TE · KC · GWTTKB

Travis Kelce — fantasy football 2026

Every game, every stat category, and what the board says. 11.36 points per game in 2025, an ADP of 99.3, usage worth 11.5.

36 years old · 13 seasons of experience · 2013 draft class

Updated 2026-08-16 · free, no account, no paywall
Every figure below comes from our database. Where a stat is not held, the row is absent rather than zero.
ADP 99.3
Consensus across 4 books, standard deviation 3.9, 8.4 picks between cheapest and priciest. Cheapest on underdog, priciest on yahoo.
SLEEPER97.5
ESPN101.8
YAHOO94.7
UNDERDOG122.4
CBS103.1
FFA119

Draft-room facts

Goes aroundRound 9, pick 3 in a 12-team draft
Positional rankTE10
Bye week5
ADP standard deviation3.9 picks

What we project for 2026

Our board has him at 139.6 points, 9.2 per game — 57.9 catches, 583 yards, 3.9 TDs. That is TE4, 119 overall.

The range runs from a floor of 6.3 points per game to a ceiling of 14.3, with the median at 9.2. Boom rate 56%, bust rate 31%. The spread is the actual bet, not the middle number.

He goes at 99.3 on consensus and our board has him 119. We rank him 19.7 picks worse than the room drafts him. At that distance it is a fade: we do not want him anywhere near his ADP.

Our written view

a bet the analyst is explicitly comfortable making against, purely on historical base rate: essentially no tight end in NFL history has remained a legitimately startable weekly option at his current age, and he ran a very high route total last year while still not being startable at that volume.

hold · medium conviction · 2026-08

The offense he plays in, 2026

Kansas City Chiefs returns 4 of 6 continuity slots, replacing rb1, oc. Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, Andy Reid as head coach, Eric Bieniemy calling it. The offense projects to 34 pass attempts a game at medium confidence and 25.8 rushes.

In: Justin Fields (qb2), Cyrus Allen (wr5), Andrew Armstrong (wr7), Kenneth Walker III (rb1), Emmett Johnson (rb3), Emari Demercado (rb4). Out: Marquise Brown (wr3), Isiah Pacheco (rb1), Kareem Hunt (rb2).

His own projected target share for 2026 is 13.3%, with a bear case of 10.3% and a bull case of 15.8% and a full range of 9.7% to 17%. That comes from 24 historical comparables, not from a depth chart.

The projected target split across the offense:

Rashee Rice19.1%
Travis Kelce 13.3%
Tyquan Thornton12.4%
Xavier Worthy12.1%
Brashard Smith7.7%
Cyrus Allen7.4%

Our written view on this offense in 2026

What the offense looks like: Highly relevant offense to own pieces of. Mahomes needs to return to his MVP form to support WR other than Rice, but Kenneth Walker III may be about to feast in KC if he can stay healthy. Of note, if Walker were to suffer an injury, RB Emmett Johnson has a great opportunity to fill in and be a valuable back.

Key additions: OC Eric Bieniemy retuns to Chiefs as OC. Previously served as OC from 2018 - 2022. Add RB Kenneth Walker III in free agency on massive 3 year deal.

Key departures: Isiah Pacheco left Chiefs for Lions in free agency. RB Kareem Hunt is also likely gone from the team. WR Hollywood Brown also left to the Eagles in free agency. Chiefs lost RT Jawaan Taylor in free agency (mid).

Notes: Rashee Rice is slotted to operate as WR1 & holds high value for 2026 season. Mahomes should be recovered from torn ACL. Kelce is in his final season most likely. Xavier Worthy has struggled to produce, could break out, but not looking great right now. Chiefs sign Kenneth Walker III in free agency (reigning superbowl MVP RB from seahawks) and he is set for monster season. Brashard Smith should operate as receiving back and Emmett Johnson will battle for 3rd string back with Emari Demercado.

How the volume number was reached: Same QB Patrick Mahomes returning — anchor to 2025 actuals (34.4 att/g); Regressed 42% toward league mean 33.5, floored at 30 → 34 att/g; New OC Eric Bieniemy — pass rate and tempo may shift.

