The Kansas City Chiefs want impending free-agent tight end Travis Kelce back in 2026 if he decides to play for another season, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Kelce has not made a firm decision on his playing future, but reports over the weekend suggest that he could be leaning toward playing another season. The 36-year-old 11-time Pro Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro caught 76 of his 108 targets for 851 yards and five touchdowns in his 17 starts in 2025 in his 13th year in the league. Although Kelce finished under 1,000 receiving yards for the third straight season, he still managed to finish as the TE4 in half-PPR scoring, and he should remain a favorite target of quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) in 2026 if he comes back. Kelce is long in the tooth, but he should stay in TE1 territory in fantasy football next season if he returns, especially considering the team has multiple receivers that will hit the free-agent market.
Feb 9, 2026 10:27 AM EST
The Athletic's Dianna Russini reports that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has yet to decide whether he will return to the NFL in 2026, but that "many close to him believe he could return" and a "14th season is looking more real than ever." Kelce will turn 37 years old in October. While he's not the same player he was at his peak, the veteran tight end remained productive in 2025. Across 17 games, Kelce hauled in 76 receptions for 851 yards and five touchdowns on 108 targets. If Kelce does indeed decide to suit up in 2026, he will likely still be one of the top pass-catchers in Kansas City, particularly given the potential of a suspension for Chiefs wideout Rashee Rice. However, Kelce may be without Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) for the early part of the year as Mahomes recovers from the knee injury that ended his 2025 season.
Feb 7, 2026 5:12 AM EST
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce could hang up his cleats after 13 seasons in the NFL. It's still unclear if he'll return for a 14th campaign with the Chiefs after playing out the two-year, $34.25 million deal he signed with KC in April of 2024. The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer was slightly better in 2025 than he was in 2024, but he still finished with fewer than 1,000 yards receiving for the third straight season. Kelce hauled in 76 of his 108 targets for 851 yards and five touchdowns in 17 starts. He became the third TE in history to reach 13,000 receiving yards, and he also had at least 75 catches for the 10th straight season. Kelce clearly is no longer in his prime, but he was still a top-five fantasy TE in half-PPR scoring in a season in which the Chiefs didn't even make the postseason. If Kelce returns to the Chiefs for one more run at it in 2026, he'll still be a top-10 fantasy target at the TE position, albeit one with more injury risk than ever before.
Feb 2, 2026 4:59 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will look to finish out the season on a high note in a Week 18 matchup against a middle-of-the-road Las Vegas Raiders' defense. While Kelce hasn't been the fantasy superstar we've grown accustomed to for quite some time now, even at 36 years old, he's enjoying a productive season. Chris Oladokun's inexperience undoubtedly caps some of Kelce's ceiling, although the former didn't look totally overmatched in Week 17's loss to Denver. Moreover, Kelce led the team in yards (36), targets (six), and receptions (five) in that contest. This Sunday, he'll face a Raiders' defense that's been roughly league average. They'll also be without star defensive end Maxx Crosby (knee). With the veteran still a focal point, fantasy managers can rely on Kelce as a back-end TE1 for the matchup. He'll officially land as RotoBaller's PPR TE12 for his meeting with Las Vegas.
Jan 4, 2026 2:18 AM EST
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will use the offseason to evaluate whether to keep playing or to retire, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The future Hall of Famer has been non-committal about playing past 2025. At age 36, Kelce will have to weigh a possible return to the field, which could see the Chiefs begin next season without quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) as he rehabs from an ACL injury. While not at his former level, Kelce has still been rock-solid from a fantasy perspective with more than 100 targets, 73 catches, 839 yards, and five touchdowns through 16 games, which is good enough for third among PPR tight ends before Sunday's games.
Dec 28, 2025 1:33 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce could be heavily involved on Christmas Day against the Denver Broncos. Kelce caught one pass for six yards on four targets in Week 16, giving fantasy managers one of his most disappointing performances of the season. With the Chiefs already eliminated from playoff contention, there is little left to play for except legacy. The 36-year-old tight end has not explicitly stated that this is his last season with the team, but there has been speculation that he could hang it up after this year. If Kelce does plan to retire this offseason, Christmas Day at Arrowhead could be Kelce's last home game of his career. Given the inexperience of Chris Oladokun at quarterback, Kelce could operate close to the line of scrimmage and act as a release valve for the QB. Kelce will also have to deal with one of the best defenses in the league, the Denver Broncos. Despite giving up the fifth-fewest points per game this season, the Broncos defense has been relatively soft against tight ends. Kelce is ranked TE18 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a low-end TE2 option for fantasy managers this Thursday.
