Dallas Cowboys’ secret weapon isn’t so much of a secret anymore, and he could be a household name sooner than you think
The Dallas Cowboys have a true breakout candidate at wide receiver and in no time, he could very well be one of the main characters on the Dak Prescott-led offense.
While this time of the year it’s George Pickens drawing the most attention in the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver room, it’s another guy turning heads in practice. For Cowboys Nation, he’s far from an unknown after stepping up as WR2 when CeeDee Lamb got hurt last season.
But now, Ryan Flournoy is drawing national attention going into the 2026 NFL season. And very soon, he could be a true household me.
Cowboys WR Ryan Flournoy draws national attention
Flournoy’s receiving yard total from 2025 may not be enough tout him on the average NFL fan’s radar. But the details behind his 475 yards are what should, starting with the fact that he didn’t start the season as the team’s WR3. Additionally, playing on an offense featuring CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, Flournoy was far from the go-to guy. But when called upon, he delivered.
In Week 5, for instance, Flournoy stepped up with Lamb out and recorded six catches for 11 yards. Later in the year, the Detroit Lions zeroed in on Pickens in an effort to take away his lethal slant routes. Dak Prescott turned to Flournoy, who led the team in catches on way to a 115-yard showcase.
For the film watchers, it was always clear Flournoy was getting open. His performance earned him a spot on a breakout offensive players list by Yahoo! Sports’ Nate Tice.
“Flournoy was a 25-year-old rookie who has done tenures on Dallas’ practice squad,” Tice writes. “But with each new opportunity that Flournoy has been given, he keeps making the most of his chances. He went from a role player at the beginning of the 2025 season to a starter filling in for injured receivers to one the Cowboys coaches started to highlight on third down and in the red zone on designer plays.”
“The eye test points to a good-sized wideout who can play on the inside and outside,” adds Tice. “He is more than willing to do the dirty work as a power slot, but also showed the ability to win in one-on-one situations on the outside and the ability to make himself friendly to the quarterback. The consistent yards after the catch he creates are a nice bonus, too.”
Flournoy’s rise is only now beginning
And here’s the thing: Flournoy may be “buried” behind one of the NFL’s best WR duo. But there’s a very big chance he emerges as Prescott’s No.2 receiver in 2027 (take note, dynasty fantasy players).
If he does, he has a chance to become a household name. After all, Prescott has played like one of the league’s best quarterbacks, especially as of late.
With George Pickens on the franchise tag and the Cowboys shutting down negotiations for a long-term deal, Flournoy is a legit WR2 candidate for the long run. If he keeps trending in the right direction, he could make the front office’s lives a little bit easier when the time comes to make some tough decisions.
But first, it’s Flournoy’s time to solidify himself as a breakout player.