How that share projection was built

24 historical comps for TEs age ~34, prior share 21.6%, same team, OC change. Distribution: median 10.9%, p25-p75 [1.8%, 18.6%], tails [0.0%, 22.2%]. Closest comps: Travis Kelce 2024→2025 (KC: 23.7%→20.0%); Zach Ertz 2024→2025 (WAS: 18.2%→19.3%); Rob Gronkowski 2021→2022 (TB: 15.5%→0.0%).

self-anchored 58% to own 21.6% role (3yr), 42% to comp median 10.9%

The named comps are the closest historical matches and the arrow is what their share actually did the following season. That is the working, not a summary of it — if you disagree with the projection, this is the part to argue with.

Offensive environment: KC rates 24.1 against a league average of 23, 1.1 points above it on opponent-adjusted least squares (multi-capture merge).

2026 schedule

Opponent-adjusted pass defense faced, against 2025 ratings. Positive is an easier slate.

Full season-2.5 · harder
Weeks 1–6-1.3 · neutral
Weeks 12–17-5.1 · harder
Fantasy playoffs (15–17)-4.9 · harder

Read this narrowly. Our own testing found that season-long strength of schedule does not survive as a draft input — defensive quality is among the least stable team properties year to year, and a preseason slate is built on last year's identities. The playoff-weeks column is the only one we would let break a tie, and even then it is a tiebreaker rather than a reason. The finding.

Read the full Travis Kelce study →

Dynasty context not redraft

Everything in this section is about his dynasty trade value — what he is worth as a long-term asset in the trade market. It is not a forecast of his 2026 fantasy scoring. A player can be a fine redraft pick while his dynasty value falls, and the reverse. The redraft read is above; this is a different question with a different answer.

Where he sits in the dynasty value cycle

His dynasty value has moved +7.1% over the last twelve months. The market cycle classifies him as stable.

For context on how long this lasts at the position: the average career at his position produces 1.3 elite seasons and 2.3 startable seasons.

The five most similar seasons, and what their dynasty value did next

Matched on production profile — production-driven (pedigree ignored). The last column is how that player’s dynasty value moved the following year — a market outcome, not a scoring one.

PlayerSeasonTheir PPGSimilarityNext year
Mark Andrews202313.556%-26%
George Kittle202312.755%+16.3%
T.J. Hockenson202314.654%-15.2%
Dalton Schultz20231053%-17.2%
Dallas Goedert202410.453%+6.7%

Of the 5 with a following season on record, 2 gained value, 3 lost it and 0 held roughly flat.

Four years of dynasty value

02,0004,0006,0008,000202120222023202420252026
Monthly superflex value, 2020-04 to 2026-07. Down 57% across the series, peaking at 7,247.

The player

Draft capital and athletic profile

Height6′5″
Weight255 lb
40-yard dash4.63s

Availability and volatility

Career PPR per game15.8
Week-to-week variation0.5
Boom rate19.2%
Bust rate14.1%
Games missed per season0.2
Correlation between his posted line and his actual score0.38

The record, season by season

2025 · KC · 17 games

His best game was Week 11 against DEN — 24.1 PPR on 13 targets and a 30.2% target share, in a game that finished 19-22. His worst was Week 16 against TEN at 1.6, on 4 targets, final score 9-26. Across 17 games he cleared 20 points 2 times and came in under 8 points 4 times. In the 10 games decided by 8 points or fewer he averaged 12.9; in the 7 decided by more, 9.1. He scored more when the game was live.

Earned against scored

His usage that season was worth 11.5 points per game. He scored 11.36, 1.5% below it. The engine classified the season as neutral.

