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TE Travis Kelce, KC (3 Viewers)

I thought he'd retire after this year's playoffs, win or lose for the Chiefs, but after seeing where he is on the all-time receptions list (link below), I could see him playing one year to try and get into the top 5.

www.pro-football-reference.com

NFL Receptions Career Leaders | Pro-Football-Reference.com

1. Jerry Rice (1,549), 2. Larry Fitzgerald (1,432), 3. Tony Gonzalez (1,325), 4. Jason Witten (1,228), 5. Marvin Harrison (1,102),
www.pro-football-reference.com www.pro-football-reference.com
 
Ghost Rider said:
I thought he'd retire after this year's playoffs, win or lose for the Chiefs, but after seeing where he is on the all-time receptions list (link below), I could see him playing one year to try and get into the top 5.

www.pro-football-reference.com

NFL Receptions Career Leaders | Pro-Football-Reference.com

1. Jerry Rice (1,549), 2. Larry Fitzgerald (1,432), 3. Tony Gonzalez (1,325), 4. Jason Witten (1,228), 5. Marvin Harrison (1,102),
www.pro-football-reference.com www.pro-football-reference.com
Click to expand...
Top 5 incentive? I don’t think that’s like going for #1. So I doubt that’s enough to play another year. If he does, there has to be other reasons.
 
He was definitely noticeably slower this season. I don't what he's going to do, but even in the worst year of his career, he still had 97 catches and had over 800 yards for the 11th straight season and caught a playoff td for the 7th straight year. Still easily a top 10 fantasy TE next year if he plays.
 
Trying to decide if his odds of retiring went up with the demoralizing loss?
Or were they higher if they won and 3-peated? Hmmm…?
 
IHEARTFF said:
joey said:
Trying to decide if his odds of retiring went up with the demoralizing loss?
Or were they higher if they won and 3-peated? Hmmm…?
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Hard to say. My initial thought was it would be easy to retire if they had won.
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Yeah. I thought so as well.

But he was so demoralized during/after that game that I wonder if he decides he’s not gonna go thru that grind again since he’s obviously proven all he’s had to as a pro.

The only league where I roster Kelce I also roster Gray. But FFPC cut down is 3/31 so hoping for a quick decision on his part.
 
joey said:
ChiefD said:
I hope he retires.

He's cooked and the Chiefs need to plan for post-Kelce.
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And Gray looked pretty darn good at times this year. But you watch them more than I do…agreed?
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He looked fine but he is no Kelce.

The Chiefs are in a little trouble I think. I could see this next season be a re-set year of sorts. To me, Kelce's replacement is Rice. Works that middle part of the field well and can run.

BUT, a suspension is looming. This offseason will be interesting. Chiefs have some work to do.
 
ChiefD said:
joey said:
ChiefD said:
I hope he retires.

He's cooked and the Chiefs need to plan for post-Kelce.
Click to expand...
And Gray looked pretty darn good at times this year. But you watch them more than I do…agreed?
Click to expand...
He looked fine but he is no Kelce.

The Chiefs are in a little trouble I think. I could see this next season be a re-set year of sorts. To me, Kelce's replacement is Rice. Works that middle part of the field well and can run.

BUT, a suspension is looming. This offseason will be interesting. Chiefs have some work to do.
Click to expand...
Let me rephrase that for you. Gray isn't a good Kelce. I think that ship has sailed. Kelce looks extremely slow. Yes, he knows how to run a good route, but his days as a fantasy asset is surely slipping away, if it hasn't already. I actually think Gray is better than the current Kelce, but people expecting high volume like Kelce of yesteryear, is fooling themselves. I'd much rather throw a dart on someone like Brenton Strange than Noah Gray. Also, anyone that thinks Jared Wiley is an answer are also fooling themselves. It would have been tough enough for him to be releveant in 2025 without tearing up his knee (ACL).
 
JohnnyU said:
ChiefD said:
joey said:
ChiefD said:
I hope he retires.

He's cooked and the Chiefs need to plan for post-Kelce.
Click to expand...
And Gray looked pretty darn good at times this year. But you watch them more than I do…agreed?
Click to expand...
He looked fine but he is no Kelce.

