Underrated Buffalo Bills star could be Stefon Diggs’ perfect replacement

The Buffalo Bills’ passing game is going to have to look a lot different in 2024 than it has in the recent past.

Yes, Josh Allen remains one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and a potential MVP favorite this upcoming season, but after trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans, Allen’s targeting hierarchy will change significantly.

After all, Diggs and his 644 targets from Allen over the past four seasons have moved south to the Houston Texans, where the dynamic playmaker will now be the target of second-year quarterback CJ Stroud’s passes.

Meanwhile, in Buffalo, that opens the door for one of the Bills’ emerging stars to have the best year of his career in 2024.

Why Dalton Kincaid May Become Josh Allen’s Favorite Target

Dalton Kincaid burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2023 and immediately earned Allen’s trust.

Kincaide, selected by the Bills with the 25th overall pick in the 2023 draft, caught 73 passes for 673 yards with a pair of touchdowns as Buffalo’s third-leading receiver behind Diggs and Gabe Davis.

With Diggs and Davis elsewhere, Pro Football Focus’ Jonathan Macri argues that Kincaid can not only become Allen’s most prolific weapon in the passing game, but he’s also a star to watch at tight end across the league.

“In addition to scoring a significant number of touchdowns,” Macri wrote for PFF. “For which he will face competition in high-yield areas between Josh Allen and Dawson Knox, Kincaid should aim to become the Bills’ leading scorer to far exceed his already solid production as a rookie.”

“With Diggs gone and no true alpha receiver to replace him, there are plenty of targets and production up for grabs in this Josh Allen-led offense. Kincaid makes the most sense as the next man up with Keon Coleman having long-term potential but not ready to start in Year 1, and Khalil Shakir — a potential breakout receiver — also has his share of competition among similar options at the position. Kincaid has the talent to be the team’s top receiver, and while his 19.6 percent target percentage as a rookie ranked outside the top 10 among qualified tight ends last year, it also means there’s still untapped potential for a high-end tight end prospect.”

It’s entirely possible that Kincaid will leverage his built-in trust in Allen, forged during his rookie season by Allen posting a 91.3 passer rating when targeting him, and the young tight end will become the focal point of the Bills’ passing game.

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