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With Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce soon to hit 35 years old in the upcoming 2024 fantasy football season, how much value does he still have for fantasy teams?
Travis Kelce had one of the wildest seasons any player has ever had in 2023. Fresh off beating his own brother in Super Bowl LVII, Kelce missed the 2023 season opener, his first game missed due to an injury since his rookie season.
Then, rumors began spreading like wildfire about his potential relationship with Taylor Swift. Suddenly, one of the best players in the world had even more eyes on him. The Kelce-Swift era in Kansas City started brilliantly, but it all went downhill after a shocking loss to the Broncos in Week 8. Kelce and the Chiefs then slowed down, and many accused him of being washed up. However, the superstar came alive in the playoffs once again to win his third Super Bowl ring.
Are Kelce's days of dominating in the regular season over now? Can you trust Kelce in 2024? Let's dive in and find the answer to that question.
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Travis Kelce's 2023 Regular-Season Recap
As mentioned previously, Kelce missed the season opener against the Lions due to injury. Many thought the Chiefs would have won that game with a healthy Kelce.
He returned and after some solid performances (especially in the first game of the Kelce-Swift era against Chicago), he had a dominant three-week stretch. From Week 5 to Week 7, Kelce was easily the best TE in the world, averaging 26.7 PPR points per game.
No, but Travis Kelce torching the Chargers for 179 yards, and one touchdown last season should be! 🤔 https://t.co/bVNBiOej2Z pic.twitter.com/d9CC0YDQRI
— Brad Henson Productions (@BradHensonPro) March 30, 2024
His Week 7 performance against the Chargers was the best fantasy performance by any tight end in 2023, as he racked up 179 yards and scored a touchdown. He had 35.9 PPR points that week.
The loss to Denver changed everything. Entering that game, the Chiefs were 6-1 and hadn't lost yet with a healthy Kelce. It was also looking like the game would be played in snowy conditions for the self-proclaimed "snow game guys" Patrick Mahomes and Kelce.
The snow went away, and the Chiefs were humiliated. After that embarrassing loss, Kelce recorded just 401 yards in his next eight games, and he finished as the fantasy TE9 in that period. Overall, he finished the year behind rookie sensation Sam LaPorta and Evan Engram, ending a seven-season streak of top-two fantasy finishes for Kelce at the tight-end position.
Has Travis Kelce Lost A Step?
Obviously, many call Kelce "washed up." Kelce was just your average star football player before this season, but his off-field life transformed him into a worldwide celebrity in 2023. With increased fame comes increased expectations and increased hatred. Whenever you slip up, more and more people will make fun of you and try to criticize your every move.
MAHOMES TO KELCE. 17th TIME IN THE PLAYOFFS.
📺: #KCvsBAL on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/IIZbdmhqNS pic.twitter.com/Icli7WxL5A— NFL (@NFL) January 28, 2024
Yes, Kelce did play worse from Week 9 to Week 17, but he was still one of the better TEs in the league and the only real weapon at Mahomes' disposal. We also need to remember that he battled some nagging injuries last season. As we all know, Kelce put all the pain, media distraction, and retirement talk aside and balled out during the playoffs. Kelce averaged 88.8 yards per game and scored three touchdowns.
Apart from his mini-argument with Andy Reid, everything went perfectly for him as he won the third Super Bowl of his illustrious career. He also broke the record for the most career receptions by any player in NFL playoffs history and tied the record for the most 100+ receiving yard games in the postseason.
Yes, he may not dominate every regular-season game like he used to, but he's the definition of a "big game" player. He will most likely have some outrageous fantasy performances when a big game rolls around.
Can You Trust Travis Kelce in 2024 Fantasy Football?
The Chiefs are no longer as hopeless as they were last season in regards to the receiving game. They have added Xavier Worthy and Marquise Brown, while Mahomes looks to have recovered after a tough season.
There will be many big games for the Chiefs in 2024, as they will face five of their most iconic playoff rivals of this era in their first 10 games of the season (Ravens, Bengals, 49ers, Buccaneers, Bills). He'll be at his absolute best for these games, and he's pretty much guaranteed to ball out in his two games against the Chargers every year. Kelce has put up 100+ yards in four out of his last five games against them.
Sure, he might coast a bit against weaker opposition, but if you believe that he can be at his best for even half of the season, you'll still be looking at 2024's fantasy TE1. Sam LaPorta was last season's TE1 despite around seven subpar performances.
At his best, no TE even comes close to Kelce. Even when he's coasting, he's a top-10 TE. Yes, he's probably not the best dynasty option due to his age, but in other leagues, he's still the best in the world when he's on his game. Bank on another season of spike weeks and matchup-winning performances.
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