Travis Kelce Fantasy Overview

2024 Summary

Production & Fantasy Finishes

Kelce posted his fewest fantasy points last season since 2015, which was just his second year in the league. The main culprit was a career-low 3 TD catches.

Kelce tied for just 10th among TEs in end-zone targets, according to Pro Football Focus. But his seven matched the number that tied him for fifth at the position in 2023. And it fell just two short of his 2022 total (which tied for second).

Kelce still managed a TE5 finish in total PPR points; TE7 in PPR points per game.

A mid-season hot streak boosted those numbers, with Kelce ranking among the top 5 TEs in five of six games from Week 4 through Week 10. He otherwise finished higher than 12th just once: a TE3 performance in Week 17.

Usage & Role

Kelce led all Chiefs in targets for the third straight season in 2024. His alignment changed a bit, though.

Kelce spent 42% of his pass snaps in the slot, a slight decline vs. the previous three seasons. He spent another 23% out wide. That combo of 65% marked a slightly larger decrease:

• 2023: 73%
• 2022: 73.3%
• 2021: 71.8%

Kelce saw a similar breakdown to his usage before that span. And No. 2 TE Noah Gray actually spent less time in those two spots than he had in 2023.

So the “change” for Kelce might not matter. Or maybe Kelce will see more time at an inline spot as he gets older. Or maybe the Chiefs just needed him closer to the ball to help out a struggling O-line more than over the previous three years.

It’s a difference worth noting but not enough to alter his 2025 outlook.

Efficiency Metrics

His efficiency decline, on the other hand, commands some attention.

Kelce averaged a career-low 8.5 yards per catch. That marked a 2.1-yard fall from his previous low, set the season before. And that low marked a 1.6-yard fall from the season before.

Kelce’s average target depth remained in line with previous seasons. But his yards after catch per reception fell off, no matter whose numbers you go by. Pro Football Focus had Kelce at 3.9, down from 5.0 the year before and higher rates each of the three years before that.

His 1.49 yards per route also set a career low and tied for just 16th among 36 TEs who drew 40+ targets.

Offensive Context

The Chiefs’ passing game declined overall for the second straight season. Patrick Mahomes’ 245.5 yards per game fell 15.9 short of the low he set in 2023.

Things might have gone better if the team hadn’t lost WR Marquise Brown to a shoulder injury in early August and then WR Rashee Rice to a knee injury in Week 4.

2025 Expectations

Projected Role & Competition

Kelce’s overall involvement remained strong. He actually played a larger percentage of the snaps than in any of the previous three seasons.

Barring word from coaches – or other worthwhile reports – this summer, there’s no reason to expect a meaningful change in Kelce’s role for 2025.

Supporting Cast

Noah Gray signed a three-year, $18 million extension at the beginning of last season, and he increased his snap share by 5.4 percentage points over 2023. But that still marked just a 57.8% total share and didn’t appear to come at Kelce’s expense.

The WR corps should be much better this year, assuming Rice and Brown both prove to be healthy and stay that way.

They and Worthy would combine to present (arguably?) the biggest target-share challenge of Kelce’s career.

All Hail Skinny Kelce?

Kecle’s QB and offensive system remain the same – and proven positives. So the biggest change from 2024 to this season might be a personal one.

The veteran revealed in May that he had shed 25 pounds since the end of the season.

“I think I let my guys down in a lot more moments than I helped them, especially if you look at my track record and how I’ve been in years past,” he said on his podcast. “I’ve got a bad taste in my mouth on how I ended the year.”

Should we expect a total reset on Kelce’s efficiency (such as yards per catch) at the lighter weight? Nah. He turns 36 on Oct. 5. He’s clearly at the end of his career.

But don’t be surprised if there’s some rebound vs. 2024. Having speedy WRs at both outside spots to help clear space in the middle of the field just might help.