Jalen

Tolbert

The departure of Michael Gallup this offseason immediately opened the door for Tolbert to step into a bigger role. Couple that with the fact that the Cowboys didn’t take a receiver until the sixth round of the draft, and his path to snaps becomes all the more clear. Archer reports that Tolbert has “joined [Dak] Prescott at the hip” this offseason, spending additional time with Prescott in hopes of developing additional familiarity and trust with the quarterback come game day. Head coach Mike McCarthy also praised Tolbert’s growth, saying he’s “taken leaps and bounds” with his confidence and understanding of the game. Tolbert entered the league as a third-round pick out of South Alabama and turned in a solid combine, posting an 8.76 RAS. He’s played sparingly through his first two years in the league, amassing 24 receptions for 280 yards and two touchdowns for his career, and has likely faced a steep learning curve going from the Sun Belt conference to the NFL. Any significant role would make him an interesting dart throw in the later rounds of fantasy drafts, as an injury to either Cooks or Lamb could thrust Tolbert into a starting role.

With Jalen Brooks (one target) and Jalen Tolbert (three targets) also getting run in the Cowboys’ receiving corps, Gallup is hardly fantasy relevant. He has had a disappointing season, moving down the pecking order amongst the Cowboys offensive weapons. Gallup can be left on fantasy benches for Week 13 against the Seahawks.

Tolbert drew more targets than Michael Gallup and played over Gallup in the second half. It’s something to monitor in deeper leagues. Dallas is clearly looking for a reliable WR2 and neither Gallup nor Brandin Cooks have been up to the task. Tolbert has been moderately productive when he gets playing time.

Tolbert functioned as the team’s No. 2 wide receiver with Brandin Cooks (MCL) sidelined. It’s increasingly clear that no Dallas wideout besides CeeDee Lamb will matter for fantasy purposes. Tolbert should only be rostered in the deepest formats.

Jones said Cooks did not need to log any practice reps this week to suit up against the Jets. That’s good news because Cooks was sidelined for the Cowboys’ third and final practice on the week on Friday Still, we would consider Cooks — who sustained an MCL injury in Week 1 — a long shot to play in Week 2. His absence could open up more routes for Michael Gallup and Jalen Tolbert.

The offseason acquisition of Brandin Cooks paired with the return to health of Michael Gallup left many questioning where Tolbert stood in the wide receiver pecking order. Tolbert has been a camp and preseason standout all summer and appears to be locked into the team’s fourth wide receiver position, likely to contribute from day one as a situational player in addition to the one likeliest to step up should an injury occur to one of the three starters.

Brooks ‘would likely be on the Cowboys’ if the season started today. The sixth-round rookie has been one of Dallas’ top receivers this preseason, flashing as a route runner in practices. Injuries and a slow forty time (4.69) dropped Brooks to Day 3 but he’s a three-year SEC starter with massive wingspan and size to play outside. Brooks is a sleeper for rookie-year snaps and the Dynasty hedge to Dallas’ top three receivers.

He also singled out EDGE Sam Williams. Tolbert was a healthy scratch often last season, and enters 2023 in a reserve role behind CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Michael Gallup. He’ll need an injury to be fantasy-relevant, but at least this faint bit of praise should keep him on the deep dynasty radar.

Tolbert has been a healthy scratch for much of the season, and with the addition of T.Y Hilton, he is even more boxed out of playing time. The Cowboys will have all of their key offensive contributors against a formidable 49ers defense.

Nothing too surprising here, as a large number of these players have been game day inactives for most of the season. Dallas needs a win and an Eagles loss on Sunday to secure the NFC East title