WkOppScorePPRRecTgtYdsTDTgt%Snap%
1LAC21-2712.72447110.5%84%
2PHI17-2010.14661020.7%77%
3NYG22-96.64726020%74%
4BAL37-209.85548014.3%66%
5JAX28-3119.17861120%80%
6DET30-1713.86778025%70%
7LV31-08.4335408.8%62%
8WAS28-721.96899125%84%
9BUF21-2812.64566017.2%92%
11DEN19-2224.191391130.2%79%
12IND23-208.44643014%88%
13DAL28-3115.55645118.8%91%
14HOU10-201.8158017.2%91%
15LAC13-16147970030%98%
16TEN9-261.6146018.2%78%
17DEN13-208.65636030%98%
18LV12-144.23612020%80%

Production

Receptions76
Targets108
Receiving yards851
Carries1
Rushing yards1
Touchdowns5
Points per game11.36
Yards per target7.88
Catch rate70.37%
Yards per carry1

Role

Snap share81.88%
Target share19.99%
Air-yards share18.11%
WOPR0.427
RACR1.284

Efficiency

Average depth of target6.8
Yards after catch per reception5.6
Yards before catch per reception5.6
Total YAC422
Broken tackles1
Drop rate0.1%
Passer rating when targeted93.6
Receiving EPA per game2.38
Rushing EPA per game-0.11

Scoring position

Red-zone targets12
Red-zone target share15.4%
End-zone target share16.7%
Red-zone carry share1.1%
Goal-line carry share4.8%
Expected receiving TDs3.43
Actual receiving TDs3
Receiving TD luck-0.43
Expected rushing TDs0.39

Where that ranked

Against everyone in the 80+ targets pool that season:

Points per game6 of 13
Yards per target5 of 13
Target share7 of 13
Air-yards share5 of 13

Who else ate

The offense threw it 584 times. He took 19.71% of the targets. 0 team-mates cleared the competing-target threshold.

Travis Kelce 19.71%
Rashee Rice14.23%
Marquise Brown13.5%
Xavier Worthy13.32%
JuJu Smith-Schuster8.21%
Noah Gray6.75%

By quarterback

He caught passes from 2 quarterbacks that season, and the splits are not close.

QBGamesTargetsPPGY/TTgt%
Patrick Mahomes149212.778.6619.41%
Chris Oladokun3164.83.3822.73%

Blowouts against close games

4 of his 17 games were blowouts, 21.6% of his snaps coming in them. He averaged 10.43 in those and 12.93 in close games — his scoring did not depend on garbage time.

2024 · KC · 16 games

His best game was Week 8 against LV — 25 PPR on 12 targets and a 34.3% target share, in a game that finished 27-20. His worst was Week 2 against CIN at 1.6, on 3 targets, final score 26-25. Across 16 games he cleared 20 points 4 times and came in under 8 points 6 times. In the 11 games decided by 8 points or fewer he averaged 12.9; in the 5 decided by more, 10.7. He scored more when the game was live.

Earned against scored

His usage that season was worth 14.1 points per game. He scored 12.21, 13.2% below it. The engine classified the season as unlucky. On receiving touchdowns specifically he finished 4 against 6.18 expected, a gap of -2.2.

WkOppScorePPRRecTgtYdsTDTgt%Snap%
1BAL27-206.43434014.8%89%
2CIN26-251.6135013%91%
3ATL22-1774530013.9%77%
4LAC17-1015.97989032.1%87%
5NO26-131691070029.4%77%
7SF28-185.74517020%77%
8LV27-2025101290134.3%79%
9TB30-24221416100038.1%84%
10DEN16-1420.481264130%84%
11BUF21-302.8248012.9%80%
12CAR30-2712.26862022.2%89%
13LV19-1713.871368028.9%90%
14LAC19-179.55645016.7%83%
15CLE21-76.74827021.1%89%
16HOU27-1985730017.1%88%
17PIT29-1022.481184128.9%89%

Production

Receptions97
Targets133
Receiving yards823
Carries1
Rushing yards1
Touchdowns3
Points per game12.21
Yards per target6.19
Catch rate72.93%
Yards per carry1

Role

Snap share84.56%
Target share23.34%
Air-yards share23.93%
WOPR0.519
RACR0.924

Efficiency

Average depth of target6.4
Yards after catch per reception3.5
Yards before catch per reception5
Total YAC341
Broken tackles3
Drop rate0%
Passer rating when targeted83.6
Receiving EPA per game1.29
Rushing EPA per game-0.01

Scoring position

Red-zone targets28
Red-zone target share24.1%
End-zone target share17.6%
Red-zone carry share1.1%
Goal-line carry share3.2%
Expected receiving TDs6.18
Actual receiving TDs4
Receiving TD luck-2.18
Expected rushing TDs0.42

Where that ranked

Against everyone in the 80+ targets pool that season:

Points per game6 of 13
Yards per target11 of 13
Target share3 of 13
Air-yards share2 of 13

Who else ate

The offense threw it 600 times. He took 23.37% of the targets. 1 team-mate cleared the competing-target threshold.

