Even in an off year, CeeDee Lamb still outpaced almost every receiver in NFL

By most standards, 2025 was a poor season for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.

He finished with 75 receptions for 1,077 yards and three touchdowns. This was his lowest yardage since his 2020 rookie season and the fewest touchdowns of his career. He missed three games with injuries, dropped critical passes and was outshined by George Pickens, who recorded 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in his first year with Dallas.

By the numbers, it looked like a regression year. PFF’s five-year explosiveness data tell a different story, as it ranked Lamb the NFL’s third-most explosive player over the last five seasons, trailing only Justin Jefferson.

This ranking ignores total volume, focusing instead on big plays and yards after the catch. Since 2021, Lamb’s 175 catches of 15 or more yards rank second in the league behind Jefferson. He also added 15 rushes of 10 or more yards, tying for the second-most among wide receivers.

Just to recap, Lamb’s 2025 season was his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard campaign. The Opelousas, Louisiana native joins Michael Irvin as the only receivers in the Cowboys’ history to achieve this feat.

He is also the only Cowboy to record 1,000 receiving yards in five of his first six seasons. This baseline kept him among the league’s top receivers, although he missed some games and received fewer targets.

PFF highlighted his rushing ability as what sets him apart from other wideouts. In 11 healthy games, Lamb averaged 16.5 fantasy points, commanded a 28% target share, and gained 2.29 yards per route run. These numbers remained strong even while sharing targets with Pickens.

The Cowboys were close to making Pickens the highest-paid receiver in the NFL. However, management backed down at the last minute. Off-field concerns and a desire to see him repeat his 2025 production prompted Dallas to halt long-term talks. Instead, Pickens will play the 2026 season on a one-year, $27.3 million franchise tag.

And Lamb is locked into a four-year, $136 million extension through 2029. With both players in the receiver room, Dallas boasts arguably the most dangerous receiving duo in the NFC, anchored by Lamb’s elite explosiveness according to PFF.

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Even in an off year, CeeDee Lamb still outpaced almost every receiver in NFL

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