Kelce has back and hip tightness

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce left Thursday's practice with what the team is calling back and hip tightness. That doesn't sound like a long-term issue, but we'll certainly keep an eye on the 1st-round fantasy pick.

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce said after Sunday's Super Bowl win that he'll be back for the 2024 season. There had been some whispers that he'd retire, especially if the Chiefs won another title. But Kelce will help Kansas City gun for a three-peat. The 34-year-old averaged 14.8 PPR points per game this past year -- his fewest since 2016 but still enough to lead all TEs. Kelce then racked up 32 catches, 355 yards, and three TDs across four playoff games. He sits atop our 2024 fantasy football TE rankings.

The Chiefs downgraded TE Travis Kelce to out for today's game vs. the Chargers. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported this morning that Kelce would play long enough to get the 16 yards he needs for 1,000, but HC Andy Reid evidently wised up since then and will hold Kelce out of this meaningless game. Noah Gray figures to operate as Kansas City's lead TE and is in play as a cheap DFS option.

The Chiefs are expected to play TE Travis Kelce long enough vs. the Chargers today to get him the 16 yards he needs for 1,000 total, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. It'd be Kelce's eighth straight 1,000-yard season. Expect Kelce to be pulled as soon as he gets those 16 yards, with the Chiefs having nothing to play for today. Kelce still isn't a recommended Week 18 fantasy play, although this news is a knock against TE Noah Gray's viability.

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce was held to 3 catches for 16 yards against the Bengals on Sunday. Kelce was unable to get open in what should have been a smash match-up, drawing only 4 targets. Kelce still finishes the fantasy season (for most leagues) tied for the position lead in PPR points per game. But that comes with his lowest scoring average since 2016. Kelce's 14.7 points per contest fall nearly 4.0 short of last year's average. It's no surprise for the 34-year-old to be trending downward at this point. It's fair to wonder, however, how much the season-opening knee injury and then a Week 5 ankle sprain limited him. Kelce probably shouldn't be drafted so far ahead of the rest of the position in 2024, but it's tough to knock him too far when a disappointing year still has him tied for the scoring lead. We'll be very curious to see where he goes in early best-ball drafts. Kelce's likely to be a tough sell in dynasty leagues this offseason.

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce caught 7 of 9 targets for 44 yards and a TD in Week 11 vs. the Eagles. The veteran did lose a fumble in the contest, which cost fantasy managers just a little bit, but his 15.4 points were enough for Kelce to finish as the TE2 in PPR scoring on the week. Even so, it’s troubling to consider how much he’s started to dip in production of late. Kelce is averaging just 5.3 catches, 38.7 receiving yards, and 10.5 PPR points per game over the past three games. This information shouldn’t dissuade you from continuing to trust him as a TE1 every week. We are talking about Travis Kelce after all. It’s just something to be mindful of in the coming weeks.