Michael Lampert didn’t wait for the PLL to come calling — he made them notice. Now, he is an EMERGENCY START for your fantasy team.
Now a professional lacrosse player for the Philadelphia Waterdogs, Lampert is a blur in cleats with the mindset of a prizefighter. But rewind a few years, and the odds of him going pro were slim to none. He committed to the University of Denver in the spring of his senior year — almost unheard of in high-level lacrosse recruiting. Whether it was his size, untimely injuries or just getting overlooked, Lampert didn’t have much buzz. But he arrived at Denver with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove.
He left with a resume that demanded attention: one of the fastest players in college lacrosse, first-team All-Big East and the engine behind Denver’s semifinal run alongside JJ Sillstrop. Lampert didn’t just play — he torched defenders and turned heads.
Still, no PLL teams reached out. No calls and no camp invites in 2024 after graduation.
So, he trained like a man possessed.
For a full year, Lampert lived in the gym. He trained out of Compete in Norwood, Mass., chasing the dream of being a pro. He didn’t even pick up a golf club — said he might get hurt. That’s not superstition. That’s obsession. He’s married to the game.
He wanted to leave no doubt.
Finally, after a year of chasing shadows, a team offered him a camp invite — the moment he’d been waiting for. But after the 2025 draft, the opportunity disappeared. The team filled its needs with rookies, and just like that, his spot was gone. He was devastated, once again left scrambling for a chance.
Then, a crack in the door.
Because CJ Kirst was playing for Cornell on Championship Weekend, Lampert earned a Special Training Camp Designee spot with the Waterdogs. It was a long shot to make the team — and he nailed it.
He made the 25-man roster.
Then, the 19-man gameday roster.
Now, in Week 3 — which is technically the Waterdogs’ second weekend of games due to their Opening Weekend bye — Lampert is ready to explode.
He’s the Tasmanian Devil: low-end 4.4 speed, nasty change of direction, impossible to pin down. It’s a bad day to be a D-mid. Lampert’s going to get under you and dive across the crease for his first PLL goal — quote me on that.
The Waterdogs are stacked with Denver DNA, and their head coach and general manager, Bill Tierney, is a Pioneers legend. Lampert fits right in.
He’s still being doubted. Still slept on. Still running like there’s something to prove — because for him, there always is.
In both games this weekend (against the Boston Cannons at 6 p.m. ET on Friday and Denver Outlaws at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday), he’s priced at just two coins and now steps in as an emergency start ‘em. He’s a budget-friendly option who can help you stack your lineup with top-heavy talent while still offering solid minutes and upside.
Now, he’s No. 5 in jersey sales across the entire PLL — proof that Mikey Lampert’s story isn’t just about talent, it’s about heart. Fans are inspired by his relentless drive because Lampert doesn’t know how to quit. He’s not supposed to be here — and that’s exactly why he is.
