Can you believe it’s already Week 16, and we’re making start/sit decisions for the fantasy football semifinals? If you are still playing for a championship, congratulations! Some of you may be playing for third place or in the consolation bracket, avoiding the league penalty for last place, or perhaps playing for pride and bragging rights.
This article will closely examine some tight ends who have surprised fantasy managers in 2024. These players include Dalton Kincaid, Sam LaPorta, and Cade Otton.
I’ll highlight recent statistics for these players, share my recommendations for Week 16, and evaluate whether they should be in your starting lineups.
Should I Start Dalton Kincaid for Fantasy Football?
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid caught four passes for 53 yards in the team's 48-42 win against the Detroit Lions. The 25-year-old returned to action following a three-game absence due to a knee injury.
He was heavily involved in the offense, tying wide receiver Khalil Shakir as the team's target leader (seven). This was encouraging to see from Kincaid, who has disappointed fantasy managers in 2024 with his overall production. He ranks TE21 on the year.
He liiiiiives!
Dalton Kincaid with 11.4 fantasy points already! pic.twitter.com/Ixtk63thjv
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) September 24, 2024
Listen, Kincaid has the talent to be a weekly top-5 TE1. However, the Bills have chosen to lean on their run game more than expected in 2024. Combined with some injuries Kincaid has been dealing with throughout the year, this hasn't translated into consistent production.
That being said, if you have Kincaid on your roster, he has the upside and talent to provide fantasy managers with many points down the stretch.
The Bills are heavy favorites at home this week, so expect them to run the ball more than they did in Week 15. RotoBaller rankings have Kincaid ranked as TE15 for Week 16, making him a low-end TE1.
Should I Start Sam LaPorta for Fantasy Football?
Yes, you should. Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is coming off a monster game, where he had a season-high 10 targets and caught seven of them for 111 yards. The Lions (12-2) found themselves in a pass-heavy game script, and quarterback Jared Goff threw for 494 yards.
LaPorta entered the 2024 season as the consensus TE1 of the year and has undoubtedly disappointed fantasy managers thus far. However, he has the talent and skill set to be a top-3 tight end weekly. He has been showing that lately, putting up eight or more fantasy points in the last three games.
Sam LaPorta with his SECOND touchdown of the game to put the Lions (-10) up by 16 points again ✌️
✅ To Score 2+ TDs (+1400)
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/JwD4alSZn8
— ESPN BET (@ESPNBET) November 28, 2024
The Lions defense has been struggling lately, primarily due to injuries. This has caused a lot of their recent games to be high-scoring affairs. This bodes well for Lions offensive playmakers like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and LaPorta.
Fantasy managers can start LaPorta with confidence in Week 16. RotoBaller rankings have him ranked as TE6 in Week 16 as the Lions take on the Chicago Bears in Soldier Field.
Should I Start Cade Otton for Fantasy Football?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton had a quiet performance in Week 15, hauling in two of three targets for only 24 yards. What is more concerning is that Otton has failed to score more than 10 fantasy points in the last five games for the Buccaneers.
With the return of Mike Evans from his IR stint in Week 12, combined with Jalen McMillan coming on the previous two weeks, Otton has taken a back seat.
Cade Otton time. #NationalTightEndsDay
📺: #ATLvsTB on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/UKxppwoiSk— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
Otton provided a lot of production for fantasy managers in the middle of the season when Chris Godwin and Evans got hurt. However, as the Buccaneers got healthy, quarterback Baker Mayfield has not leaned on him as much.
RotoBaller rankings have him ranked as TE16 in Week 16, but he is facing a knee injury and has been downgraded as of Friday to doubtful and a game-time decision. Even if he does suit up, there are a lot of factors working against him, and there is too much risk baked in. Fantasy managers will want to look elsewhere for tight-end production in Week 16.
