There's no shame in picking second. A quick review of recent NFL Drafts reveals that teams have had success with the No. 2 pick. In 2022, the Detroit Lions selected Aidan Hutchinson, who became a Pro Bowler last year.
Meanwhile, the Houston Texans chose C.J. Stroud after Bryce Young in the 2023 draft. The quarterback from Ohio State won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after leading Houston to the AFC playoffs.
Translating those scenarios to fantasy football, the player selecting second could still have success in their league. Their path to success starts by choosing an elite wideout poised for another splendid season.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Why CeeDee Lamb Is The No. 2 Pick in 2024 Fantasy Football
While Christian McCaffrey is dealing with a calf injury, he's still the consensus No. 1 pick in 2024 fantasy football drafts because he can deliver in various ways. But once McCaffrey is off the board, the next fantasy owner on the clock should not skip over Lamb as their pick.
The wide receiver from Oklahoma finished the 2023 season with 1,749 receiving yards, trailing only Tyreek Hill (1,799). Lamb was also second to Hill and Mike Evans in touchdowns (12). He also made history in his fourth season with the Cowboys, becoming the first NFL player to have at least 10 catches and 150 receiving yards in three consecutive games.
While it's challenging to see him replicate last year's numbers, Lamb will still have a monster season for Dallas because he is a massive part of the Cowboys offense. Last season, Lamb had 135 of the 428 catches by Cowboys receivers. Without any significant additions on that side of the ball, Lamb will likely maintain the same ratio for 2024.
As a #Cowboys fan, I’m excited for the following reasons ⬇️
• Best QB in the NFC in Dak Prescott
• The best big three in the NFL in CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Jake Ferguson
• A legit weapon in Jalen Tolbert who is about to breakout
• A top 3 OL
• A top 5 defense pic.twitter.com/wTA0H9ZKpe
— Ernie The Cowboys Fan (@es3_09) August 21, 2024
Since he remains Dak Prescott's primary passing target, he can deliver massive fantasy football numbers this season. Even a slight reduction in his production means Lamb could still finish with 1,400 to 1,500 yards and double-digit touchdowns, making him a valuable contributor of fantasy points.
Though Lamb is undoubtedly a high-value target, his availability is in question as he and the Cowboys have yet to agree on a contract extension. The worst-case scenario is that he misses their season opener despite the corresponding fines.
However, if both parties iron out the mess, Lamb should be the priority for fantasy owners with the second overall pick in their respective redrafts.
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
More Fantasy Football Analysis