Travis Kelce 23.37%
Xavier Worthy17.22%
DeAndre Hopkins10.37%
Noah Gray8.61%
Samaje Perine6.15%
Kareem Hunt5.62%

Blowouts against close games

1 of his 16 games were blowouts, 11.5% of his snaps coming in them. He averaged 22.4 in those and 12.89 in close games — a meaningful share of his scoring came with the game already decided.

2023 · KC · 15 games

His best game was Week 7 against LAC — 35.9 PPR on 13 targets and a 32.5% target share, in a game that finished 31-17. His worst was Week 9 against MIA at 4.4, on 4 targets, final score 21-14. Across 15 games he cleared 20 points 3 times and came in under 8 points 3 times. In the 9 games decided by 8 points or fewer he averaged 11.9; in the 6 decided by more, 18.6. He scored more when the game was not close.

Earned against scored

His usage that season was worth 14.4 points per game. He scored 14.63, 11.7% above it. The engine classified the season as lucky.

WkOppScorePPRRecTgtYdsTDTgt%Snap%
2JAX17-912.64926122.5%64%
3CHI41-1019.97869121.6%61%
4NYJ23-20126960031%79%
5MIN27-2022.7101167128.2%59%
6DEN19-821.499124023.1%69%
7LAC31-1735.91213179132.5%75%
8DEN9-2411.86958024.3%85%
9MIA21-144.43414014.3%77%
11PHI17-2115.47944123.1%94%
12LV31-1715.16791021.9%77%
13GB19-2712.14581016.7%88%
14BUF17-2014.361083025.6%89%
15NE27-177.85728020%77%
16LV14-209.45744017.1%80%
17CIN25-174.63416014.3%81%

Production

Receptions93
Targets121
Receiving yards984
Touchdowns5
Points per game14.63
Yards per target8.13
Catch rate76.86%

Role

Snap share77%
Target share22.41%
Air-yards share21.93%
WOPR0.488
RACR0.981

Efficiency

Average depth of target6.7
Yards after catch per reception5
Yards before catch per reception5.5
Total YAC469
Broken tackles4
Drop rate0.1%
Passer rating when targeted106.9
Receiving EPA per game3.2

Scoring position

Red-zone targets26
Red-zone target share23%
End-zone target share27.3%
Expected receiving TDs6.32
Actual receiving TDs7
Receiving TD luck0.68

Where that ranked

Against everyone in the 80+ targets pool that season:

Points per game1 of 14
Yards per target2 of 14
Target share3 of 14
Air-yards share4 of 14

Who else ate

The offense threw it 634 times. He took 20.23% of the targets. 1 team-mate cleared the competing-target threshold.

Travis Kelce 20.23%
Rashee Rice17.06%
Justin Watson8.86%
Isiah Pacheco8.19%
Marquez Valdes-Scantling7.02%
Noah Gray6.86%

Blowouts against close games

1 of his 15 games were blowouts, 9.1% of his snaps coming in them. He averaged 19.9 in those and 11.94 in close games — a meaningful share of his scoring came with the game already decided.

2022 · KC · 17 games

His best game was Week 11 against LAC — 35.5 PPR on 10 targets and a 32.3% target share, in a game that finished 30-27. His worst was Week 13 against CIN at 7.6, on 6 targets, final score 24-27. Across 17 games he cleared 20 points 7 times and came in under 8 points 1 time. In the 10 games decided by 8 points or fewer he averaged 18.7; in the 7 decided by more, 18.4. He scored more when the game was live.

Earned against scored

His usage that season was worth 16 points per game. He scored 18.61, 22.7% above it. The engine classified the season as lucky. On receiving touchdowns specifically he finished 14 against 10.75 expected, a gap of 3.3.