Popular Week 16 Searches - Start/Sit Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 16 searches and comparisons from our Who To Start tool for Dalton Kincaid, Sam LaPorta, Cade Otton compared to others. You can also use the free Who Should I Start tool to run your own start/sit comparisons, up to four players at once:
Brenton Strange or Cade Otton
Tucker Kraft or Dalton Kincaid
Jonnu Smith or Sam Laporta
Tucker Kraft or Cade Otton
Hunter Henry or Dalton Kincaid
Pat Freiermuth or Dalton Kincaid
Mark Andrews or Sam Laporta
David Njoku or Sam Laporta
Dalton Kincaid or Cade Otton
Hunter Henry or Cade Otton
Travis Kelce or Dalton Kincaid
Brenton Strange or Sam Laporta
Travis Kelce or Sam Laporta
Tj Hockenson or Sam Laporta
Brenton Strange or Dalton Kincaid
Jonnu Smith or Dalton Kincaid
Tj Hockenson or Dalton Kincaid
Mark Andrews or Cade Otton
Cade Otton or Dalton Kincaid
David Njoku or Dalton Kincaid
Jake Ferguson or Cade Otton
Mark Andrews or Dalton Kincaid
Cade Otton or Dalton Kincaid
Dalton Schultz or Cade Otton
Jake Ferguson or Dalton Kincaid
Adam Thielen or Sam Laporta
Brock Bowers or Sam Laporta
Devonta Smith or Sam Laporta
Zach Ertz or Cade Otton
Calvin Ridley or Sam Laporta
George Kittle or Sam Laporta
Jalen Mcmillan or Cade Otton
Pat Freiermuth or Cade Otton
Hunter Henry or Sam Laporta
Brenton Strange or Cade Otton
Keenan Allen or Sam Laporta
Kyle Pitts or Cade Otton
Ladd Mcconkey or Sam Laporta
Romeo Doubs or Sam Laporta
Tucker Kraft or Sam Laporta
Brenton Strange or Cade Otton
Dandre Swift or Sam Laporta
David Njoku or Cade Otton
Grant Calcaterra or Dalton Kincaid
Hunter Henry or Dalton Kincaid
Jalen Mcmillan or Sam Laporta
Jerome Ford or Sam Laporta
Jonnu Smith or Cade Otton
Jonnu Smith or Cade Otton
Mark Andrews or Dalton Kincaid
Noah Gray or Cade Otton
Noah Gray or Dalton Kincaid
Rhamondre Stevenson or Dalton Kincaid
Tucker Kraft or Dalton Kincaid
Zach Ertz or Dalton Kincaid
Cade Otton or Sam Laporta
Deandre Hopkins or Cade Otton
Jake Ferguson or Dalton Kincaid
Jayden Reed or Sam Laporta
Jonnu Smith or Dalton Kincaid
Mark Andrews or Cade Otton
Pat Freiermuth or Dalton Kincaid
Stone Smartt or Cade Otton
Tucker Kraft or Cade Otton
Tucker Kraft or Dalton Kincaid
Amari Cooper or Dalton Kincaid
Brenton Strange or Cade Otton
Brenton Strange or Cade Otton
Brenton Strange or Dalton Kincaid
Brenton Strange or Dalton Kincaid
Cade Otton or Dalton Kincaid
Christian Watson or Dalton Kincaid
Dalton Kincaid or Cade Otton
Dawson Knox or Cade Otton
Deandre Hopkins or Sam Laporta
Derrick Henry or Cade Otton
George Kittle or Sam Laporta
Grant Calcaterra or Cade Otton
Isaac Guerendo or Sam Laporta
Jake Ferguson or Dalton Kincaid
Jake Ferguson or Dalton Kincaid
Jake Ferguson or Sam Laporta
Jalen Mcmillan or Sam Laporta
Jonnu Smith or Dalton Kincaid
Jonnu Smith or Sam Laporta
Jonnu Smith or Sam Laporta
Kyle Pitts or Dalton Kincaid
Mark Andrews or Cade Otton
Najee Harris or Cade Otton
Nick Westbrookikhine or Cade Otton
Puka Nacua or Dalton Kincaid
Tank Dell or Sam Laporta
Travis Etiennejr or Dalton Kincaid
Travis Kelce or Cade Otton
Trey Mcbride or Sam Laporta
Tucker Kraft or Dalton Kincaid
Tucker Kraft or Dalton Kincaid
Tyrone Tracyjr or Cade Otton
Zay Flowers or Sam Laporta
Adam Thielen or Sam Laporta
Alexander Mattison or Cade Otton
Alexander Mattison or Sam Laporta
Amari Cooper or Cade Otton
Brenton Strange or Cade Otton
Brenton Strange or Cade Otton
Brenton Strange or Cade Otton
Brenton Strange or Cade Otton
Brenton Strange or Dalton Kincaid
Brenton Strange or Dalton Kincaid
Brenton Strange or Dalton Kincaid
Brock Bowers or Cade Otton
Brock Bowers or Dalton Kincaid
Brock Bowers or Sam Laporta
Brock Bowers or Sam Laporta
Bucky Irving or Sam Laporta
Calvin Ridley or Cade Otton
