Who Should I Start? Travis Kelce or Michael Mayer

Thursday, February 27, 3:07 PM

Sources told Pat McAfee that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is "coming back for sure" in 2025 after briefly contemplating retirement following the 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. "I'm gonna get in the best shape of my life this offseason. I've got a real bad taste in my mouth with how I played in that last game and I can't go out like that!!!!" Kelce also said via sources. We haven't exactly heard it from Kelce's mouth directly, but it's a pretty good indication that the 35-year-old four-time All-Pro and 10-time Pro Bowler will be returning in 2025. By Kelce's standards, 2024 was a down year with a 97-823-3 line in 16 regular-season games. His 823 receiving yards were his fewest since his rookie year in 2013, when he played in just one game, and his three TDs were also his fewest since 2013. Kelce will still be important in KC's offense if he returns, but his days of being an elite, high-end TE1 in fantasy could be over.

Saturday, March 1, 12:17 PM

According to league sources, the Las Vegas Raiders have had discussions with teams who have interest in tight end Michael Mayer. The team's second-round selection in 2023, Mayer hasn't had the type of impact the Raiders were hoping for, which is why they took Brock Bowers in the first round in 2024. Not only did Bowers become a first-team All-Pro in his rookie season, but Mayer had only 27 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games in his first year in 2023. He missed six games last season due to personal reasons and was barely heard from as Bowers excelled. It makes more sense for Vegas to trade Mayer for assets, and since he'll be on a team-friendly deal for two more years, there should be several teams that are interested. Mayer was completely off the fantasy radar in 2024, but he could resurface as a sleeper if he's traded to a team that utilizes him much more as a pass-catcher.