Big Saints injury gives CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys offense chance to explode in Week 2

The Dallas Cowboys were so dominant in Sunday's win over Cleveland that some fans have underestimated their Week 2 opponent: the New Orleans Saints.

While the Cowboys are playing at home, where they haven't lost in more than two years, the Saints put up arguably the most impressive performance of any team from the Week 1 slate. Sure, they played the Panthers, but they humiliated them to the tune of a 47-10 final score.

It will be interesting to see how Dallas' defense matches up against New Orleans' offense, which has more playmakers to account for relative to the Browns.

However, fans will be hoping for a breakout game from the offense, which was uber-conservative in the second half. That will be easier said than done against a talented Saints defense. However, the NFC South squad may have to overcome a killer injury on that side of the ball.

Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb can blow up in Week 2 thanks to Saints CB Marshon Lattimore's injury

Lattimore left the Saints' Week 1 win with a hamstring injury. While the injury is described as minor, soft-tissue injuries are always tricky. The re-injury risk is extremely high a player returns too soon and Lattimore has a lengthy history of hamstring injuries that date back to college.

In 2014, Lattimore tore his left hamstring at Ohio State and missed the entire season after undergoing surgery. He missed 10 games the following season with the same injury. Fast forward to 2019 and Lattimore missed two games with a hamstring strain. He tweaked his hamstring in practice the following season and missed one game.

The Saints have playoff aspirations this season, so it might be in their best interest to sit Lattimore this week. The four-time Pro Bowler did not practice on Wednesday, so he seems questionable at best to suit up on Sunday. Even if he plays, he'd likely be on a pitch count.

Regardless, Lattimore's injury sets up well for Lamb and the Cowboys offense to have a breakout game.

Lamb is more lethal from the slot and played there a lot against the Browns: 30 snaps in the slot compared to 15 out wide, per PFF. That could have something to do with Cleveland having two strong outside CBs in Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome, but Lamb is the NFL's best slot receiver.

He is going to play there a lot regardless, but Mike McCarthy could get even more creative with No. 88 this week if Lattimore doesn't go. In that scenario, the Saints would ask more out of second-round rookie Kool-Aid Mckinstry and undrafted rookie Payton Rice. What play-caller wouldn't want to get their all-word receiver matched up against first-year players?

Prescott and Lamb connected multiple times in Week 1, but their chemistry was a tick off. Lattimore's injury could help get them back on track.

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