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Stock will rise for these players with CeeDee Lamb injured

Originally posted on Inside The Star | By Shane Taylor | Last updated Sep 24, 2025 1:50 PM ET

As you all should know by now, Cowboys star wideout CeeDee Lamb is going to miss at least the next few weeks with a high ankle sprain, and if we are honest about it, this will likely be the next three games at minimum.

This leaves the Dallas offense in a spot that I would have hated to see a year ago, but after what we have seen the first three weeks, you can make the argument that they might be good enough to ride the ship until he gets back.

One of the reasons for that is the two games after this week. After they play the Packers at home on Sunday Night Football, they play the Jets and the Panthers, two games that should allow Lamb to get healthy without needing him.

With that said, I wanted to drop a few names who I think will benefit the most from Lamb being out. Their stock should rise with Lamb on the bench.

George Pickens

This one is clear as day. The reason the Cowboys traded for George Pickens was because they needed another guy to be the work horse if Lamb got hurt and bother the defense.

Pickens has been good outside TWO plays this season. The dropped pass last week that led to an interception, and the first game against the Eagles where he let his emotions get the best of him again, costing the team 15 yards.

I am very excited to see George Pickens as the No. 1 WR in Dallas for the next month.

Huge opportunity for him to prove that he is someone the Cowboys should invest in long-term.

I think we will know here soon.https://t.co/wIKEJSV7WF
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) September 24, 2025

Pickens is going to be the main target for the next three games, and if the Cowboys are going to win on Sunday against the Packers, he needs to keep his head in the game and have a huge night.

The Green Bay defense is good, but remember they just lost to the Browns. Yes, the Browns have a legit defense, so it kept them in the game, but Jordan Love threw that game away with a bad interception.

Everyone was ready to crown them as Super Bowl Champs after two weeks, and then that happened.

This is the perfect chance to earn that new contract for new season Pickens, it starts Sunday night.

Jalen Tolbert

Jalen Tolbert was the guy everyone wanted to cut after the first two weeks, and to be honest, I was one of them.

Tolbert now has a chance to redeem himself after that drop two weeks ago that, of course, led to another interception. Tell me if you haven’t heard that before, 95% of the INTs Dak has thrown this year have been dropped by a wide receiver.

Tolbert now jumps to the WR3, and he has to do something over the next few weeks or they are in trouble.

Tolbert was the second leading WR last year with Dallas, and now with Lamb out can play his way into a bigger role for the rest of the season, or maybe he plays himself out of a roster spot with the Cowboys, we will see what happens.

Running Game

Even with CeeDee Lamb and Tyler Booker both out with high ankle sprains, I think they need to continue to lean on the running game.

Somehow, it has been one of the best things about the offense. JaVonte Williams looks great, and Miles Sanders is helping them out a bit.

Teams are more likely to be expecting them to run the ball more with Lamb out, but I wouldn’t get away from it. The offensive line is doing well enough, and you have to keep it balanced.

The running game should be on the rise with Lamb out, and we will see how this team does going forward, but they need to win two out of the next three games to hopefully be .500 when CeeDee returns.

This article first appeared on Inside The Star and was syndicated with permission.

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