Chiefs' Travis Kelce Heavily Disrespected in Latest Player Rankings
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The Kansas City Chiefs made their third Super Bowl appearance in the last five seasons in 2024, but were unable to best the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite the Chiefs losing the big game, they still showcased why they are the team to beat in the AFC.
More news: Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers Receives Major Disrespect From NFL Analyst
A big reason for the Chiefs' success remains star tight end Travis Kelce. Though Kelce had a down year in 2024, he put together a campaign of 823 yards and three touchdowns.
The 2024 season was the worst in Kelce's career, but he remains a high-level player. His ability to show up in clutch moments during the postseason is also a big reason why he remains a premier player in the NFL.
Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs stands on the sideline during the second half against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 03, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs stands on the sideline during the second half against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 03, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Photo byMore news: NFL Insider Has Wild Trade Prediction for Browns' Shedeur Sanders Situation
That doesn't seem to be the case for NFL insider Pete Prisco, who recently put out a top 100 player list for the 2025 season. While Kelce was ranked No. 18 last season, he has dropped near the bottom of the list to No. 96.
"Age started to look like it was impacting Kelce's play last season, as he didn't look to be the same player. There were moments, but the consistency wasn't there. He had 97 catches, but he averaged just 8.5 per catch, the lowest of his career, which is not a good sign for a 35-year-old. (Last season: No. 18)," Prisco writes.
That is a massive fall for a player who continually plays his position at an elite level. In fact, Kelce is widely viewed as the top tight end and also No. 2 next to San Francisco 49ers star George Kittle.
Even with a down year, ranking Kelce so low is a bit confusing. The Chiefs are usually a success in the regular season and playoffs due to the combo of Patrick Mahomes and Kelce.
Without Kelce, there is no telling if the offense would have had enough power to get through the multiple one-score games they won to secure their postseason berth and playoff crown.
Kelce was believed to want to retire following the 2024 season, and even stated he would have considered it had the Chiefs won the Super Bowl. However, he made it clear that he would come back for at least one more season.
Age might be catching up to the star tight end, but Kelce also sounds like he has locked in to helping the Chiefs get back to the Super Bowl. Though he had the worst production in his career in 2024, don't expect a repeat of that in 2025.
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