WkOppScorePPRRecTgtYdsTDTgt%Snap%
1ARI44-2126.189121123.1%64%
2LAC27-2410.15751020.6%89%
3IND17-2017.94858124.2%89%
4TB41-3124.291092129.4%81%
5LV30-2933.57825419%78%
6BUF20-2419.2810108028.6%78%
7SF44-2315.86898023.5%78%
9TEN20-1720.61017106027.4%83%
10JAX27-1720.16781120%73%
11LAC30-2735.5610115332.3%78%
12LA26-1015.74857121.6%83%
13CIN24-277.64656026.1%82%
14DEN34-2811.14971021.4%81%
15HOU30-2420.51010105024.4%75%
16SEA24-1017.368113029.6%81%
17DEN27-2411.371043024.4%87%
18LV31-139.86738029.2%73%

Production

Receptions110
Targets152
Receiving yards1,338
Carries2
Rushing yards5
Touchdowns12
Points per game18.61
Yards per target8.8
Catch rate72.37%
Yards per carry2.5

Role

Snap share79.59%
Target share24.99%
Air-yards share23.09%
WOPR0.536
RACR1.315

Efficiency

Average depth of target7.1
Yards after catch per reception5.9
Yards before catch per reception6.3
Total YAC648
Broken tackles13
Drop rate0.1%
Passer rating when targeted117.2
Receiving EPA per game3.88
Rushing EPA per game0.03

Scoring position

Red-zone targets38
Red-zone target share30.4%
End-zone target share33.3%
Red-zone carry share2%
Goal-line carry share3.2%
Expected receiving TDs10.75
Actual receiving TDs14
Receiving TD luck3.25
Expected rushing TDs0.55

Where that ranked

Against everyone in the 80+ targets pool that season:

Points per game1 of 11
Yards per target2 of 11
Target share2 of 11
Air-yards share2 of 11

Who else ate

The offense threw it 650 times. He took 24.92% of the targets. 1 team-mate cleared the competing-target threshold.

Travis Kelce 24.92%
JuJu Smith-Schuster16.56%
Marquez Valdes-Scantling13.28%
Jerick McKinnon11.64%
Justin Watson5.57%
Mecole Hardman5.57%

Blowouts against close games

3 of his 17 games were blowouts, 16.4% of his snaps coming in them. He averaged 17.23 in those and 18.73 in close games — his scoring did not depend on garbage time.

2021 · KC · 16 games

His best game was Week 15 against LAC — 41.1 PPR on 13 targets and a 28.9% target share, in a game that finished 34-28. His worst was Week 8 against NYG at 4.7, on 6 targets, final score 20-17. Across 16 games he cleared 20 points 3 times and came in under 8 points 4 times. In the 8 games decided by 8 points or fewer he averaged 19.7; in the 8 decided by more, 13.2. He scored more when the game was live.

Earned against scored

His usage that season was worth 14.8 points per game. He scored 16.43, 20.2% above it. The engine classified the season as lucky. On receiving touchdowns specifically he finished 9 against 5.84 expected, a gap of 3.2.

WkOppScorePPRRecTgtYdsTDTgt%Snap%
1CLE33-2925.66776220.6%85%
2BAL35-3623.978109126.7%86%
3LAC24-3017.4711104027.5%87%
4PHI42-306.34623020%88%
5BUF20-3817.761057120%87%
6WAS31-1317.981199023.9%82%
7TEN3-2713.571265025%74%
8NYG20-174.74627014%91%
9GB13-717.85868122.2%86%
10LV41-1419.9810119020.8%76%
11DAL19-918.85874124.2%87%
13DEN22-95.73827029.6%77%
14LV48-95.73427018.2%74%
15LAC34-2841.11013191228.9%78%
17CIN31-3413.45725120.6%79%
18DEN28-2413.44534111.9%77%

Production

Receptions92
Targets134
Receiving yards1,125
Carries2
Rushing yards3
Touchdowns10
Points per game16.43
Yards per target8.4
Catch rate68.66%
Yards per carry1.5

