Dalton Kincaid only played one year of high school football since he focused on basketball. He became a walk-on with the University of San Diego for two years before transferring to Utah where he only had one catch in 2020 during their COVID-shortened season. He became one of two starters in 2021, logging 36 catches on a team that didn’t throw much.
Last season, Kincaid evolved into their primary receiver. He ended with a team-high 70 catches and eight scores to lead the receivers. He caught 16 passes for 234 yards and a score against the Trojans during the season, though he was later held to only four receptions in the otherwise high-scoring Pac 12 Conference Championship against USC.
Height: 6-4
Weight: 246 pounds
40 time: 4.71 seconds
Kincaid was All-Pac 12 last year and his pinnacle season in college has him in the running to become one of the first tight ends drafted – if not the first. He brings a resume that’s more impressive as a receiver than as a blocker. He’s a 23-year-old fifth-year season who never scored fewer than eight touchdowns in any season he started.
Table: Player NCAA stats (2020-22)
| Year | School | Games | Catch | Yards | Avg. | TD | Rush | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | San Diego | 12 | 24 | 374 | 15.6 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | San Diego | 12 | 44 | 835 | 19.0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | Utah | 1 | 1 | 14 | 14.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | Utah | 13 | 36 | 510 | 14.2 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 2022 | Utah | 12 | 70 | 890 | 12.7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pros
- Prototypical size and speed for a receiving tight end
- Enough speed for vertical routes
- Plays more like as a receiver than a tight end
- Strong hands that catch and hold through contact
- Elite burst for his size
- Led the nation with 70 catches by a tight end in 2022
- Hard to tackle by smaller defensive backs
- No limit to the routes he can run – capable of catches in all three levels of the defense
- Former basketball player like many elite tight ends
Cons
- Needs improvement as a blocker on runs and passes
- Played mostly from slot, has to adjust to physical NFL defenders at the line
- Needs more aggression on contested catches at the next level
Fantasy Outlook
There is a chance that Kincaid becomes the first tight end drafted, which would net him a first or second-round pick. He’s an elite prospect as a receiving tight end, and his struggles at blocking mean he may not be an every-down player, at least until he proves not to be a liability.
His NFL team will take him to expand their passing game, and he is a mature player at 23 with four productive years in college. That should help speed his development and at least give him the potential to produce fantasy-relevant stats, even as a rookie. As a longer-term pick in a dynasty league, Kincaid is even more attractive.
He’ll most likely end up on one of the tight-end hungry teams of the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers or the Los Angeles Chargers.