FRISCO, Texas – Five games into the season, the Cowboys sit at 2-2-1 heading into another road test in Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers.
Football is a team game at its core, with all 11 players working as one to win the game. That said, there were a lot of individual efforts that have stood out during the first portion of the 2025 season.
From offensive showings through the air and on the ground, players stepping up on defense amidst struggles and even special teams having a helping hand in winning games, there are a lot to choose from.
In the second edition of our Power Rankings series, the DallasCowboys.com staff compiled the top 10 individual Cowboys performances so far this season:
10. Jake Ferguson (at Bears, Week 3) - The Cowboys didn't win the game. Ferguson didn't find the end zone and he didn't even get over 100 yards. But 13 catches is still 13 catches. Ferguson had 82 yards as the Cowboys tried to attack the middle of the Bears' zone. Ferguson is one of six Cowboys in team history to have 13 catches in a game, but it's been done a total of 11 times. Ironically, the Cowboys are just 3-8 when a player hits 13 or more receptions. – Nick Eatman
9. Trevon Diggs (at Eagles, Week 1) – For a guy who missed all of the offseason workouts, all of training camp and was a game-time decision to play in Week 1, Diggs' performance against the defending champions was stellar. Coming off a knee injury that many thought could keep him out the first four weeks of the season, Diggs not only played, but held his own against one of the best WR duos in the league. A.J. Brown had just one catch and DeVonta Smith had three, but the two combined for only 24 yards. Diggs, opposite DaRon Bland, played one of their best games as a cornerback tandem. – Nick Eatman
8. Dak Prescott (at Eagles, Week 1) – Had it not been for a few costly drops by CeeDee Lamb down the stretch, the Cowboys may have stunned the NFL world and beaten the reigning Super Bowl champions to open the season. Sure, it doesn't really matter given the loss and the numbers don't look great, but Prescott was dialed in throwing the football and kept Dallas in that game the entire night with his play, finishing 21 of 34 for 188 yards. – Tommy Yarrish
7. Shemar James (at NY Jets, Week 5) – For a guy who didn't even start the game, James certainly found his groove when he got in there. The rookie, playing in just his second career games, replaced an injured Jack Sanborn and had 15 tackles. James became the 36th rookie in NFL history to have at least 15 tackles in a game and just the second with the Cowboys, alongside Leighton Vander Esch (2018). – Nick Eatman
6. CeeDee Lamb (vs. Giants, Week 2) - Speaking of Philly, it's well-known Lamb wants that game back, seeing as his unusual rash of drops helped cost the Cowboys an upset victory over the Eagles. The All-Pro's bounceback was very real in the very next contest though, taking center stage in what became an all-out barnburner where Prescott again needed Lamb to come up big in all the moments, and he did exactly that, making not only timely catches, but ones in double coverage that prove his hands are perfectly fine and still some of the best in the league. – Patrik Walker
5. Ryan Flournoy (at NY Jets, Week 5) - No, that wasn't Amari Cooper or even Miles Austin taking over the game in the No. 19 jersey against the Jets. It was Ryan Flournoy — a former sixth-round pick (2024) whose journey includes being waived by the Cowboys earlier this season, clearing waivers, re-signing but to the practice squad, signing back to the active roster and then hanging a career-best 114 receiving yards (104 in the first half alone) on the Jets in the absence of both Lamb and KaVontae Turpin, sprinkling in some RB duties as well. – Patrik Walker
4. Dak Prescott (vs. Packers, Week 4) - One could argue Prescott had a better overall game in Philly, but what he did against the Packers was unreal. The All-Pro quarterback absorbed nearly every blow his defense suffered and delivered counterpunches of his own. Many predicted the Packers would run the Cowboys out of the building, but Prescott had other plans, even using his legs to get the job done when it mattered most en route to a 319-yard, four-touchdown day … with zero interceptions. – Patrik Walker
3. Javonte Williams (at NY Jets, Week 5) – Williams had arguably the best game of his career against New York. He ran for 135 yards, scored two touchdowns and finished with a career high 8.4 yards per carry. Williams also tied his career high in missed tackles forced with 7 and ran for a career high 72 yards over his expected total. All of that occurred behind an offensive line that was down four starters, three of which were first round picks, making it all the more impressive. – Tommy Yarrish
2. Brandon Aubrey (vs. Giants, Week 2) – In one of the wildest back-and-forth games of the season, Aubrey had one of the biggest showings of his career, coming through each and every time he was called upon, with no two bigger kicks than a 64-yarder at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime, and a 46-yarder to win it in overtime as time expired. On the day, Aubrey finished 4/4 on field goals with makes from 44, 46, 51 and 64. – Tommy Yarrish
1. George Pickens (vs. Packers, Week 4) - Coming off of a strong outing in Week 2 to help push the Cowboys over the Giants in overtime, the next battle would be different, in that Pickens would be tasked with proving he can take over a game when defenses don't have to worry about Lamb being on the field. Not only did he prove he could, but he flat-out stole the show with his 134-yard, two-touchdown game — the second-most production of his NFL career. – Patrik Walker
