The Surprise Star Emerging in the Cowboys Offense
The Dallas Cowboys put up another dominating offensive performance this week; it was the New York Jets who were the victims. After some worries that this game could be another stinker in the Meadowlands, star quarterback Dak Prescott made sure to once again look like an MVP candidate, putting up four touchdowns, with a deep ball to George Pickens being the highlight of his touchdown passes. Javonte Williams continues to prove all the doubters wrong, as he had another two touchdowns and 139 all-purpose yards. However, the surprise of the game was the rise of 2024 sixth-round pick Ryan Flournoy, who ended the game with 114 receiving yards, with 100 of them coming in the first half.
With it being another week of the absence of elite receiver CeeDee Lamb, the Dallas offense needed someone to step up, and Flournoy took charge. His game started with having a 40-yard catch and run midway through the first quarter on third and five, which helped Dallas set up for an early-game field goal. After making a few more catches to sustain the Dallas offense, he capped off the first half with a 46-yard touchdown pass on a free play, set up by Prescott. There was not much of a need for Flournoy to continue his elite play, as the Cowboys would run away with the game just before the first half was over, but the promising performance gives the Cowboys hope that he can step up and become a weapon until Lamb is out and for the foreseeable future.
The Cowboys were concerned about who would fill the role of Pickens following Lamb's injury, as Pickens was expected to take on Lamb's responsibilities. Many thought this would be Jalen Tolbert's opportunity to excel following a strong performance against Green Bay. However, his lack of receiving yards, especially when compared to Flournoy's impressive 114, highlights a significant disparity. With the Cowboys having one of the best offenses in the NFL, Flournoy's chances of getting the ball from Prescott only rise. He might not perform every single game, especially once Lamb returns and it moves him down the depth chart once again; however, with spurts of games like this, it only increases the trust he has with Prescott and head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