The Chiefs are in a little trouble I think. I could see this next season be a re-set year of sorts. To me, Kelce's replacement is Rice. Works that middle part of the field well and can run.

BUT, a suspension is looming. This offseason will be interesting. Chiefs have some work to do.
Click to expand...
Let me rephrase that for you. Gray isn't a good Kelce. I think that ship has sailed. Kelce looks extremely slow. Yes, he knows how to run a good route, but his days as a fantasy asset is surely slipping away, if it hasn't already. I actually think Gray is better than the current Kelce, but people expecting high volume like Kelce of yesteryear, is fooling themselves. I'd much rather throw a dart on someone like Brenton Strange than Noah Gray. Also, anyone that thinks Jared Wiley is an answer are also fooling themselves. It would have been tough enough for him to be releveant in 2025 without tearing up his knee (ACL).
Click to expand...
I agree Gray is probably not a plug and play top 10 guy post Kelce, but you never know. He's a decent player.
 
IHEARTFF said:
JohnnyU said:
ChiefD said:
joey said:
ChiefD said:
I hope he retires.

He's cooked and the Chiefs need to plan for post-Kelce.
Click to expand...
And Gray looked pretty darn good at times this year. But you watch them more than I do…agreed?
Click to expand...
He looked fine but he is no Kelce.

The Chiefs are in a little trouble I think. I could see this next season be a re-set year of sorts. To me, Kelce's replacement is Rice. Works that middle part of the field well and can run.

BUT, a suspension is looming. This offseason will be interesting. Chiefs have some work to do.
Click to expand...
Let me rephrase that for you. Gray isn't a good Kelce. I think that ship has sailed. Kelce looks extremely slow. Yes, he knows how to run a good route, but his days as a fantasy asset is surely slipping away, if it hasn't already. I actually think Gray is better than the current Kelce, but people expecting high volume like Kelce of yesteryear, is fooling themselves. I'd much rather throw a dart on someone like Brenton Strange than Noah Gray. Also, anyone that thinks Jared Wiley is an answer are also fooling themselves. It would have been tough enough for him to be releveant in 2025 without tearing up his knee (ACL).
Click to expand...
I agree Gray is probably not a plug and play top 10 guy post Kelce, but you never know. He's a decent player.
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The Chiefs have already started moving away from focusing on the TE position and I believe that will continue, whether they make additional signings at WR or not. I think Gray would be no better than a TE2 for fantasy, even with Kelce gone. I doubt he is ever top 12. Useable in a pinch? Sure, but not someone I'm trading for once Kelce announces his retirement. There will be a short-term spike in his value because it's the Chiefs, but IMO that will be just that, short term spike. He was mediocre to useless when Kelce was injured earlier and I'm not even holding that against him.
 
Sorry if this was already mentioned but it's fair to wonder if we've reached the point where it's not his choice any longer, at least not to return as a Chief under his current contract.

He has $11.5M roster bonus due on March 14th and another $1m roster bonus due in training camp. They can free up a sizeable $17m by letting him go or "retiring" him.

They only have $11M in cap space but are actually under in effective cap space. They've got 29 free agents, some insignificant but a few very key and have an extreme amount of work to do on their OL.

If this was a cold hard football decision I think it would be an easy decision for the Chiefs. Obviously they'll want to handle this with respect but I'd be willing to bet they are hoping he decides on his own to walk away so they don't have to be the one to give him the shove.
 
Last edited:
menobrown said:
Sorry if this was already mentioned but is' fair to wonder if we've reached the point where it's not his choice any longer, at least not to return as a Chief under his current contract.

He has $11.5M roster bonus due on March 14th and another $1m roster bonus due in training camp. They can free up a sizeable $17m by letting him go or "retiring" him.

They only have $11M in cap space but are actually under in effective cap space. They've got 29 free agents, some insignificant but a few very key and have an extreme amount of work to do on their OL.

If this was a cold hard football decision I think it would be an easy decision for the Chiefs. Obviously they'll want to handle this with respect but I'd be willing to bet they are hoping he decides on his own to walk away so they don't have to be the one to give him the shove.
Click to expand...
How much effort & planning of his 2024 reworked contract was so he could step away this year?

