Week 17 vs Oakland
Travis Kelce was expected to be more of a red zone threat in 2015, but headed into Week 16 with just four touchdowns, two of which were in an opening day win against Houston. However, Kelce came through for fantasy coaches with a score in Week 16. He caught six passes for 43 yards overall and was targeted more than anyone else on the Kansas City roster.
In last year’s meeting with Oakland at Arrowhead Stadium, Kelce caught five passes for 59 yards and a touchdown. Although Travis has not been the high-end, Gronk-like TE1 many were hoping he would be, he continues to be one of the few somewhat dependable players at a depleted spot in the fantasy football landscape. And he is worthy of one more start on Sunday.
Week 16 vs. Cleveland
After spending Week 14 in the fantasy football witness relocation program, Travis Kelce made a nice return to the scene last weekend against the Ravens, catching six passes for 73 yards. Only Jeremy Maclin was targeted more among the Kansas City receivers, as it appears Andy Reid and the rest of the coaching staff made a concerted effort to get Travis more involved.
The Cleveland defense has been terrible throughout the season. The Browns have surrendered 29 touchdown passes. Kelce has not delivered the monster ceiling people think he is capable of, but given the favorable opponent and the fact he is still one of the best players at a weaker position, you can lock him into your lineup as a TE1.
Week 15 at Baltimore
All season long, the majority of the fantasy community has given Travis Kelce the benefit of the doubt because of his upside and the lack of quality options at the tight end position. Well, it is officially time to call Travis a disappointment. He caught three passes for 18 last Sunday. A rainy day in Kansas City did not help his cause, but that was an appalling performance during one of the most important weeks of the fantasy season.
On the surface, Baltimore has a weak pass defense. They have given up 27 touchdown passes and a decent amount of yardage. However, only two tight ends have found the end zone against the Ravens all season. Kelce almost has to rebound after such a poor showing, especially with the weather not expected to pose a problem, but consider him more of a low-end TE1.
Week 14 vs San Diego
One of fantasy football’s disappointments in Week 13 was Travis Kelce. Expected to have a big day against an Oakland defense that has had trouble stopping tight ends, Kelce was limited to two receptions for 42 yards and a two-point conversion as he was targeted just three times.
Earlier this season, Kelce caught five passes for 46 yards when Kansas City crushed the Chargers 33-3. Kelce would have had a bigger day, but a touchdown catch he had made in the end zone was overturned on replay. With Travis still having as much upside as anyone at his position and the Chargers in the midst of a total collapse, he will continue to be a TE1 this week and the rest of the way with Kansas City possessing a soft schedule throughout the fantasy playoff season.
Week 13 at Oakland
One of the more consistent players at the tight end position due to a steady stream of targets, Travis Kelce caught four passes for 69 yards in Week 12. Most importantly, Kelce caught his first touchdown since Week 8, giving him four on the season.
All season long, Oakland has struggled to defend tight ends. Kelce’s biggest game of the season was back in Week 1, when he tore through the Houston Texans to the tune of six receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns. It will be a challenge for Travis to match or top those numbers, but he has a shot this week and is one of the best TE1s on the board.
Week 12 at Tennessee
For one shining moment in Kansas City’s Week 11 demolition of San Diego, it looked like Travis Kelce had scored a touchdown, which would have been his fourth of the season. Unfortunately, the catch Kelce made in the end zone was overturned on review and Travis finished with five catches for 46 yards. His lack of touchdowns are the only thing holding him back from being a fantasy superstar, as his reception and yardage totals are usually solid.
Although the Bills managed to hold Rob Gronkowski in check on Monday night, their pass defense is far from frightening. Opponents have burned Buffalo for 18 touchdowns through the air and the Bills are permitting more than 250 yards per game. While Kelce may be a slight disappointment, he has been far from a disaster and is the kind of player who could go crazy at any time. Fantasy coaches should show no hesitation in once again starting him as a TE1.
Week 11 at San Diego
Travis Kelce will not be heading out to the West Coast with a lot of momentum. Kelce caught five passes for 36 yards last Sunday in Denver and failed to score a touchdown for the seventh time in nine games.
Despite his frequent inability to find the end zone, Kelce has remained valuable thanks to volume. He has 45 receptions and is among the league leaders in yardage at his position. San Diego’s pass defense has had some nice moments, but Oakland proved they could be beaten through the air back in Week 7 when Derek Carr burned them for 289 yards and three touchdowns. Travis remains a TE1 and hopefully will increase his touchdown productivity down the stretch.
When we last saw the Chiefs in Week 8, Travis Kelce broke a touchdown drought dating back to Week 1 as Kansas City destroyed Detroit 45-10. He finished with six receptions for 49 yards and probably would have gotten more in a closer game.
Kelce caught four passes for 58 yards earlier this season against the Broncos. There is no need to dwell on how good Denver’s defense has been this year, but they gave up a touchdown to Jack Doyle on Sunday, who is low on the Indianapolis depth chart. And Cleveland’s Gary Barnidge scored two touchdowns against Denver earlier this year, so it would not be impossible for Kelce to fare better in his second battle with the Broncos. He remains an important part of the TE1 conversation.
Week 8 vs. Detroit
At a weak position, Travis Kelce continues to be a reliable bet for fantasy owners despite the fact he has not scored a touchdown since Week 1. Last Sunday during Kansas City’s upset of Pittsburgh, Kelce caught five passes for 73 yards.
Kelce has a wonderful opportunity to end his touchdown slump against the men from Motown. Of the 12 touchdown passes Detroit has given up, five have been to tight ends. It would be hard to envision him as anything but a TE1 this week.
Week 7 vs Pittsburgh
The continued lack of touchdowns is disappointing, but Travis Kelce remains one of the most trustworthy tight ends in the fantasy world. Kelce caught five passes for 88 yards in Week 6.
Kansas City may have to pass more than usual to have a chance at upsetting the Steelers. Needless to say, their ground game is not the same without Jamaal Charles. Plus, Pittsburgh has trouble stopping the pass, giving up over 275 yards a game. The Steelers have surrendered 10 touchdown passes, four of which went to New England’s Rob Gronkowski and Scott Chandler back in Week 1.They have done much better against tight ends since then, but Kelce may be able to break his touchdown drought on Sunday. Travis is a TE1 with upside.
