot of factors of course

This is his 4th season so I think some people forget he's only 24 (2 years younger than Lamb). In general, I believe George has made some strides with the mental part, but needs to do even better if he's going to realize his vast potential.

Pickens has proven time and time again that he can't. IMO, he's already had a negative effect on Lamb. They both got benched for a series for being out past curfew in LV. He's had several instances of not keeping his comments in check (blew up on Rhcard Sherman on social media). He is the stereotype WR diva and can't handle any adversity. He will likely be a squeaky wheel his whole carer.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

In 2022, the first year Cooper left the team, CD Lamb had 156 targets which got him a 107/1359/9 year (WR6).

George Pickens so far this year has 120 targets.

Again; lamb missed 3 games. Hard to compare apples to oranges.

All I'm saying really is "If you expect Lamb to get 150+ targets/aka back to that WR5 level" Its not happening if Pickens comes back.

Yes. A good bit of the calculation for Lamb this preseason didn't account for PIckens being as great as he's been.

I was getting ready to post this exact thought. There were indications Pickens could produce big-time numbers (especially with his contested catch ability), but if somebody has never done it, it's kinda hard to give them the benefit of the doubt.

George was in WR hell with the Steelers. Turns out he just needed a competent QB. Pickens is finally starting to climb up to his very tall ceiling, but he's still got a ways to go. If George can control his emotions and master most of the mental stuff, we could see a HOF-type career.

I have to agree with almost all of this, other than the HOF part, b/c having the mental tougness to play in this league for 8-12+ years to get that far is probably the hardest part besides avoiding major injury. But yeah he was putting up #s with some of the worst QBs while he was in Pitt so the talent seemed always be there. His ceiling seems to be a guess at this point of how high it really is or can be, depending on a lot of factors of course

This is his 4th season so I think some people forget he's only 24 (2 years younger than Lamb). In general, I believe George has made some strides with the mental part, but needs to do even better if he's going to realize his vast potential.

Pickens has proven time and time again that he can't. IMO, he's already had a negative effect on Lamb. They both got benched for a series for being out past curfew in LV. He's had several instances of not keeping his comments in check (blew up on Rhcard Sherman on social media). He is the stereotype WR diva and can't handle any adversity. He will likely be a squeaky wheel his whole carer.

Unfortunately, I sort of predicted that when he first signed in Dallas. Something to the effect of “I hope his knuckle-headedness doesn’t rub off on lamb.“

In this instance I don’t relish that I was correct. I had hoped that Lamb would be an influence on Pickens and not the other way around.

That said, lamb seemed kind of embarrassed by that benching, while Pickens didn’t seem affected by it at all.

 

[Chaka]

Pickens has been great. When Lamb was out his pace was something crazy like 1,800 yards and 21 TDs. His pace with Lamb in the lineup is closer to 1,300 & 5 TDs and, definitely second fiddle to CeeDee. NFL defenses agree. THAT IS NON-NEGOTIABLE!!! (is that how that works?)

Pickens should go somewhere where he can be the #1 WR. Then again he kinda flopped in that role in Pittsburgh so good luck to him finding a situation that will use him as well as Dallas.

Please not the Raiders. Please not the Raiders. Please not the Raiders.