Dallas Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb vs. Tyreek and Jefferson: NFL's Most Underrated Superstar?
There was once a time when Dallas Cowboys players received more coverage than any other team in the NFL, but flash forward to the present day, and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb has managed to somehow fly under the radar - relatively speaking, of course - while becoming one of the best to ever play his position.
Since being drafted by Dallas No. 17 in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Cowboys have continuously had more and more team success each season, all while Lamb has increased his production every single season.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb has
Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
2020: Team Record- 6-10 (Missed Playoffs)
Receiving Stats: 111 targets, 74 receptions, 58.4 yards per game, 935 yards, five touchdowns
2021: Team Record- 12-5 (Lost in Wildcard)
Receiving Stats: 120 targets, 79 receptions, 68.9 yards per game, 1,102 yards, six touchdowns (Pro Bowl)
2022: Team Record- 12-5 (Lost in Divisional round)
Receiving Stats: 156 targets, 107 receptions, 79.9 yards per game, 1,359 yards, nine touchdowns (Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro)
2023: Team Record- TBD: Currently 11-5 (Clinched Wild Card appearance)
Current Receiving Stats: 168 targets, 122 receptions, 103.2 yards per game, 1,651 yards, 10 touchdowns (Pro Bowl confirmed, All-Pro TBD)
Although Lamb and Dallas have enjoyed continued success since he joined the team, he has never received the most national spotlight because there has always been someone else standing in front of him.
Coming into the league, Justin Jefferson set the world on fire, shattering just about every receiving record held by young receivers, making Lamb second fiddle to his fellow draft classmate.
Now, Lamb is eclipsing Jefferson's season totals in part due to the Minnesota Vikings receiver dealing with injuries this season, but still, Lamb's dominant 1,600-yard season has received minimal buzz.
CeeDee vs. Tyreek vs. Jefferson
Why? It's second in the league behind Miami Dolphins' wide receiver Tyreek Hill's 1,717 yards, which, prior to an injury, had him on pace for the first-ever 2,000-yard NFL receiving season. Lamb has performed in front of the right lights of Jerry World, yet somehow, his star hasn't managed to get its due credit for shining beyond the stadium's confines.
Despite seemingly always being overshadowed nationally, Lamb has elevated his level of play, and he deserves his flowers. This season, Lamb has broken Cowboys franchise single-season receiving records for yards and receptions, passing Hall of Famers such as Michael Irvin and Terrell Owens, all while still on his rookie contract.
Lamb is already No. 8 in the franchise's all-time receiving yards in just 65 games. For context, the eight receivers above Lamb all played in at least 104 games with the franchise, and nobody in the franchise's history has ever averaged more than Lamb's receiving yards per game in their Dallas tenure than Lamb's 77.6 yards.
Although the NFL hasn't embraced Lamb as America's Sweetheart, "America's Team'' knows how important he is, and based on the results of his prior seasons, he will be a tremendous reason why the Cowboys could make it to the NFC Championship game for the first time since 1995 when Dallas won the Super Bowl.
