The Cowboys are playing in prime time for the second straight week in Week 6, when they visit the Packers on Sunday Night Football. Despite taking a tough loss to the Buccaneers last Thursday, the Cowboys’ passing game remained productive, with Dak Prescott passing for over 300 yards for the second straight week. CeeDee Lamb was forced to leave the game in the fourth quarter due to a quad injury and wasn’t able to return. With Lamb banged up, is the Cowboys’ third receiver Ryan Flournoy worth a look from the Week 6 waiver wire? The chances could be there for Flournoy to step up, and the third-year receiver has flashed potential upside in the past.
Let’s dive in and take a look at the latest on Lamb’s injury and at Flournoy’s fantasy football outlook going forward.
CeeDee Lamb Injury Update
Entering Week 5’s matchup, Lamb was already dealing with a quad bruise, and he aggravated that injury late in the game when he was hit again in the same spot. The star receiver was in and out of the lineup late in the game, but he was clearly in pain and not fully available.
Especially with the extra time between games, Lamb is most likely to be ready for Week 6 against the Packers, based on current reporting. If he continues to be hobbled, though, it could open the door for Flournoy to get more targets and put up stats that matter in deep leagues.
Ryan Flournoy Fantasy Football Outlook
Flournoy has already been on the field enough to be a deep league option. He has played at least 70% of the team’s snaps in three of the first five games this season, and he has drawn a total of 26 targets in those five games.
He has posted multiple catches in each contest, with 16 receptions for 194 yards, averaging 3.2 catches for 38.8 yards per game. He hasn’t scored a touchdown yet this year, but he did have four touchdowns last season, including a nine-catch game against the Lions when he racked up 115 yards in a game that Lamb was forced to leave with a concussion.
Last week, Flournoy had a season-high 90 yards, including a long catch for 48 yards at the end of the second quarter. He also added this key reception that went for 26 yards as the Cowboys drove to attempt to tie the score late in the game:
If Lamb misses time, Flournoy would be a great starting option in almost all formats, although he’s hard to trust in his role as the team’s third receiver behind Lamb and George Pickens. He does get looks each week in that role, but he will remain very volatile from week to week.
If you are in a deep league and can stash Flournoy as an insurance policy, it could be a move that pays off in the long run. Especially if you already have Lamb and want an insurance policy as a handcuff, it makes sense to stash Flournoy, since he would be the main beneficiary if Lamb were to miss any time.
In standard-sized leagues, it’s fine to leave Flournoy on the waiver wire, but be ready to snatch him quickly if Lamb needs longer to recover from this injury than initially anticipated.
The Bottom Line: Stash Ryan Flournoy only in deep formats
Since Lamb isn’t expected to miss time, Flournoy is best left on the waiver wire in standard-sized leagues. He does bring enough value to be a stash candidate if you are in a deep league or have roster flexibility, since he would bring a very high ceiling if more targets were going to come his way in any matchup.
