Travis Kelce

Travis Kelce enters the 2026 fantasy football season as a familiar but diminished star: he is still the clear starting tight end for Kansas City, and recent fantasy previews expect him to remain a usable top-10 option at the position. He finished 2025 with 76 catches for 851 yards and five touchdowns, and he has re-signed with the Chiefs rather than changing teams, which keeps his value tied to Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid’s offense.

The biggest reason to stay optimistic is volume. Multiple recent outlooks note that Kansas City did not add a major pass-catcher who would clearly erase Kelce’s role, so he should still be among the team’s primary target earners if Mahomes is healthy. That matters because Kelce’s fantasy production is now less about explosive efficiency and more about steady involvement near the goal line and in the middle of the field.

The caution flag is age and decline. Kelce turns 37 in October, and his efficiency has trended down over the last two seasons, with recent analysis pointing to lower yards per target and yards per route run than his career norms. There was also offseason retirement speculation, which adds some long-term uncertainty even though he has committed to at least one more year with Kansas City.

For fantasy drafters, the practical takeaway is that Kelce no longer belongs in the elite first-tier tight end conversation, but he still looks like a strong mid-round starter with a relatively safe weekly role if Mahomes is ready for Week 1. He is the kind of player who can still deliver a top-10 season at tight end, especially in PPR formats, but managers should draft him for reliable production rather than expecting peak Kelce dominance.

Updated 06/08/2026