Role

Snap share82.13%
Target share22.13%
Air-yards share21.09%
WOPR0.478
RACR1.268

Efficiency

Average depth of target7.4
Yards after catch per reception6.1
Yards before catch per reception6.1
Total YAC564
Broken tackles8
Drop rate0.1%
Passer rating when targeted101.1
Receiving EPA per game3.18
Rushing EPA per game0.02

Scoring position

Red-zone targets21
Red-zone target share16.9%
End-zone target share21.9%
Red-zone carry share2.1%
Goal-line carry share7.4%
Expected receiving TDs5.84
Actual receiving TDs9
Receiving TD luck3.16
Expected rushing TDs0.87

Where that ranked

Against everyone in the 80+ targets pool that season:

Points per game2 of 15
Yards per target5 of 15
Target share4 of 15
Air-yards share8 of 15

Who else ate

The offense threw it 674 times. He took 21.17% of the targets. 1 team-mate cleared the competing-target threshold.

Tyreek Hill25.12%
Travis Kelce 21.17%
Mecole Hardman13.11%
Byron Pringle9.48%
Darrel Williams9%
Demarcus Robinson6.48%

Blowouts against close games

5 of his 16 games were blowouts, 28.4% of his snaps coming in them. He averaged 14.94 in those and 19.66 in close games — his scoring did not depend on garbage time.

2020 · KC · 15 games

His best game was Week 13 against DEN — 27.6 PPR on 12 targets and a 30% target share, in a game that finished 22-16. His worst was Week 7 against DEN at 6.1, on 3 targets, final score 43-16. Across 15 games he cleared 20 points 10 times and came in under 8 points 1 time. In the 9 games decided by 8 points or fewer he averaged 24.3; in the 6 decided by more, 15.7. He scored more when the game was live.

Earned against scored

His usage that season was worth 18.2 points per game. He scored 20.85, 21.6% above it. The engine classified the season as lucky. On receiving touchdowns specifically he finished 13 against 8.46 expected, a gap of 4.5.

WkOppScorePPRRecTgtYdsTDTgt%Snap%
1HOU34-20176650118.8%88%
2LAC23-202491490131.1%96%
3BAL34-2014.76787017.1%81%
4NE26-10103770024.1%77%
5LV32-4024.8812108128.6%89%
6BUF26-1721.55765226.9%89%
7DEN43-166.13331012.5%78%
8NYJ35-924.9812109125.5%76%
9CAR33-3125.91012159027.3%92%
11LV35-3126.86810127122.7%88%
12TB27-2416.28882017.4%86%
13DEN22-1627.6812136130%89%
14MIA33-2727.6810136129.4%90%
15NO32-2922.881268127.3%80%
16ATL17-1422.871398131%84%

Production

Receptions105
Targets145
Receiving yards1,416
Touchdowns11
Points per game20.85
Yards per target9.77
Catch rate72.41%

Role

Snap share85.53%
Target share24.65%
Air-yards share24.65%
WOPR0.543
RACR1.231

Efficiency

Average depth of target8.5
Yards after catch per reception5.6
Yards before catch per reception7.9
Total YAC587
Broken tackles10
Drop rate0%
Passer rating when targeted119.8
Receiving EPA per game5.01

Scoring position

Red-zone targets30
Red-zone target share28%
End-zone target share36.1%
Expected receiving TDs8.46
Actual receiving TDs13
Receiving TD luck4.54

Where that ranked

Against everyone in the 80+ targets pool that season:

Points per game1 of 12
Yards per target1 of 12
Target share3 of 12
Air-yards share2 of 12

Who else ate

The offense threw it 629 times. He took 23.85% of the targets. 1 team-mate cleared the competing-target threshold.

Travis Kelce 23.85%
Tyreek Hill22.2%
Mecole Hardman10.2%
Demarcus Robinson9.7%
Sammy Watkins9.05%
Clyde Edwards-Helaire8.88%

Blowouts against close games

2 of his 15 games were blowouts, 9.9% of his snaps coming in them. He averaged 15.5 in those and 24.28 in close games — his scoring did not depend on garbage time.

Ask the Coach about Travis Kelce →
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