Flournoy rose to prominence last season, and now, as he enters Year 3, he's set for a big role on offense.
Last season wasn't exactly good for the Dallas Cowboys, as a 7-9-1 record left Brian Schottenheimer's team out of the playoffs.
But there were some positives.
Javonte Williams and George Pickens had career years, and the emergence of receiver Ryan Flournoy.
With CeeDee Lamb and Pickens at the top of the receiver depth chart, Flournoy was a bit-part player, but when he was in games, he was productive, so much so that he was Dallas' third-best receiver in yards (475), receptions (40), and had more touchdowns than CeeDee with four.
Such was Flournoy's connection and chemistry with Dak Prescott in Dallas this offseason, which bumped "Flo" up to WR3 and left the team more than content to let Jalen Tolbert walk out the door.
And for head coach Brian Schottenheimer, Flournoy's rise to be a key cog in the offense isn't a shock.
"It's not surprising," Schottenheimer said. "He'll be the first one on the practice field, the last one to leave. Anytime Dak wants to throw, he'll be out there making himself available. I think that's huge. I think that's part of that me-to-you factor that's so important when you're talking about quarterback/ receiver timing and discipline."
Of Flournoy's 40 receptions, 29 of them went for first downs. With Dak often looking Ryan's way, not CeeDee or George's on third down, and Flournoy didn't let him down.
But more than that, it was Flournoy's work in other phases that has helped increase his stock in 2026.
A more than willing blocker in the run game, not to mention his talents on special teams, Flournoy offers a lot to the team instead of being "just" a receiver.
And now that he is the third receiver behind two of the best in football, Schottenheimer detailed why Flo has been moved up the depth chart.
"He earned it the right way," Schottenheimer added. "Through special teams, by doing the run blocking, things in the run game, the dirty work, if you will. Now he's one of those guys that just because he does everything right, Dak doesn't hesitate when he looks at him, he just turns it loose, throws it to a spot, and he's rewarded us with very very big- time performances."
We often hear Schottenheimer talk about how valuable it is to have special teams experience, and that is where Flournoy cut his teeth, and now he's been rewarded.
So while many are fixated on Lamb and Pickens, and rightly so, Flournoy has the chance of a lifetime to make something of himself in Year 3.
Last season was a good stepping stone; now he will get the reps to prove he deserves a seat at the table.
Why? Because he did it the right way.
