NFL futures: The case for CeeDee Lamb winning Offensive Player of the Year
We discussed how NFL Offensive Player of the Year has been a WR award over the past four seasons, and another pass-catcher who could be poised for a big 2023 is Dallas' CeeDee Lamb. We highlighted Garrett Wilson yesterday, and in an effort to look down the board for some value spots, Lamb sticks out as a viable OPOY choice.
CeeDee Lamb: +3500 To win OPOY (FanDuel)
When you look through the available over/unders for receiving yards this season, Lamb is set at the eighth-highest mark, which should give you some idea of where he stands among other NFL pass-catchers.
Last season, Lamb was sixth in the league in yards with 1,359, hauling in nine touchdowns. His 156 targets were fourth-most in the NFL, and it's that volume we'd need again to launch a big season from the fourth-year wideout.
To be in contention for OPOY, you need to be the top option in your offense, and Lamb certainly checks that box. He'll have some competition for targets no doubt, especially with Brandin Cooks now a Cowboy and Michael Gallup a year further removed from injury. With Dalton Schultz no longer in Dallas, I'd expect the TE position to be utilized a bit less in the passing game, hopefully siphoning off even more volume for Lamb.
Of players who played at least 75% of their snaps last season, Lamb was ninth in yards per target and 11th in red zone targets. Obviously, we'd need to see a boost to both of those metrics for he to have a real chance at bringing home OPOY honors. Still, at +3500, a bet in a market like this has an element of taking a chance. Lamb is clearly an elite WR both on talent and production, and he's heavily utilized in this offense. He's entering his fourth season with Dak Prescott, and he's led his team in targets two straight seasons.
The path is there, it's just a matter of if he can take a leap. Cooks and Gallup are both solid receivers, but there's no competition in my eyes as to who will take on the bulk of the passes on this team. After Garrett Wilson, Lamb is my personal favorite value on the board among WRs.
More must-reads: