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It’s hard to find a good tight end in fantasy football. An important position on the football field is typically lacking in terms of relevant production when it comes to our fake teams and lineups on a week-to-week basis. However, when we find a good one, we need them to stay healthy. Sam LaPorta, Darren Waller, and Dalton Kincaid couldn’t totally do that this week, as they’re all “questionable” heading into Week 6. Will they be ready to play when kickoff rolls around?
Below, we’ll give you the latest news on these top tight ends up until kickoff and break down how their injuries could potentially affect the Week 6 fantasy landscape.
WEEK 6 INJURY UPDATES: WRs | Barkley
Is Sam LaPorta playing Week 6?
UPDATE: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday morning that “things are trending in the right direction” for LaPorta to play against Tampa.
UPDATE 2: LaPorta is officially ACTIVE.
LaPorta (calf) seems to have avoided a scare and is in line to continue with business as usual when the Lions travel to Tampa for a date with the Buccaneers at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday. The rookie picked up the calf injury earlier in the week, earning a DNP on Thursday before turning in a limited practice on Friday. LaPorta has been one of the best options at a consistently inconsistent position for fantasy purposes. Perhaps the best evidence of that is how he’s battling with Travis Kelce for TE1 in 2023. Provided there’s no last-minute shift, LaPorta will be active and continue to be a must-start TE, an impressive feat for a rookie.
As with any injury, setbacks are possible and plans don’t always work out. Unfortunately, that means we also have to plan for the worst. If LaPorta ends up being inactive, Brock Wright would slide up the depth chart and check in as TE1 for this week. The predominately blocking tight end isn’t typically asked to do a lot in the receiving game but could work in a pinch since there aren’t many viable options in the late window. Cade Otton (vs. Lions), Tyler Conklin (vs. Eagles), and Zach Ertz (@ Rams) would all be better pivots if they’re available.
WEEK 6 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Is Darren Waller playing Week 6?
UPDATE: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday morning that Waller is expected to play against Buffalo.
Waller (groin) was back on the injury report after a few-week hiatus, earning a “questionable” designation for the Giants’ “Sunday Night Football” game in Buffalo. It’s a groin injury this time around for Waller, who expects to play on Sunday night.
It’s hard to project what we can expect from a Giants offense that has been among the league’s worst all season and will now be without multiple offensive lineman and Daniel Jones (neck). With others still up in the air, too, it could be a brutal showing from Big Blue. Regardless, Waller is still the top option in this passing game and was finally involved in Week 5, collecting eight catches for 86 yards. With a negative game script likely coming, the Giants will be throwing early and often, making Waller worth the start. If he can’t go, the same outlook applies to Daniel Bellinger, since the tight ends should see plenty of targets from Tyrod Taylor in his spot start. It’s a good idea to stash him in advance of the game just in case Waller is out. You could also pivot to either Dawson Knox or Dalton Kincaid (vs. Giants) if they play. Gerald Everett or Donald Parham Jr. (vs. Cowboys) are your only other options.
WEEK 6 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Is Dalton Kincaid playing Week 6?
UPDATE: Kincaid is officially OUT. Dawson Knox is officially ACTIVE.
Kincaid (concussion) hasn’t put forth the greatest fantasy output to start his career, but he’s listed as “questionable” heading into Sunday night. Unless he can clear the protocol in time, Kincaid will be forced to watch this game in street clothes. In addition to the rookie, his running mate, Dawson Knox, is also “questionable” with a wrist injury, making Buffalo’s tight ends a difficult group to project in Week 6.
WEEK 6 FANTASY ADVICE:
Sleepers | Busts | Projections | Start ’em, sit ’em
Considering the presence of more questions than answers, it would be best to consider other options outside of Kincaid and Knox. The rookie’s ceiling is capped by the presence of Knox and vice versa, with the latter being irrelevant in fantasy now. Either would get a big upgrade without the other, but we’d prefer to consider options on the bench or waiver wire to extract some value before pickings get slim on Sunday night. Our favorite widely available players include some heavily targeted players in recent weeks, Jonnu Smith (vs. Commanders), Cade Otton (vs. Lions), and Tyler Conklin (vs. Eagles). All can be found in over 80 percent of Yahoo leagues. At this point, we’d advise against waiting for either Bills’ TE.
