By now it is universally known that Travis “Zeus” Kelce is one of the most talented and underutilized young tight ends in the NFL. Frustratingly though, those of us who own him continue to start him with a “glass half full” sense of optimism despite the repeated let downs. So what keeps us coming back for more abuse from Travis Kelce and Andy Reid from week to week? Let’s have a look.
Travis Kelce Moments of Flash:
- Week 2: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 81 Yards
- Week 4: 9 Targets, 8 Receptions, 93 Yards, 1 TD
- Week 9: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 67 Yards, 1 TD
Few and perhaps far between but impressive enough from the second year tight end to keep us convinced. A physical specimen standing 6′-5″, weighing in at 255lbs and blazing a 4.61 40 yard dash time. Gifted with every physical tool necessary to live up to the hype of “the next Rob Gronkowski”, but at the moment the phrase just feels like hyperbole. What is not hyperbole however is Kelce’s current season stat line of: 44-578-4. It may not seem like much, but that season output is very much a byproduct of his gross under-usage in the pass game. In his 12 NFL games this season, Travis Kelce has seen just 57 total targets. Travis’ volume of targets are less than: Zack Ertz, Jermaine Gresham and even Mychal Rivera; all of which Kelce has more yards and touchdowns than in 2014.
PFF grades out only Gronk, Olsen & Graham as better pass-catching TEs than Travis Kelce. #Chiefs are the Sahara of pass-catchers.
— Josh Moore (@4for4_Josh) November 24, 2014
Buying or Selling the Idea of Travis Kelce?
For the people in your league who again just look at box scores without doing any real analyzing this is a perfect time to buy. We are talking about a player who is the second best offensive option in Kansas City and inevitably primed to explode. The only thing separating Travis from absolute fantasy stardom is the lack of weekly targets to rely on. To date of his 57 total season targets he has hauled in 44 receptions, that is good for a receiving percentage of 77.2%. So is that good or bad?
NFL Tight End Receiving Percentage Comparison:
- Rob Gronkowski: 101 Targets, 65 Receptions, 63.7%
- Greg Olsen: 93 Targets, 61 Receptions, 65.6%
- Jason Witten: 65 Targets, 44 Receptions, 67.8%
- Jimmy Graham: 88 Targets, 65 Receptions, 73.9%
- Julius Thomas: 54 Targets, 40 Receptions, 74.1%
I loathe Anthony Fasano. Signed, disgruntled Travis Kelce owner.
— Brad Evans (@YahooNoise) December 1, 2014
Superior to his peers, Kelce is truly in a league of his own when it comes to an efficiency standpoint. This stat alone should make potential suitors begin to salivate. Its truly only a matter of time before Kansas City decides to wise up and give Kelce more weekly snap opportunities than his sub-par counterpart, Anthony Fasanao. Some would say the change is already taking place between Kelce and Fasano as reflected in Travis’ dominant week 13 snap count of 37 to Anthony’s 11. This could be the first major sign that Kansas City is finally ready to hand the keys over to “Zeus” and let him run wild. With all this in mind the window to buy low is only open as long as Kelce’s streak of average games continue. So take advantage of his “underwhelming” performances now before his price tag exceeds the peanuts some owners are looking to get for him.
