Fantasy Football: Plan B’s If Dalton Kincaid Cannot Play

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid has been a pleasant surprise in the fantasy football landscape, recording 20 receptions for 287 yards and three touchdowns over the first five games of the season while recording at least four receptions in four contests. However, the former first-round pick’s availability is in question after suffering an oblique injury in practice.

The tight end is officially questionable for Monday Night Football’s showdown against the Atlanta Falcons. Seeing as he plays in the final game of the week, fantasy football managers may not have an ideal way to pivot off of Dalton Kincaid. While the options are admittedly limited, the following players could grab a few points if Kincaid can’t suit up this week.

Fantasy Football: What to Do If Dalton Kincaid Cannot Play

Option 1: AutoSub Leagues

AutoSub leagues are a relatively new creation that allow players to designate substitute players if the event of a surprise inactive. This is a league setting that should have been established before the season began and can only be controlled by your commissioner. If you’re not sure if you’re in an AutoSub league, reach out to whoever is running your league to find out, as it will dramatically change your strategy with Dalton Kincaid.

In AutoSub leagues, every single tight end that plays in Week 6 is eligible to replace Dalton Kincaid in your fantasy football lineup. Assuming you don’t already have a tight end on your bench, you should target guys like AJ Barner and Jake Tonges on the waiver wire. Both players are still available in over 50% of Sleeper redraft leagues and should give you the best chance of racking up fantasy points in Kincaid’s absence.

Barner only has one game with more than three targets, but that came in Week 5’s shootout against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the Seahawks lost the contest, Barner hauled in all seven of his targets for 53 yards and two touchdowns. Performances like this tend to earn players more opportunities, and he and quarterback Sam Darnold appear to have a strong connection in the red zone.

Tonges, meanwhile, has done a remarkable job filling in for the injured George Kittle. While his numbers are a little inflated from San Francisco’s seemingly endless run of injuries, he has played well and should be a lock to see at least five targets. As far as streaming tight ends go, you can’t ask for much more than that.

Option 2: Non-AutoSub Leagues

If you’re not playing in an AutoSub league, that means your only options are the other tight ends on Monday Night Football. While Dalton Kincaid is easily the best fantasy football option, a few other players could earn a spot in your starting lineup.

Assuming Kyle Pitts is already rostered, the best tight end left is probably Dawson Knox. While he only has one game with more than two targets, Kincaid is largely responsible for his decrease in workload. If the first-round pick cannot play, the Knox should see a few additional targets.

Knox may not be a superstar, but he has an established rapport with quarterback Josh Allen and has two seasons with more than 500 receiving yards on his resume. He won’t make anyone forget about prime Rob Gronkowski, but he’s still 28 years old and should have a bit of gas left in his tank. If Kincaid can’t play, look for Knox to receive five or six targets. If he finds the endzone, you can get a starting-caliber performance with that type of workload.