Why Bills' Dawson Knox could have a monster game vs. Bengals

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen sounds like a man planning to target tight end Dawson Knox early and often against the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday. 

"He's been great for us," Allen said of Knox, per Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News. "The more that we can get him the ball, it seems like the better that we do. He's so athletic. He's so big. He's so fast. He's tough for smaller guys and quicker than some of the big guys that guard him." 

Including last Sunday's 34-31 wild-card playoff win over the Miami Dolphins, Knox has now notched a receiving touchdown in five consecutive contests. According to Skurski, Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs and retired all-time great Rob Gronkowski are the only players at the position to have longer touchdown streaks of six straight games.

Knox went through the unthinkable this past summer when Luke Knox, his younger brother, died at the age of 22 while at college. Fellow Bills tight end Tommy Sweeney noted such a tragedy is "about as heavy as it gets" for any individual, let alone one who nearly lost a teammate during a game earlier this month. 

"I don't know exactly what it is, but he's just come in every day and he's maintained his level of steady growth throughout the season," Sweeney added about Dawson Knox. "It's a testament to his character, his upbringing, his faith. He shows up every day and he works hard. It's never been a doubt." 

Pro Football Talk's Myles Simmons pointed out that this edition of the Bills has routinely needed somebody to step up as a top-tier No. 2 receiving option behind star Stefon Diggs. Per ESPN stats, Knox finished the regular season tied for second on the team with 48 catches and third with 517 receiving yards and six touchdown grabs. 

Those still participating in daily fantasy-football competitions may want to start Knox this weekend. 

"He’s one of their playmakers, and you can’t sleep on him – (Josh Allen) trusts him," Bengals safety Vonn Bell told Skurski about Knox. "He finds a way to get open because Allen extends the play and (Knox) finds an open area in the zone and then Allen makes the throw to him."