Dec 24, 2025 4:42 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was heavily involved in Week 15, catching seven passes for 70 yards, but it was not enough to pull out the win and save their playoff hopes. The 35-year-old will now face the Tennessee Titans in Week 16 with essentially nothing to play for since the team has been eliminated from playoff contention. That said, the Titans are middle-of-the-pack in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends this season, making him a neutral matchup for Kelce. Kelce will likely be the first or second option in passing situations with Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton ruled out this week, so he could find success through sheer volume of opportunities. Kelce will now have to deal with Gardner Minshew at quarterback, as Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in Week 15. Minshew and Kelce don't have the same established chemistry, but Kelce is talented enough to get it done. Kelce is ranked TE10 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a low-end TE1 option this week.
Dec 19, 2025 5:20 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was essentially eliminated from last week's contest against the Houston Texans. Kelce was held to one catch for eight yards in the 10-20 loss to Houston. The veteran tight end was a non-factor, finishing sixth on the team in receiving yardage. Week 14 was the first time this season that Kelce finished without multiple catches, so it can only go up from here, but he does face a difficult matchup in Week 15. Kelce will take on the Los Angeles Chargers, who have allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. The Chiefs need to win the rest of their games this season if they have any chance of making the playoffs, and Kelce should be heavily involved in making that happen. Kelce is ranked TE7 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a mid-range TE1 with another difficult matchup this week.
Dec 12, 2025 5:06 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will have his hands full against the Houston Texans in Week 14. Kelce caught five passes for 45 yards and a touchdown in last week's loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Despite the loss, the veteran tight end put forth an excellent fantasy performance, and he should be relied upon to do the same against Houston this week. The Texans defense has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season, but Kelce is no average tight end, and his usage in the Kansas City offense sets him apart. Kelce has at least six targets in four of his last five games, with three touchdowns in that span. Kelce is ranked TE4 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings this week, making him a top-end option at the position once again.
Dec 6, 2025 5:29 AM EST
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce could feast in a matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13. Kelce was third on the team in receiving yards last week against the Indianapolis Colts, but he's been one of the most productive tight ends in fantasy football this season. The veteran tight end is averaging 61.3 receiving yards per game this year, which would be third among tight ends, just behind Trey McBride and Brock Bowers. Kelce has enjoyed a resurgent season after a disappointing 2024 year from a production standpoint. Kelce will now face a Cowboys defense that is middle-of-the-pack in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends this season, but he should find more success than most. The Cowboys offense should be able to put up points against the Kansas City defense, which would translate into more receiving opportunities for Kelce. Kelce is ranked TE5 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a rock-solid TE1 start for Thanksgiving Day.
Nov 26, 2025 5:21 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is open to returning for a 14th NFL season next year, but he said on Friday that he doesn't plan to make that decision until early March, before NFL free agency begins, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. "I want to give the Chiefs a good opportunity, whether I come back or not -- or whether they want me back or not," Kelce said. "I'd like to make that decision before they've got to get draft picks and free agency opens to fill the roster appropriately." The 36-year-old 10-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro is in the final year of his contract in 2025. Despite his age, Kelce is on pace for an eighth season with 1,000 receiving yards and his first since 2022. He leads the Chiefs in targets (66), catches (50), yards (631), touchdowns (four), and receiving first downs (33) heading into the team's Week 12 contest against the Indianapolis Colts. Kelce's 339 yards after the catch rank third among TEs.
Nov 21, 2025 8:09 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will face the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12. Kelce was the lone bright spot among the Chiefs pass catchers in last week's loss to the Denver Broncos. The veteran tight end hauled in nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets in Week 11. Last week's totals set new season-highs in receptions and targets for Kelce, making it easily his best performance of the year. With fellow pass catcher Xavier Worthy officially questionable for Sunday's matchup, Kelce could have another ceiling performance against the Colts. The Indianapolis defense is one of the best matchups for tight ends, allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. Kelce is ranked TE4 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a top-end option at the position this week. Kelce has had a resurgent 2025 season, and that should continue against the Colts.
Nov 21, 2025 3:45 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was the focal point of his team's passing offense in their 22-19 Week 11 loss to the Denver Broncos. Kelce was targeted a team-high 13 times, recording nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown. The 36-year-old has now recorded 50 receptions for 631 yards and four scores on 66 targets across 10 games so far this season. Kelce has played some of his best football of late, recording 19 catches for 256 yards and two touchdowns on 26 targets over his last three games. Even with star wideout Rashee Rice back in the lineup after missing the first six games of 2025 due to suspension, Kelce has still been a priority target-earner for Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Kelce profiles as a must-start fantasy tight end heading into a Week 12 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
Nov 16, 2025 9:51 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will face the Denver Broncos on the road in Week 11. Kelce has been a strong option at the tight end position and should continue being that coming out of the team's Week 10 bye. The veteran tight end has managed to eclipse 60 receiving yards in four of the last five games and scored two touchdowns in that span. Kelce was virtually invisible when he played with Rashee Rice in 2024 since the latter garnered all the targets and success. It was assumed that Kelce's value would take a hit with Rice's return in Week 7, but Kelce managed to put up his best fantasy performance of the year in Week 8. Despite his success, Kelce could have a difficult time against Denver this week. The Broncos defense has allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. Kelce is ranked TE10 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a low-end TE1 against the Broncos.
