Travis Kelce’s Fantasy Value in Freefall Ahead of Championship Week

Travis Kelce's Fantasy value has taken a hit due to several factors. We break down why fantasy managers shouldn't trust him in championship week.

Nov 27, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) warms up prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Heading into fantasy football championship week, there are plenty of question marks surrounding certain Chiefs playmakers, particularly tight end Travis Kelce. Fantasy managers should approach Kelce with caution due to several factors: the Chiefs will be starting a third-string quarterback, Kelce has shown some inconsistencies in his play this season, and the upcoming matchup poses additional challenges.

Chiefs’ third-string QB set to start in Week 17, likely causing offensive struggles

The Chiefs find themselves in uncharted territory at the quarterback position after a nightmarish season that has only gotten worse over time. In Week 15, they were fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive in a must-win game against the Chargers. Not only did they lose that game, but they also lost their superstar starting quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, for the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL, effectively ending their playoff run and dealing a major blow to the fantasy value of Chiefs skill-position players.

Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL and is out for the season. pic.twitter.com/XQL44Rvn7G

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

Even after the playoff hopes officially ended in Week 16, veteran QB Gardner Minshew gave fantasy managers some optimism that Chiefs skill players could remain relevant. That narrative was quickly derailed, however, as Minshew suffered an injury in the opening minute of the game. He was replaced by third-string quarterback Chris Oladukun, whose inexperience was evident. Oladukun completed 11 of 16 passes for just 111 yards in a 26-9 loss to the now 3-12 Tennessee Titans.

Oladukun’s performance is a nightmare scenario for fantasy managers, as his struggles in this game limited production across the Chiefs’ offensive playmakers. With him set to start going forward, fantasy managers should be cautious about relying on Chiefs skill players, as the quarterback situation significantly diminishes their upside.

Travis Kelce's Season-Long Performance Inconsistencies

Travis Kelce has posted six performances under 10 fantasy points this season in the 16 games he’s played. Over the last three weeks, he has scored under two points in two of those contests. Most recently, in Week 16, Kelce caught just one pass on four targets for six yards, totaling only 1.6 fantasy points.

This is far from the dominant Kelce fantasy managers are accustomed to. At 36 years old, his consistency has noticeably declined. While he has had a couple of boom weeks scoring over 20 points on two occasions, he currently averages 12.0 fantasy points per game. That average appears likely to drop further in the final weeks of the season, particularly with Patrick Mahomes out and a third-string quarterback under center.

Kansas City Chiefs Week 17 Matchup

Kelce faces a challenging matchup on Thursday Night Football against the Denver Broncos. While the Broncos rank 21st against opposing tight ends in fantasy this season, their overall talent is the third-best defense in fantasy. Combined with the Chiefs’ quarterback situation, it makes it unlikely that Kelce will produce much, even in a potential mismatch.

To make matters worse, the Thursday night schedule gives both teams less time to recover and prepare, which could further complicate game planning against the AFC’s top seed, the 12-3 Broncos. Given these factors, fantasy managers should consider leaving Travis Kelce on the bench if they have better options.