Ryan Flournoy

Ryan Flournoy enters 2026 in a much better spot for fantasy relevance than he did a year ago, because Dallas appears ready to use him as its third wide receiver behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Recent camp reports say he has worked more from the slot, and Cowboys coverage has emphasized that he’s more comfortable and confident heading into Year 3 after a 2025 season that produced 40 catches for 475 yards and four touchdowns.

That role gives Flournoy a real path to weekly snaps in an offense that should have plenty of attention paid to its top two receivers. Dallas depth charts currently show him as the clear WR3, and that’s a meaningful step up from the fringe role he held earlier in his career. He has also been described as a breakout candidate and even an “unsung hero” type player, which tells you the team believes his growth is still trending upward.

For fantasy purposes, the upside is mostly tied to volume and efficiency rather than elite target share. With Lamb and Pickens likely commanding the most defensive attention, Flournoy could benefit from softer coverage in the middle of the field, especially if his expanded slot usage sticks. That makes him a reasonable late-round dart throw in deeper redraft leagues and a more interesting stash in dynasty formats than a must-start weekly option.

The main risk is that his value is still role-dependent, and Dallas has enough receiving depth that a cold stretch could cut into his snaps. There is also a recent knee issue in his 2025 game log, but the latest 2026 offseason reports do not point to a major lingering injury concern, and he appears to be practicing normally entering the season. Overall, Flournoy looks like a smart upside bet rather than a safe floor play, with the best-case outcome being a consistent WR3/FLEX who outperforms his draft cost.