When it came to top-heavy positions in the 2020 NFL Draft, wide receiver was definitely at top of the list. Back in April 13 WRs were drafted in the first two rounds, six in the first-round and seven in the second. Two from this group will meet for the very first time in their professional careers when the Dallas Cowboys hit the road to take on the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11.
We are only a little over halfway through the 2020 NFL season and already CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson look like emerging superstars. It shouldn’t be all that surprising considering they were both billed as clear-cut first-round prospects entering the draft, but to see them have so much success so early in their careers as rookies is pretty impressive.
These two young pass catchers are living up to the hype they both received during the pre-draft process. What’s truly amazing about how successful they’ve been thus far since entering the league is they’ve both been able to do it with very little offseason work to prepare. That makes what they’ve accomplished so far even that more noteworthy.
It didn’t take long for these two rookies to make a name for themselves in the NFL. Both receivers had a 100 yard receiving game under their belt in the first two weeks of the season and two within the first five. The footrace between the two through Week 5 was neck and neck, but that’s when some unforeseen obstacles caused one to start pulling away from the other.
Since Week 5 the Minnesota Vikings WR has really started to pull away. Justin Jefferson has had another couple of 100 yard receiving games (166, 135) and has not only cemented himself as the top rookie WR right now, but one of the best receivers entire league. Sadly, things haven’t gone quite as well for CeeDee Lamb.
CeeDee’s last 100 yard receiving game just so happened to be the last Dak Prescott played before his gruesome season-ending ankle injury. Since then the Dallas Cowboys have been forced to carousel their QBs in and out of the lineup and that has severely hampered No. 88’s production. With Jefferson still with his starting QB and Lamb without, the Vikings rookie has pulled ahead in the race.
Entering Week 11 Justin Jefferson leads all rookie receivers with 42 receptions, 762 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. CeeDee Lamb’s 44 receptions, 595 receiving yards, and 3 touchdowns is surprisingly not that far behind. He’s very much within striking distance to reclaim the title of the most productive rookie receiver, which makes this week’s matchup for the two of them that much more exciting.
I don’t know about you, but I’m truly looking forward to watching these two future superstars play against one another in Week 11. As a Cowboys fan though, I’m personally hoping CeeDee Lamb can close that gap Sunday afternoon against the Vikings young secondary. I’d love to see him have a huge game.
