Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid has emerged as a legitimate option in fantasy football this season, but his Week 6 outlook now takes a serious nosedive at the last minute. The third-year starter is inactive for the matchup against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football with an oblique issue, leaving fantasy managers with the tight end now in desperate need of a last-minute fill-in.
With options quite limited thanks to the late-week game, is Dawson Knox the answer for players with a hole in their lineups due to Kincaid’s injury?
Analysis
Look, the situation here is dire. If you’re anything like me, you roster Kincaid and were previously banking on him to play in Week 6. Now, you’re staring at a potential goose egg in your starting lineup with scarce flexibility to replace him. Only four teams play tonight: the Bills, Falcons, Chicago Bears, and Washington Commanders. Unless you roster another tight end from one of those squads, the free-agent pool is where you’ll find tonight’s fill-in. Kyle Pitts is surely unavailable, and Zach Ertz probably isn’t out there either. You could potentially snag Cole Kmet or Colston Loveland (if he plays), but they’ll compete for targets with plenty of other talent in that offense. Where does that leave us?
Don’t panic too much — fantasy managers can likely add Dawson Knox off the street to insert into starting lineups. The seven-year veteran doesn’t look like the most thrilling option, but he’s an experienced veteran who’s proven productive while catching passes from quarterback Josh Allen in the past. His peak came several seasons ago in 2021 and 2022, but Knox posted at least 500 yards in each of those campaigns with 15 total touchdowns while averaging over four targets per contest. Kincaid came to town in the following campaign and began eating into Knox’s workload, partially causing the drop-off in production. While there’s more competition on the Bills’ depth chart at pass catcher than there used to be, there’s still a lack of high-end talent. That’s where we look at the role the tight end plays here for encouragement.
Through the first five weeks of 2025, Kincaid’s caught 20-of-24 targets for 287 yards and three touchdowns. He posts a 16.1% target share which ranks 18th among tight ends, but he’s seen five red-zone targets in particular, a very solid 18.5% share of those looks. Those valuable throws raise the upside for tight ends, and if Knox absorbs the top tight end’s usual role, he has potential to pay off as a perfectly serviceable fantasy football option for managers in a pinch tonight. With few other options, the backup is likely the best available desperation play for anyone who planned to start Kincaid. We’re hoping for a few targets and a tuddy on Monday Night Football.
