CeeDee Lamb is entering his fifth year in the NFL in a true contract year. Lamb is coming off three straight pro bowls and two straight all-pro nods. He deserves to be paid like a top 5 wide receiver in the NFL. Outside of the contract stuff how does his fantasy football outlook look for 2024?
CeeDee Lamb Fantasy Football Outlook 2024
CeeDee Lamb 2023 Fantasy Football Recap
CeeDee Lamb had an all-time great season in 2023 breaking numerous Dallas Cowboys and NFL records. Lamb finished 2023 with 135 receptions 1749 receiving yards and 14 total touchdowns. Lamb led the NFL in targets, receptions, and 20-yard receptions and finished second in receiving yards and touchdowns. Lamb finished as the WR1 in standard, half, and full PPR for fantasy. In full PPR he led all wide receivers in total fantasy points by 27 points. Consistency was key for Lamb, who finished with 25 PPR points in 41% of games. This includes 28 points per game during the fantasy playoffs weeks 15-17.
The Cowboys as a team led the NFL in points per game and top 3 in passing yards. But they struggled throughout the year’s first half, the Cowboys opened the season focused on establishing the run. Weeks 1-6 CeeDee Lamb averaged 14.9 fantasy points per game and was the WR24. After their week 7 bye, Mike McCarthy’s offense switched to a more pass-heavy focus and that changed everything.
In weeks 8-18 CeeDee Lamb was the WR1 averaging over 28 points per game which was eight higher than the next closest receiver, and over 300 total points which was over 100 points more than the next closest receiver. This stretch includes five 30-point games and three 35-point games. CeeDee Lamb broke several records in 2023, he broke Michael Irvin’s receptions and receiving yards records that had stood for over 28 years. Lamb also broke the record for most games with 11+ receptions with seven and most consecutive games with 10+ receptions and 150+ receiving yards with three.
CeeDee Lamb Fantasy Football Outlook 2024
CeeDee Lamb is entering 2024 once again as the number one option for the Dallas Cowboys. Since the Cowboys released Amari Cooper in 2022, Lamb has been the far and away top passing option for the Cowboys. Lamb has a 29% target share and averages 10 targets per game since Cooper’s departure in 2022. In the passing game, the Cowboys didn’t make any significant additions but they did lose Michael Gallup and Tony Pollard who accounted for over 120 targets in 2023.
Behind Lamb is 31-year-old Brandin Cooks and third-year receiver Jalen Tolbert, realistically neither will eat into Lamb’s target share. Thus asking the question, why can’t Lamb do this again in 2024? Certainly, some negative touchdown regression is coming but overall the Cowboys offense was most successful when Lamb was being targeted. With Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Head Coach Mike McCarthy all looking for big paydays, we should expect the Cowboys offense to look the same in 2024.
ADP
CeeDee Lamb’s current ADP is number 2 overall behind Christian McCaffery. While, he is WR1 ahead of Tyreek Hill, Jamarr Chase, and Justin Jefferson. Lamb vs McCaffery comes down to philosophy, how do you like to start your drafts? CMC has a higher ceiling but also is an injury risk compared to Lamb who hasn’t missed a game since 2021.
But should Lamb be the first wide receiver drafted? Those behind him have some questions that Lamb simply doesn’t. Tyreek Hill is entering his age 30 season, will he have a production drop-off? Justin Jefferson quarterback is a rookie in J.J. McCarthy will he still get the same target share? and Jamarr Chase’s questions revolve around his quarterback’s health. Do these questions mean that Lamb will be WR1 again in 2024? No, it doesn’t but he is by far the safest option entering the 2024 fantasy draft season.
Main Photo: [Kevin Jairaj] – USA Today Sports
