Another preseason game and another long Chiefs TE Travis Kelce touchdown catch-and-run.
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end caught Aaron Murray's first ever NFL completion -- not his first attempt -- and darted past the Carolina Panthers' defense for a 43-yard score. The catch-and-run had a district similarity to the 69-yard snag-and-jaunt Kelce displayed last week against the Cincinnati Bengals. The tight end finished Sunday's 28-16 loss with four catches for 63 yards, giving him a two-week total of six catches for 136 yards on seven targets.
Coming off microfracture surgery that cost him all of last season, the second-year pro sits behind Anthony Fasano in the Chiefs' pecking order. Kelce did play some with the first-team unit Sunday, but mainly in two-tight end sets.
"He's just got to keep coming with it and there's more than just the route running," Andy Reid said, per the team's official website. "You got to be able to run block and then you got to detail all your work there. But, you sure got to give him credit for the effort that he's giving in the pass game and he sure has a nice skill level."
The story goes on to point out the obvious: Kelce clearly has more upside and playmaking ability than Fasano, but the Chiefs insist on going with the more trusted veteran as their starter. If Kelce keeps making plays, however, he should force Reid to reconsider how he divvies up the snaps. We have Kelce ranked 20th, well ahead of Fasano, and trending up our charts. If you need to draft a second TE or play in a deeper league where you can start more than one, he looks like a guy to take a late-round shot on.
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