I just don't see it being profitable/value adding to keep him, but respect is due and I believe they will honor his time in KC in a respectful manner.
 
Birdie048 said:
menobrown said:
Sorry if this was already mentioned but is' fair to wonder if we've reached the point where it's not his choice any longer, at least not to return as a Chief under his current contract.

He has $11.5M roster bonus due on March 14th and another $1m roster bonus due in training camp. They can free up a sizeable $17m by letting him go or "retiring" him.

They only have $11M in cap space but are actually under in effective cap space. They've got 29 free agents, some insignificant but a few very key and have an extreme amount of work to do on their OL.

If this was a cold hard football decision I think it would be an easy decision for the Chiefs. Obviously they'll want to handle this with respect but I'd be willing to bet they are hoping he decides on his own to walk away so they don't have to be the one to give him the shove.
Click to expand...
How much effort & planning of his 2024 reworked contract was so he could step away this year?

I just don't see it being profitable/value adding to keep him, but respect is due and I believe they will honor his time in KC in a respectful manner.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I think both of these apply. But they won't just release him. It will be a retirement if he decides to go. And I'm sure that March 14 deadline is one both parties are aware of. The good part is we will know pretty quick.
 
travdogg said:
He's clearly not the player he was at his peak, but I think Kelce is still a quality starting TE, he's still easily a top-10 TE.
Click to expand...
Yeah this feels like we are just used to Kelce playing TE and putting up high end WR2 numbers. I think we just readjust expectations and that he's still more than capable of putting up low end TE1 numbers. Really after Bowers and McBride it feels like a long tier of 6-8 guys who could all be TE3 on a season depending more on circumstance than anything. I'd still lump Kelce in there with those guys, even if the balance has shifted to be more because of Mahomes/their offense/lack of other options in KC than his talent anymore (despite still thinking he's talented). He still finished as TE5 guys haha.
 
pinkstapler said:
travdogg said:
He's clearly not the player he was at his peak, but I think Kelce is still a quality starting TE, he's still easily a top-10 TE.
Click to expand...
Yeah this feels like we are just used to Kelce playing TE and putting up high end WR2 numbers. I think we just readjust expectations and that he's still more than capable of putting up low end TE1 numbers. Really after Bowers and McBride it feels like a long tier of 6-8 guys who could all be TE3 on a season depending more on circumstance than anything. I'd still lump Kelce in there with those guys, even if the balance has shifted to be more because of Mahomes/their offense/lack of other options in KC than his talent anymore (despite still thinking he's talented). He still finished as TE5 guys haha.
Click to expand...
I'd honestly argue that KC (Reid/Mahomes) kinda did a poor job (by their standards) of running the offense pretty much all season. Like, between Kelce and Hopkins, they left a lot of easy button completions on the table, like they were just screwing around much of the season, but its fine because they kept winning.

Personally, I expect McBride to take a step back (with Harrison taking a corresponding step up) but its him, Bowers, and Kittle at the top. Then I think Kelce is still in line with guys like Andrews, LaPorta, and Hockenson.
 
pinkstapler said:
travdogg said:
He's clearly not the player he was at his peak, but I think Kelce is still a quality starting TE, he's still easily a top-10 TE.
Click to expand...
Yeah this feels like we are just used to Kelce playing TE and putting up high end WR2 numbers. I think we just readjust expectations and that he's still more than capable of putting up low end TE1 numbers. Really after Bowers and McBride it feels like a long tier of 6-8 guys who could all be TE3 on a season depending more on circumstance than anything. I'd still lump Kelce in there with those guys, even if the balance has shifted to be more because of Mahomes/their offense/lack of other options in KC than his talent anymore (despite still thinking he's talented). He still finished as TE5 guys haha.
Click to expand...
He was TE5-6 in PPG but it took an almost perfect storm to pull it off. Mainly the injury to Rashee Rice but mix in Marquise Brown, Worthy not yet progressed, Pachecho down and running game not the same.

Most of that stuff may be trivial, but I think the loss of Rice was seismic to his role because Rice pretty much grabbed the lions share of that prized underneath role from him.

