Dalton Kincaid - TE - Utah
Welcome to the rookie profile for Dalton Kincaid. Kincaid is your prototypical big-bodied tight end. He checks in at 6’4” and 240 lbs. He doesn’t profile as an inline blocking tight end but rather as an elite pass catcher. He may be best served being used as a jumbo wide receiver. Kincaid offers little as a blocker and isn’t your typical tight end despite his size. His blocking deficiencies will likely result in him not being selected as the first tight end off the board, but long term he may turn out to be the best tight end for fantasy in this class. Kincaid profiles as a Hunter Henry-type big-bodied tight end with great ass catching upside, he should be a useful endzone target for his new quarterback.
Measurables
Height: 6′ 4″
Weight: 246 lbs
Age: 23
40-yard dash: DNP
3-cone drill: DNP
20-yard shuttle: DNP
Vertical Jump: DNP
Broad Jump: DNP
Bench Press: DNP
College Stats
Notable Headlines
Dalton Kincaid was an unranked prospect coming out of high school, he almost opted to play college basketball but instead opted to play football at San Diego.
As a freshman in 2018, he played in only 1 game and recorded just 3 catches for 37 yards in a role primarily as a backup.
In 2019 as a sophomore he played in 4 games where he put up 16 catches for 336 yards for 2 touchdowns, once again in primarily a backup role.
Kincaid transferred to Utah for his junior season where he started only one game and caught just one pass as once again he was relegated to a backup role.
In his senior season of 2021, we finally saw him take on a larger role in the Utah offense. In 13 games as a starter, he caught 35 passes for 510 yards and 8 touchdowns. Not elite production, but a positive sign by any measurement.
As a 5th year senior at Utah in 2022, Kincaid would have his best statistical season. He played in a full 12 games and hauled in an electrifying 70 passes for 890 yards and 8 touchdowns. That production led all college tight ends.
Scouting Report
Positives
Dalton Kincaid is explosive and powerful off the line and has great speed for a tight end. That speed allows him to break off a long play at any moment. His skillset makes him a true matchup nightmare for defenders.
His size and physicality make him difficult to tackle and he frequently runs through defenders with ease. Kincaid plays more like an Alpha wide receiver than a tight end and his production in his final two seasons reflected that play style.
Kincaid runs a basic and narrow route tree but he executes those routes with flawless technique. His vision and ability to gain yards after catch make him a potential high-end tight end producer for fantasy.
His abilities in the slot as a jumbo receiver are second to none and are easily high-end tight end caliber.
Negatives
Kincaid is a great receiving tight end but he is far from your typical inline blocking tight end. He profiles as strictly a pass-catching tight end and for a player of his size, his blocking skills are nonexistent. He often gets beat at the line and lacks any real technique when blocking. He was so poor as a blocker he was rarely used as such towards the end of his college career.
While he is an elite route runner for a tight end he doesn’t manage to get much separation and is often forced to make contested catches, which he struggles with at times despite his size. He could become elite at making contested catches if he works on refining his technique and maximizes his size and physicality.
Kincaid sometimes struggles to track deep throws and can’t get himself turned around or tangled up with defenders. He is most effective as a short-area target in the slot.
Pre Draft Analysis
Expected Draft Capital- Late Round 1
Ideal Landing Spot- Green Bay Packers
Kincaid’s blocking deficiencies will likely see him drop to the middle or end of the first round and this will be a gift to the tight-end-starved Packers. Green Bay has several young wide receivers with potential but lacks a tight end that can be used reliably outside of Robert Tonyan’s one outlier season.
Kincaid would be a perfect fit for Aaron Rodgers in the event he returns to Green Bay this season, Rodgers has shown a willingness to rely on his tight end in the short area/red zone and Kincaid would likely lead the team in red zone targets. In the event Jordan Love is the Packers quarterback next season it could be even better for Kincaid, rookie quarterbacks tend to rely heavily on tight ends as an emergency check down when they get nervous under pressure. If Love is the quarterback, Kincaid could see more targets as a rookie than he’s ever seen in college.
Post Draft Analysis
Buffalo Bills – Round 1, Pick 25
Landing Spot
Kincaid certainly secured high enough draft capital to warrant being in the conversation among the top rookies in this class and likely the top tight end, the issue is landing with the Buffalo Bills is a murky situation at best. Buffalo is certainly a high-flying and potent offence but where does he fit into it? Kincaid isn’t the only tight end on this roster, Dawson Knox was a decent fantasy tight end in 2022 and unless the Bills decide to relegate him to strictly blocking duty it is going to be tough for Kincaid to provide a decent return on what will now be a significant investment.
Fantasy Impact
In redraft, Kincaid falls second behind Sam LaPorta in my rankings. LaPorta didn’t secure the same level of draft capital but has a much clearer path to targets. Kincaid should prove to be a useful fantasy asset but the concern is that there may not be enough targets to go around. Stefon Diggs, Damien Harris, James Cook and Gabe Davis are all going to see their fair share of touches and when you factor in Josh Allen being a ball hog it remains to be seen if Knox and Kincaid can be a consistent force in this offence.
As far as dynasty goes, he should be drafted as either the second or third tight end at a minimum in rookie drafts as he still proved to be the only tight end taken in the first round. The talent is there despite limited production in college and eventually, this depth chart should clear up enough for him to see a healthy increase in target, just don’t expect that to happen overnight.
Even the most elite tight ends typically need a few years to grow and there is little reason to expect Kincaid to be any different, draft him with confidence but, hold him with patience.
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Image Credit: Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports
