Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert enters his rookie season with a great opportunity to produce. Can he prove to be a productive option in fantasy football this year? What is Tolbert’s fantasy football outlook, and where does his current ADP sit heading into 2022 fantasy football drafts?
Jalen Tolbert’s fantasy outlook for 2022
The Cowboys are coming off a 12-5 season where they produced the NFL’s top-scoring offense and No. 2 passing unit. Despite this success, they saw considerable change in their playmaking group. Cap decisions led to Amari Cooper’s trade to Cleveland and Cedrick Wilson signing in Miami.
To take their place, Dallas re-signed Michael Gallup and drafted Tolbert in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The former South Alabama product was a big-play threat in college, averaging 18 yards per reception in 2021.
At 6’1″, 194 pounds, and boasting a 4.49 40-yard dash, Tolbert is a balanced receiver with explosiveness and size. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has more than enough motivation to feed Tolbert. There are 165 vacated targets in Dallas, and there’s no reason for the Cowboys to throw less in 2022.
Quarterback Dak Prescott is one of the more accurate passers in the NFL. His ability to hit receivers in stride and perform out of structure can buy Tolbert more opportunities than he might’ve had elsewhere. Tolbert simply needs to prove trustworthy to get a good baseline of targets.
His versatility will be a factor in his fantasy upside. Lamb can play inside or outside, while Gallup is an outside threat. Tolbert can endear himself if his route running is smooth enough to work out of both roles.
There’s Flex upside for Tolbert if he can hold onto a starting job in this pass-friendly offense. Dallas ranked 14th in pass rate last year, which should stay steady in 2022.
How the Cowboys’ depth chart impacts Jalen Tolbert’s fantasy projection for the season
Gallup will be out of the lineup for at least one or two games after tearing his ACL, leaving Lamb as the only other noteworthy receiver to steal targets from Tolbert. James Washington was added from Pittsburgh, but his sporadic production and fractured foot open the door even more for Tolbert to earn the starting job.
However, tight end Dalton Schultz emerged as a trusted option for Prescott last year, eating up 78 receptions, 808 yards, and eight scores.
Lamb will be the star of the unit, and Gallup is a sneaky candidate to break out upon his return. If Gallup immediately returns to form in Week 2, it’s unlikely that Tolbert will be more than a Flex option for much of the season.
If Tolbert’s production lands between Cooper’s 68 catches for 865 yards and eight scores and Wilson’s 45 receptions for 602 yards and six TDs, his range of rankings would be WR26 and WR43 by 2021’s final stats.
Tolbert’s ADP for 2022
Currently, with an ADP of WR59 and No. 145 overall, Tolbert has been going at the end of most drafts. He has a high chance of becoming a steal at this price considering he’s in line to be starting in what was the NFL’s top-scoring offense last year. Even when Gallup returns, expect Tolbert to see the field often since the Cowboys run a ton of three-receiver looks.
Comparatively, there’s less value in his peers going in his range. Kenny Golladay and Marquez Valdes-Scantling might be more helpful in best-ball leagues, but not for a 17-week fantasy season. Jarvis Landry doesn’t have the same volume heading his way. DeVante Parker is playing on an offense that attempted three passes in one game last year.
Tolbert has struggled in the preseason, but it’s fair to consider he hasn’t played with Prescott in his snaps, either. Trust the talent and volume available for Tolbert, and feel free to take him ahead of his ADP so you lock in someone with a golden opportunity.