As you scroll down your fantasy football draft boards or lineups, one name that sticks out is Dallas Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb. The exact status given to Lamb depends on the site you play, with ESPN and Yahoo listing him as OUT, while Sleeper has him as NA.
Understandably, this is giving fantasy managers some pause as they enter their drafts or set their lineups for Week 1.
Let’s examine what is going on with Lamb, what his being on the exempt list means for fantasy, and whether there is any danger of him missing Week 1.
Why Is CeeDee Lamb on the Exempt List?
The timing of all of this is somewhat odd because Lamb was placed on the exempt list the day that he returned to practice after signing his new contract. Fantasy managers thought the nightmare over Lamb’s status was over, but the exempt list appears to have added further confusion.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero shared on Aug. 28 that “The Cowboys were granted a two-game roster exemption for WR CeeDee Lamb, who returned to practice today. It can be lifted at any time.”
Pelissero went on to clarify, “This doesn’t mean CeeDee isn’t playing the first two weeks. He’s on the commissioner’s exempt list and doesn’t count against the 53-man roster limit until he’s activated, which can happen anytime.”
The commissioner’s exempt list is considered a “special player status,” usually reserved for players who are suspended or have ongoing special circumstances. By being placed on the exempt list, a player does not count against the 53-man roster. That player usually cannot practice but is allowed to be at the facility for meetings, workouts, or to receive treatment if needed.
However, Lamb is practicing with the team and has been on a “pitch count,” per head coach Mike McCarthy. However, Lamb’s workload is expected to start ramping up this week.
What Does Lamb’s Status Mean for Fantasy Managers?
Despite Lamb’s status currently suggesting he could miss time, that’s not the case. Lamb is expected to play in Week 1, as he can be activated at any time between now and the start of the season. That could be as late as Saturday afternoon ahead of the game on Sunday, but it also could be any time before then.
There is also a natural concern that Lamb could be rusty to start the season after being away from the team all season. However, Lamb has repeatedly assured reporters that he will be ready and went into great detail about his preparation when talking to NFL Network’s Jane Slater last Friday.
Catching up with CeeDee Lamb after he inked his deal and how his agent tried to punk him before giving him the news 🤣 pic.twitter.com/5AeGZmpsg7
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) August 28, 2024
All told, there is very little concern around Lamb for Week 1. The matchup is tough against the Cleveland Browns, but Lamb is the top weapon on Dallas’ offense. Unlike other situations of holdouts or injuries where players are coming back into situations with high target competition, that’s not the case for Lamb.
Jake Ferguson is the de facto No. 2 pass catcher in the Cowboys’ offense after having 102 targets last year. However, even if you add the targets for him and Brandin Cooks together, they only barely top the 181 regular-season targets that Lamb saw last year, averaging over 10 per game.
When Do the Cowboys Have to Activate Lamb By?
We should have an answer on Lamb Saturday afternoon. The Cowboys must remove him from the exempt list by 4 p.m. ET on that day, or he will miss their Week 1 game. There does not seem to be any major danger that Lamb will miss the Week 1 contest against the Cleveland Browns.
Really, the 4 p.m. activation on Saturday should just be procedural, as Lamb’s placement on the exempt list was never meant to cause him to miss any games.
The NFL “day” resets at 4 p.m. ET each day, but Sunday has slightly different rules. For example ahead of Thursday Night Football, teams must have activated a player by 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, and it is the same Monday. However, for Sunday, all elevations for the 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. slate have to be done on Saturday if the team wants them to be available.
Lamb has been building up to full reps in practice this week, but there is a chance he could be limited against the Browns. It is unlikely that Lamb will miss considerable snaps, but he may not be on the field for over 80% as he has been in general over the last two seasons.