Calvin Ridley or Dalton Kincaid
Chig Okonkwo or Cade Otton
Chigoziem Okonkwo or Cade Otton
Christian Watson or Sam Laporta
Chuba Hubbard or Sam Laporta
Cole Kmet or Cade Otton
Cole Kmet or Dalton Kincaid
Courtland Sutton or Sam Laporta
Dalton Kincaid or Cade Otton
Dalton Kincaid or Cade Otton
Dalton Kincaid or Cade Otton
Dalton Kincaid or Sam Laporta
Dalton Kincaid or Sam Laporta
Dalton Schultz or Cade Otton
Dalton Schultz or Dalton Kincaid
Dandre Swift or Sam Laporta
Darnell Mooney or Dalton Kincaid
Darnell Mooney or Sam Laporta
David Njoku or Dalton Kincaid
David Njoku or Dalton Kincaid
David Njoku or Sam Laporta
Devonta Smith or Dalton Kincaid
George Pickens or Sam Laporta
Hunter Henry or Cade Otton
Hunter Henry or Cade Otton
Hunter Henry or Cade Otton
Hunter Henry or Cade Otton
Hunter Henry or Cade Otton
Hunter Henry or Cade Otton
Hunter Henry or Cade Otton
Hunter Henry or Dalton Kincaid
Hunter Henry or Dalton Kincaid
Hunter Henry or Dalton Kincaid
Hunter Henry or Dalton Kincaid
Hunter Henry or Dalton Kincaid
Hunter Henry or Dalton Kincaid
Hunter Henry or Dalton Kincaid
Hunter Henry or Dalton Kincaid
Hunter Henry or Dalton Kincaid
Isaiah Likely or Dalton Kincaid
Jake Ferguson or Cade Otton
Jake Ferguson or Cade Otton
Jake Ferguson or Cade Otton
Jake Ferguson or Cade Otton
Jake Ferguson or Dalton Kincaid
Jake Ferguson or Dalton Kincaid
Jakobi Meyers or Dalton Kincaid
Jakobi Meyers or Sam Laporta
Jalen Mcmillan or Cade Otton
Jalen Mcmillan or Sam Laporta
Jameson Williams or Sam Laporta
Jameson Williams or Sam Laporta
Jameson Williams or Sam Laporta
Jauan Jennings or Sam Laporta
Javonte Williams or Dalton Kincaid
Jaxon Smithnjigba or Cade Otton
Jaylen Warren or Dalton Kincaid
Jerome Ford or Sam Laporta
Jerome Ford or Sam Laporta
Jerome Ford or Sam Laporta
Jerome Ford or Sam Laporta
Jerry Jeudy or Dalton Kincaid
Jonnu Smith or Sam Laporta
Jonnu Smith or Sam Laporta
Jonnu Smith or Sam Laporta
Jonnu Smith or Sam Laporta
Jonnu Smith or Sam Laporta
Jonnu Smith or Sam Laporta
Jonnu Smith or Sam Laporta
Josh Downs or Dalton Kincaid
Josh Downs or Sam Laporta
Juwan Johnson or Dalton Kincaid
Kenneth Walkeriii or Cade Otton
Keon Coleman or Dalton Kincaid
Kyle Pitts or Dalton Kincaid
Ladd Mcconkey or Dalton Kincaid
Las Vegasraiders or Cade Otton
Mark Andrews or Cade Otton
Mike Gesicki or Cade Otton
Najee Harris or Sam Laporta
Nick Westbrookikhine or Cade Otton
Noah Gray or Dalton Kincaid
Noah Gray or Dalton Kincaid
Pat Freiermuth or Cade Otton
Pat Freiermuth or Cade Otton
Pat Freiermuth or Cade Otton
Pat Freiermuth or Dalton Kincaid
Pat Freiermuth or Dalton Kincaid
Pat Freiermuth or Dalton Kincaid
Pat Freiermuth or Dalton Kincaid
Rashod Bateman or Cade Otton
Rhamondre Stevenson or Cade Otton
Rome Odunze or Cade Otton
Rome Odunze or Sam Laporta
Rome Odunze or Sam Laporta
Sam Laporta or Cade Otton
Sam Laporta or Dalton Kincaid
Tank Bigsby or Sam Laporta
Tim Patrick or Dalton Kincaid
Tj Hockenson or Cade Otton
Tj Hockenson or Dalton Kincaid
Tj Hockenson or Dalton Kincaid
Tj Hockenson or Dalton Kincaid
Tj Hockenson or Sam Laporta
Tony Pollard or Sam Laporta
Travis Etiennejr or Sam Laporta
Travis Kelce or Cade Otton
Travis Kelce or Cade Otton
Travis Kelce or Cade Otton
Travis Kelce or Cade Otton
Tucker Kraft or Cade Otton
Tucker Kraft or Cade Otton
Tucker Kraft or Cade Otton
Tucker Kraft or Cade Otton
Tucker Kraft or Cade Otton
Tucker Kraft or Cade Otton
Tucker Kraft or Cade Otton
Tucker Kraft or Dalton Kincaid
Tucker Kraft or Dalton Kincaid
Tucker Kraft or Dalton Kincaid
Tucker Kraft or Dalton Kincaid
Tyjae Spears or Cade Otton
Tyjae Spears or Dalton Kincaid
Tyrone Tracyjr or Sam Laporta
Zach Ertz or Cade Otton
Zach Ertz or Dalton Kincaid
Zach Ertz or Sam Laporta
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