I don't have him inside my top 10 right now for next season and that has nothing to do with retirement fears, just anticipate a significant statistical decline.


I mainly agree on the notion 6-8 TE's could be top3 but would tend to look at more like up to 10-12 TE's who could be TE5. Got a few favorite's in that group for sure, a lot up in the air with some TE's right now.
 
I feel like many of Kelce's biggest plays this season, like the long reception in the Houston playoff game, weere schoolyard plays where Mahomes bought time and Kelce knew where to find an open spot where there were no defenders. He has slowed down to where him getting open with the called plays is a lot more infrequent. He looked like a guy Sunday who knows his time on the field is near the end.
 
menobrown said:
pinkstapler said:
travdogg said:
He's clearly not the player he was at his peak, but I think Kelce is still a quality starting TE, he's still easily a top-10 TE.
Click to expand...
Yeah this feels like we are just used to Kelce playing TE and putting up high end WR2 numbers. I think we just readjust expectations and that he's still more than capable of putting up low end TE1 numbers. Really after Bowers and McBride it feels like a long tier of 6-8 guys who could all be TE3 on a season depending more on circumstance than anything. I'd still lump Kelce in there with those guys, even if the balance has shifted to be more because of Mahomes/their offense/lack of other options in KC than his talent anymore (despite still thinking he's talented). He still finished as TE5 guys haha.
Click to expand...
He was TE5-6 in PPG but it took an almost perfect storm to pull it off. Mainly the injury to Rashee Rice but mix in Marquise Brown, Worthy not yet progressed, Pachecho down and running game not the same.

Most of that stuff may be trivial, but I think the loss of Rice was seismic to his role because Rice pretty much grabbed the lions share of that prized underneath role from him.

I don't have him inside my top 10 right now for next season and that has nothing to do with retirement fears, just anticipate a significant statistical decline.


I mainly agree on the notion 6-8 TE's could be top3 but would tend to look at more like up to 10-12 TE's who could be TE5. Got a few favorite's in that group for sure, a lot up in the air with some TE's right now.
Click to expand...
On the flip side, I think his low TD was extremely fluky, so while he's highly unlikely to see 133 targets next season, 3 TD's could easily double or even triple.
 
menobrown said:
pinkstapler said:
travdogg said:
He's clearly not the player he was at his peak, but I think Kelce is still a quality starting TE, he's still easily a top-10 TE.
Click to expand...
Yeah this feels like we are just used to Kelce playing TE and putting up high end WR2 numbers. I think we just readjust expectations and that he's still more than capable of putting up low end TE1 numbers. Really after Bowers and McBride it feels like a long tier of 6-8 guys who could all be TE3 on a season depending more on circumstance than anything. I'd still lump Kelce in there with those guys, even if the balance has shifted to be more because of Mahomes/their offense/lack of other options in KC than his talent anymore (despite still thinking he's talented). He still finished as TE5 guys haha.
Click to expand...
He was TE5-6 in PPG but it took an almost perfect storm to pull it off. Mainly the injury to Rashee Rice but mix in Marquise Brown, Worthy not yet progressed, Pachecho down and running game not the same.

Most of that stuff may be trivial, but I think the loss of Rice was seismic to his role because Rice pretty much grabbed the lions share of that prized underneath role from him.

I don't have him inside my top 10 right now for next season and that has nothing to do with retirement fears, just anticipate a significant statistical decline.


I mainly agree on the notion 6-8 TE's could be top3 but would tend to look at more like up to 10-12 TE's who could be TE5. Got a few favorite's in that group for sure, a lot up in the air with some TE's right now.
Click to expand...
No I definitely agree with that and why I said it feels a lot of times it's almost more circumstance than pure talent that rotates through those TE3-6 finishes. Jonnu Smith probably a prime example this season. Not that those guys aren't talented, but it took the Dolphins offense stuttering, Tua becoming a check down merchant, and (possibly in the minority here) but my belief Tyreek lost a step if not two and is on his decline.

Yeah I definitely have a few favs and in redraft and even dynasty have started really taking the "value" plays. Whether that's taking "my guys" who are cheaper than the rest like Njoku, or even avoiding guys I like but the community is high and driving up the price on like Kraft.
 
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