CeeDee Lamb didn’t play in Dallas’ preseason tilt vs. the Rams, yet he still delivered the game’s loudest moment. Celebrating a long sideline connection, Lamb wandered into field-of-play territory and was knocked down by an official, drawing a 15-yard penalty that nullified a 51-yard Cowboys gain and sparked a flood of memes.

Joe Milton III moved Dallas’ offense with 143 yards, a TD and an INT, while the Rams answered with Blake Corum finding the end zone twice. Rams led 24-14 late in the fourth as Milton and Mingo connected on a highlight-reel sequence that underscored fantasy intrigue: Lamb’s ceiling when healthy, Milton’s preseason command, and Mingo’s opportunistic potential.

Looking ahead, Lamb’s usage once he’s healthy becomes a focal point for fantasy managers, Milton’s role could influence Dallas’ QB picture in August, and Corum’s two-touchdown burst hints at a versatile Rams backfield. The play’s spectacle aside, the takeaway for fantasy rosters centers on target distribution, upside and how much weight to assign to a single preseason moment.

Los Angeles used its backups to turn the Rams’ preseason opener into a confident victory, 31-21, over Dallas on a night when the Cowboys rested their starters too. Stetson Bennett carved out a strong case for a spot on the 53-man roster with precise passes, mobility, and composure, capitalizing on solid protection from an energized line. The Rams’ depth shined everywhere else, especially at running back, where Cody Schrader, Jarquez Hunter, Blake Corum, and Jordan Waters piled up hard runs and a touch, signaling a potential four-back rotation behind Kyren Williams.

Xavier Smith showed why he’s in line for a roster spot, contributing as a receiver and return man, while Josaiah Stewart pressed for a larger role with his pressure and sack presence as a third-edge option behind Verse and Young. TheBig picture: the O-line bought Bennett time, the RB corps looked versatile and dangerous, and the defense showed just enough edge to keep fantasy rosters entertained through the early matchups. Two Rams duds—Shaun Jolly and Mario Williams—indicate who might be fighting for the final spots, but the broader performance arc was overwhelmingly encouraging for the depth chart and fantasy sleepers alike.

CeeDee Lamb’s sideline collide with an official in the Cowboys’ preseason opener against the Rams produced a 15‑yard Dallas penalty for contact with an official, even though Lamb was in street clothes and not suiting up. The play unfolded on the edge of the sideline as Lamb signaled to teammates and watched Joe Milton’s long connection to Jonathan Mingo. A separate play featured Shaun Jolly drawing a defensive pass interference call on Mingo, but that gain was wiped out by the offsetting penalties.

Dallas sat Prescott, Pickens and most of its core, turning attention to depth and roster battles as the Rams leaned into a physical approach. The incident underscored how depth players will handle expanded roles once the regular season rolls around and provided a concrete, albeit small, data point on how depth receivers could factor into fantasy lineups in Weeks 1 and 2 if Lamb and other starters are on the sideline again.

Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb was assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after a sideline collision with an official during Dallas’ preseason opener, a moment that overshadowed the night’s rest-heavy lineup. On the same drive, Jonathan Mingo drew a defensive pass interference from Rams cornerback Shaun Jolly for a 51-yard gain, instantly shifting the Cowboys from 3rd-and-16 at their 26 to 1st-and-25 at Rams’ 38. Lamb wore street clothes as Dallas sat nearly all starters, while Lamb heads toward a bounce-back season after a Pro Bowl-grade 2024 campaign.

The sequence highlighted the Cowboys’ depth and potential ceiling without their starters, while Mingo’s involvement signals a possible expanded role for Dallas’ aerial attack behind Lamb. The penalty to Lamb and the DPI on Jolly are small moments in a larger narrative: Dallas aiming to sustain offensive momentum and Lamb rebuilding toward his 2023 peak, with Mingo emerging as a swing-for-impact option as the regular season nears.