The Dallas Cowboys' offense in 2025 was built to move fast and hit hard-and with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens leading the charge, it did just that. Week after week, defenses were left guessing, and usually guessing wrong.
Focus your coverage on Lamb, and Pickens would torch you for 130 yards on eight grabs. Shift the attention to Pickens, and Lamb would go off for 100-plus on seven catches.
It was a pick-your-poison situation, and Dak Prescott was the one dealing the damage.
That one-two punch was the engine of Dallas’ passing game, and it made perfect sense. When you’ve got two top-tier receivers, you feed them. But as the season wore on, a new name started carving out a role-and earning Prescott’s trust in the process.
Enter Ryan Flournoy.
The second-year wideout didn’t just step into the spotlight-he made himself impossible to ignore. Flournoy caught 40 passes in 2025, and 29 of them moved the chains.
That’s not just production; that’s clutch. Most of those grabs came on third down, where games are often won and lost.
When Dak needed a play, he looked for No. 19-and more often than not, Flournoy delivered.
It wasn’t just the Cowboys who noticed. NFL.com tabbed Flournoy as Dallas’ unsung hero of the season, and it’s hard to argue.
With defenses keyed in on Lamb and Pickens, Flournoy thrived in the gaps they left behind. He posted 0.09 expected points added (EPA) per route-good for 11th among all receivers with at least 200 routes run.
That’s elite company, and it speaks to how efficient and impactful he was with his opportunities.
Assuming Dallas can keep the trio together-Pickens’ contract status will be a storyline to watch-this offense could be even more dangerous in 2026. Lamb, Pickens, and Flournoy give the Cowboys a receiving corps that can stretch the field, convert on third down, and punish mismatches all over the formation.
Flournoy didn’t just win the WR3 job over Jalen Tolbert-he seized it. His special teams work helped, sure, but it was his knack for showing up in big moments that truly separated him.
Take Week 5, for example. Lamb was sidelined, and the Cowboys needed someone to step up against the Jets.
Flournoy answered with 114 yards on six catches in a 37-22 win. Fast forward to Week 14 in Detroit: Lamb was out again, this time with a concussion, and Pickens was having a rough night.
Once more, Prescott looked Flournoy’s way. The result?
A 115-yard outing on nine receptions, nearly dragging Dallas to a comeback victory.
These weren’t garbage-time stats or empty-calorie yardage. These were momentum-shifting, drive-extending, game-altering plays. And they came when Dallas needed them most.
So while the national spotlight may still shine brightest on Lamb and Pickens, those inside the Cowboys’ locker room know what they have in Flournoy. He’s not just a role player. He’s a reliable target, a third-down weapon, and a rising piece of an offense that’s looking to take the next step in 2026.
Ryan Flournoy has earned his place in this offense-and he’s just getting started.