Are You IN Or OUT? Travis Kelce Returns To The Chiefs On New Three-Year Deal

Travis Kelce has been a Kansas City Chief for the entirety of his career. Now, after recently signing a three-year deal worth $57.7 million, Kelce will once again suit up for the Chiefs for at least the 2026 season. Based on information from his recent contract, Kelce can decide to retire after this year. Doing so would allow the Chiefs to adjust his contract so that it doesn’t hurt their salary cap.

But with Kelce seemingly locked in for the 2026 season, should fantasy managers trust Kelce long term in dynasty formats? And what about this season? Should fantasy managers take a chance on a tight end who is 36 years old?

Are You IN or OUT?

Kelce has been one of the best tight ends for fantasy football for a long time. Recently, his numbers have begun to slip. In 2024, Kelce averaged 12.2 fantasy points per game. He managed 823 receiving yards and only three touchdowns. Kelce averaged just 11.7 fantasy points per game during the 2025 fantasy football season. He also finished with 851 receiving yards and five touchdowns. While these numbers are pretty solid for the tight end position, they are not what fantasy managers have come to expect from Kelce in the past.

Kelce’s past production has him as a highly valued tight end for fantasy football. Last season, Kelce was still being drafted as a top-five tight end for fantasy football in PPR formats.

It is clear that fantasy managers still value Travis Kelce’s role in the Chiefs offense and his connection to Patrick Mahomes. One thing managers should consider is the return of Eric Bieniemy as the offensive coordinator. Under Bieniemy, Kelce saw some of his most productive years for fantasy football. From 2018-2022, Kelce’s target volume made him one of the most targeted tight ends in the league. Kelce finished no lower than second in targets among tight ends over that span.

Kelce’s average targets over that span came to 143 per season under Bieniemy. If the former Bears running back coach can bring out something similar to what Kelce used to produce this season, fantasy managers could see a resurgence out of Kelce. Also, considering the extra motivation to end his career on a good note, Kelce could still be drafted at a slight discount this year.

In Conclusion

Travis Kelce still has some gas left in the tank and the motivation to continue as one of the best tight ends the NFL has ever seen. Putting last year behind him and going out with a bang while reunited with his former offensive coordinator could help make this an accomplished season. Kelce is still catching the ball at a strong rate. Over the last four seasons, Kelce has maintained a 70%+ catch rate at 73.2%. Kelce’s targets did take a dip last season from his 133 in 2024, but this is something that can be easily fixed with better game planning and execution.

One major factor to consider is Patrick Mahomes’ health. Mahomes is working his hardest to be ready by Week 1. Head coach Andy Reid even reported that Mahomes has been at the Chiefs’ facility for “seven hours a day”. This was also discussed on the latest episode of The Fantasy’s Phinest Podcast. If Mahomes can make it back in time to start the season, Kelce’s fantasy value won’t take a significant hit, if at all.

With all that being said, Kelce is an IN for me this year. There’s enough evidence to support taking a shot on the 36-year-old tight end in an offense that needs him to do what he does best: catch the ball. More activity in the RZ can also help his case, and that may be addressed by the new offensive coordinator. But what do you think? Are you IN or OUT on Travis Kelce this season? Is he worth the risk? Leave a comment on the article or on our social media posts (@ffphinest on Instagram, Twitter/X, TikTok, and Threads) and let us know what you think.