Dolphins Give WR Chris Bell a Chance in the Third Round

By Shane Hallam | Updated on Sat, Apr 25 2026 3:13 AM UTC

The Miami Dolphins selected Louisville WR Chris Bell in Round 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. At 6’2 and 222 pounds, Bell looks the part of an NFL starter with red-zone upside. He adds the strength and enough long speed to stress defenses, with insider Jordan Schultz writing last month that Bell’s “in-game GPS tracked him at low 4.3 speed in full pads.” Bell also improved his production each year, capping his career with a 72-917-6 line. An ACL tear on Nov. 22 clouds his short-term outlook and kept him out of Combine drills, but the 2025 season still offered reasons for optimism. Bell’s 2.55 yards per route run ranked 22nd among 105 WRs with 80+ targets. And his 41.2% Dominator Rating, which measures a WR’s share of team receiving yards and TDs, ranked third in this class behind Jordyn Tyson and Denzel Boston.

What They're Saying

Draft Sharks Rookie Guide: “Bell is built like a RB and plays like a power forward. He shields defenders, wins through contact, and consistently finishes at the catch point. Bell offers solid run- after-catch ability and flashes vertical juice. But he struggles to separate vs. press coverage and needs sharper route detail. If he returns to pre-injury form, Bell’s size and ball skills give him legitimate upside.”

2026 Fantasy Football Impact

Chris Bell’s ACL tear likely limits his immediate fantasy impact. Despite a weak WR room, Bell will need some time to get back to speed.

He should be passed over in redraft leagues, especially after falling to the late third round (94th pick)

Dynasty Impact

Bell’s long term upside should make him an intriguing late second round pick in 1-QB leagues. You will need to be patient with Bell’s ACL recovery, but the pay off could be a starting caliber WR in 2027.

His blend of after catch ability and athleticism makes Bell intriguing. Of course, his lack of early breakout gives Bell bust potential too.

Ultimately, he is worth a chance later in your rookie drafts.
Learn more about Chris Bell’s Dynasty Value

Shane Hallam, Writer

Shane has over 20 years of experience creating content and playing every fantasy football format, including redraft, dynasty, devy, C2C, IDP, CFF, and more. He is a multi-year winner of $500 dynasty leagues on the FFPC and a King's Classic Champion. Shane utilizes deep film and scheme study to enhance his fantasy performance. He led the industry in 2024 preseason Kicker Rankings and ranked second in preseason QB Rankings. He also ranked eighth in preseason IDP rankings.