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FantasyPros Articles fantasy football takes on Travis Kelce

Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from FantasyPros Articles about Travis Kelce.

80
Insights
24
Positive
16
Negative
Insight ledger

All FantasyPros Articles insights about Travis Kelce

NegativeProjectionSep 12, 2026
Over the last two years, Kelce has been TE9 and TE7 in fantasy points per game. His per-route efficiency screams he's on the back nine of his career. Among 59 qualifying tight ends last year, Kelce ranked 19th in yards per route run, 18th in yards after the catch per reception, and 16th in first downs per route run. Denver was 19th in yards per target versus tight ends while allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points per opportunity to the position. Kelce should see solid volume in Week 1, but the source doesn't expect a monster game; if he gets into the endzone, he could possibly salvage a low-end TE1 outing.
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NegativeProjectionSep 5, 2026
Travis Kelce's ADP has fallen 4.2 spots in the last seven days, reflecting fantasy managers' reluctance to draft a nearly 37-year-old TE1. Additionally, Patrick Mahomes is not yet confirmed as the Week 1 starter as he recovers from torn knee ligaments sustained in December. TJ Horgan notes that the last tight end older than 35 to finish as a top-10 tight end in receiving yards was Jason Witten in 2019 with 529 yards, positioning Kelce as a bye-week fill-in dependent on end-zone production. Horgan is letting someone else draft Kelce.
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PositiveProjectionSep 5, 2026
Lawrence Iacona projects Kelce for a major rebound and league-winning upside this season. As Patrick Mahomes' primary target and unquestioned focal point of the offense, Kelce remains a high-volume PPR asset who consistently dominates target share. His durability and availability keep him locked into every critical game script, preserving an elite weekly floor. Operating as Mahomes' first read in high-leverage situations, his ceiling at tight end creates an unmatched positional advantage.
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PositiveProjectionSep 2, 2026
Kelce is positioned for a major rebound and is poised to deliver league-winning upside this season; as Patrick Mahomes' primary target and the unquestioned focal point of the offense, he remains a high-volume PPR asset who consistently dominates target share. His durability and availability keep him locked into every critical game script, preserving his elite weekly floor, and because he operates as Mahomes' first read in high-leverage situations, his ceiling at the tight end position creates an unmatched positional advantage.
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NegativeValueAug 20, 2026
Travis Kelce is presented as a second-tier tight end option that creates a significant point disadvantage in shallow leagues. The source notes that Kelce averaged 6.9 fantasy points per game last season, compared to McBride's 11.2 PPG and Bowers' 9.4 PPG. While the gap might not seem massive, in shallow leagues where every manager fields an All-Star team, this point differential is meaningful, making Kelce an inferior choice to the elite tier in shallow formats.
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PositiveValueAug 19, 2026
At 36 years old, Kelce is still one of the safest fantasy selections despite his best years being behind him; he can no longer finish as TE1 but is the best bet to finish TE5-10; last year he finished TE3 with 106 targets, 851 yards, and 5 TDs despite taking a step back as a receiver, and there's no reason not to expect a similar stat line this season; with Xavier Worthy dealing with shoulder issues and Rashee Rice limited to straight-line routes, Kelce will be consistent each week, and there's narrative upside if Patrick Mahomes targets him for TDs to reach Rob Gronkowski's all-time record (he's 8 behind Gronkowski, 4 behind Jimmy Graham).
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PositiveProjectionAug 15, 2026
Kelce finished TE3 in fantasy scoring in 2025 with 76 catches for 851 yards and five TDs at age 36, but his efficiency has been plummeting. Career average: 8.6 yards per target and 2.05 yards per route run. Last two seasons: 6.9 YPT and just under 1.50 YPRR—significant declines. The Chiefs didn't add significant pass catchers in the offseason, so Kelce will remain a prominent target earner in Andy Reid's offense, but the question is how much production he can generate with those targets. The good news is he's become a budget option at the position and will likely be available in middle rounds.
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PositiveValueAug 5, 2026
Kelce remains a highly reliable option despite no longer being a true top-three or top-five tight end. Over the last two seasons, he's finished tied for ninth and seventh among tight ends in fantasy points per game with strong target share and receiving yardage marks in both years. His underlying efficiency numbers remain solid, ranking comfortably in the middle of the pack among qualifying tight ends in yards per route run, yards after catch per reception, and first downs per route run last season. With real uncertainty surrounding a teammate's receiving role, Kelce looks well positioned to remain his team's target leader and Patrick Mahomes's most trusted option, projecting as a safe tight end one with real top-seven upside.
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