Nov 15, 2025 5:12 AM EST
Through his first nine games of 2025, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has recorded 41 catches for 540 yards and three touchdowns on 53 targets. While the 36-year-old is not the player he once was at his peak, he remains a key piece of his team's passing attack. Kelce has recorded at least five targets in seven of nine outings this season and at least 54 yards in six out of nine contests. If there's one cause for concern with Kelce's fantasy profile, it might be his target outlook now that Chiefs wideout Rashee Rice is back from suspension and fully re-integrated into the offense. Kelce has averaged 5.3 targets per game this season with Rice in the lineup, compared to 6.2 targets per game when he's been sidelined. Still, Kelce has remained productive in recent weeks with Rice on the field and profiles as a solid tight end option in Week 11 against the Denver Broncos.
Nov 11, 2025 9:53 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will face the Buffalo Bills in Week 9. Kelce caught six passes for 99 yards and a touchdown in Week 8 against the win over Washington Commanders. The veteran tight end has caught at least six passes in three of the last four games and is averaging 73 receiving yards per game in that span. In the past, Rashee Rice being healthy was a bad sign for Kelce's production, but the two were able to coexist in Week 8. Both Rice and Kelce caught at least six passes and scored a touchdown in their 28-7 victory last week. Kelce could find a way to produce despite facing the Buffalo Bills, who have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. Kelce is ranked TE9 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a solid TE1 option this week.
Nov 1, 2025 5:12 AM EST
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce caught six of his eight targets for 99 yards and a touchdown on Monday Night Football against the Washington Commanders. It was a milestone day for the legendary tight end, scoring his 83rd career regular-season touchdown, tying Chiefs' legend Priest Holmes for the most in franchise history. He also became the fifth tight end all-time with at least 80 receiving touchdowns, joining Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez, Rob Gronkowski, and Jimmy Graham. Kelce has put together a nice bounce-back campaign in his age-36 season, and has now caught at least six balls in three of his last four games. He'll be overshadowed a bit now with Rashee Rice back in the mix, but he's still racked up 37 receptions for 474 yards and three touchdowns on 48 targets in eight games this season. The veteran tight end will be firmly in the TE1 mix for next week's highly anticipated matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
Oct 28, 2025 12:48 AM EST
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will face the Las Vegas Raiders at home in Week 7. Kelce caught six passes for 78 yards as he led the Chiefs pass catchers against the Detroit Lions in Week 6. The veteran tight end has strung together back-to-back good games, but that solid production could be coming to an end. Rashee Rice is set to return from suspension in Week 7, which could negatively impact Kelce's offensive contributions. Rice had an outstanding start to the 2024 season, averaging over 20 PPR points per game, but Kelce was not effective during that span. At the beginning of the 2024 season, the Chiefs tight end had eight catches for 69 yards through three games. Kelce and Rice win in the same areas of the field, and the latter is much more explosive at this point. It remains to be seen how the usage will be divided amongst the Chiefs pass catchers, so Kelce should still be a viable starter against Las Vegas this week. The Raiders have allowed the eighth-fewest points to opposing tight ends this season, but that does not mean it will be a bad matchup for Kelce. He can find success against the Raiders if Patrick Mahomes decides to feed him. Kelce is ranked TE8 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a solid TE1 this week.
Oct 17, 2025 11:19 PM EST
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will take on the Detroit Lions in Week 6. Kelce had his best game of the season in Week 5, catching seven passes for 61 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Kelce's seven catches were a season-high, and his 61 receiving yards matched his season-high set in Week 2. Kelce also found the endzone for the first time since Week 1. His production has trended back up since his 26-yard performance in Week 3, and fantasy managers hope he can continue this momentum into Sunday night against Detroit. The Lions have the highest-powered offense in the league, and the Chiefs will be without Rashee Rice for another week, so Kelce should be heavily involved in the short to intermediate areas of the field. Kelce has been the safety blanket for Patrick Mahomes for many years, and he should continue playing that role in a game where the Chiefs will need to score often. Kelce is ranked TE9 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a TE1 in what could be the highest-scoring game of the week.
Oct 11, 2025 2:07 AM EST
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce caught seven of eight targets for 61 yards and a touchdown in Monday night's loss to the Jaguars. Kelce caught his first touchdown since Week 1, leading the team in receptions and tying his season high in receiving yards. The return of second-year wide receiver Xavier Worthy has greatly benefited the Kansas City offense, scoring at least 28 points in both of the games with him in the lineup. His speed opens up a lot of opportunities for other players and especially for passes underneath for Kelce. However, with Rashee Rice set to be back from suspension in Week 7, many of those passes will likely be redirected to Rice, who is much more dynamic after the catch than Kelce at this stage of his career.
Oct 7, 2025 12:34 AM EST
Copyright 2025 Fantasy Football Calculator | Image Source: Icon Sportswire. Not affiliated with the National Football League (NFL).
Stats powered by FantasyData.com.
