The 2020 season was a let down in many ways. Dak Prescott was hurt in the fifth game and the offensive line never had the health to allow Andy Dalton and the Dallas Cowboys to contend for the NFC East. One thing that wasn't a disappointment however was the selection and the performance of first round pick CeeDee Lamb.
Lamb, taken with the 17th overall pick was seen by many as the top wide receiver in the draft and a top 10 prospect. Despite having Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup, the Cowboys chose to add another wide receiver threat to their offense and early in the 2020 season, that decision paid huge dividends.
As the defense couldn't stop anyone, the offense was forced to throw to keep pace and the addition of Lamb allowed the Cowboys to put up some incredible numbers. At least until Dak Prescott went down.
Through the first five games of the season, CeeDee Lamb led the Dallas Cowboys with 433 receiving yards and was tied for the team lead with two touchdown receptions. His yardage was good for sixth in the NFL and led all rookies to that point. Lamb was on pace for 1,385 yards and 92.8 receptions. Had Prescott played the whole season and Lamb kept that pace, he would have finished fifth in receiving yards and tied for 11th in receptions.
That's the kind of year that CeeDee Lamb was having.
That's the kind of year that Lamb will have in 2021.
Heading into his second year in the NFL and with a full offseason, CeeDee Lamb will be better prepared for the rigors of an NFL training camp and regular season. He's getting more time to work with Dak Prescott and the rest of the offense and Kellen Moore has seen what he can do and can devise even more opportunities to get the ball into CeeDee Lamb's hands.
With the addition of a 17th game, a 1,000-yard season is all but a forgone conclusion in the Dallas Cowboys offense. It's likely the Cowboys will see three players with a 1,000-yard season in Cooper, Gallup, and Lamb. 18 players had a 1,000-yard season in 2020. 14 players had 1,100-yard seasons. It's not at all a stretch to think CeeDee Lamb could eclipse 1,200 yards in 2021.
With the pace Lamb was on last year, his ability to run every route from any spot in the formation, a 1,000-yard season is the floor for his production year in and year out. CeeDee Lamb is on track to become one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. With Dak Prescott fully healthy and at the helm in 2021, in his second year in the league, CeeDee Lamb is going to prove he belongs among the NFL's top wide receivers.
