In a Cowboys offense loaded with headline-makers like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, it’s easy to miss the quieter success stories. But if you were paying close attention in 2025, you saw something brewing-something real-in Ryan Flournoy.
Let’s start with the stars. Dak Prescott earned his fourth Pro Bowl nod after throwing for 4,552 yards and 30 touchdowns, continuing to lead with poise and precision.
George Pickens, in his first year with Dallas, made an immediate impact, racking up 1,429 yards and 9 touchdowns-good enough to earn his first Pro Bowl selection. CeeDee Lamb?
He just did what he always does: eclipse 1,000 receiving yards for the fifth straight season, proving once again he’s one of the most consistent wideouts in the game.
Javonte Williams also deserves his flowers. The bruising back posted a career-best 1,201 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, giving the Cowboys a legitimate ground threat and helping balance Brian Schottenheimer’s offense.
So yeah, there was no shortage of firepower in Big D. But every great offense needs glue guys-players who don’t always make the highlight reel but show up every single week, doing the dirty work that keeps the chains moving.
Guys like Hunter Luepke, who lined up wherever the team needed him-running back, fullback, tight end-and simply executed. Malik Davis quietly made the most of his touches too.
And then there’s Ryan Flournoy.
If you blinked during training camp, you might’ve missed his rise. But by Week 18, Flournoy wasn’t just a feel-good story-he was a fixture in the offense. A second-year receiver who barely made a ripple as a rookie, Flournoy turned heads with his reliability, efficiency, and knack for coming through when it mattered most.
Pro Football Focus graded him as the Cowboys’ third-highest offensive player with an 80.3 overall mark. That’s not a fluke.
That’s production. He caught 40 of his 42 catchable targets-an absurdly efficient clip-and from Weeks 9 through 18, no Cowboy caught more touchdown passes than Flournoy.
Let that sink in.
On an offense with Lamb and Pickens, it was Flournoy who led the team in touchdown grabs over the second half of the season.
Even more impressive? Of his 40 catches, 29 moved the chains.
That’s not just a guy catching passes. That’s a guy keeping drives alive.
That’s a quarterback’s best friend on third down. And Prescott noticed.
Time and again, when the Cowboys needed a conversion, No. 4 looked to No. 19.
By season’s end, Flournoy ranked fourth on the team in both receptions (40) and receiving yards (475), and third in touchdowns (four). More importantly, he earned trust-and a role.
He didn’t just push Jalen Tolbert down the depth chart; he effectively took his job. And with the Cowboys unlikely to bring Tolbert back this offseason, it’s clear who owns that spot now.
So is Flournoy a “secret superstar”? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
But is he a legit breakout candidate heading into 2026? Absolutely.
This is a player who’s earned his place-not with flash, but with fundamentals. Reliable hands.
Crisp routes. Clutch conversions.
He’s not just part of the offense anymore-he’s part of the plan.
And if Year 2 under Schottenheimer was Flournoy “figuring it out,” then Year 3 could be when he fully arrives.