The Dallas Cowboys are entering the season with immense pressure to finally make a deep playoff run. Their offense has been one of the league's most productive units, but contract negotiations with several star players have been a major storyline throughout the preseason. The team's performance in practice games has been solid, but the absence of their top receiver from team drills is notable and has been the primary topic of conversation among beat reporters.
For the Cowboys to meet their lofty expectations, they need their best players on the field and fully bought in. The entire organization, from the front office to the coaching staff, is hoping for a swift resolution to the contract disputes to ensure the team is at full strength and free of distractions for Week 1. The success of their high-powered passing attack depends on the chemistry between their quarterback and his undisputed top target.
While technically present at camp to avoid fines, CeeDee Lamb is not participating in team drills as he awaits a new contract. This "hold-in" is a common negotiation tactic used by star players to apply pressure on the front office without incurring daily fines. While it's highly likely a deal gets done before the season starts—as both sides have a strong incentive to agree to a long-term extension—any missed practice time could have a minor impact on his timing and chemistry heading into the early part of the season.
From a fantasy perspective, this situation should not cause major panic, but it does warrant monitoring. For now, Lamb remains a consensus top-3 fantasy wide receiver due to his elite talent and massive target share in a productive offense. However, the situation has introduced a small amount of risk that wasn't there before. If the hold-in were to extend deep into the preseason, it might be reasonable to slightly lower expectations for Week 1, but his season-long outlook remains elite. He is still a premier asset and a cornerstone player in all fantasy formats.