Should I Start Jalen Tolbert?

Saturday, June 20, 6:01 AM

After four up-and-down seasons with the Cowboys, wide receiver Jalen Tolbert signed a one-year, $1.4 million deal with the Miami Dolphins, and after spending 2025 behind one of the league's top tandems in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, he now finds himself in arguably the most wide-open receiver room in the NFL. Tolbert's 49 receptions in 2024 are the highest single-season total of any wide receiver on Miami's roster, topped only by running back De'Von Achane, who has averaged more than 72 catches per year over the past two seasons. The Dolphins spent heavily on the position in the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting Caleb Douglas and Chris Bell in the third round before taking Kevin Coleman Jr. in round five, but Tolbert's versatility could allow him to carve out an early role in a room rounded out by Tutu Atwell and incumbent Malik Washington. On average, no Dolphins receiver is going earlier than round 18 in 2026 drafts, with Tolbert ranked as RotoBaller's WR91. While history would suggest at least one player will outperform ADP, a true fantasy ceiling is still capped in what projects to be one of the league's lowest scoring offenses, and Tolbert will be difficult to trust anywhere outside of best ball formats.