Travis Kelce 2025 Redraft Outlook: Draft Risk or Aging Legend?

For a guy once putting up 300+ points like he was on Rookie Madden Mode, finishing last season with 195.4 points was a rude wake-up call. Sure, 195 points is elite for most tight ends in fantasy football, but we’re talking about Travis Freakin’ Kelce. For context, this was his lowest full-season point total since 2015. That’s right, Miley Cyrus’s “Wrecking Ball” days or Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” days for the Swifties that love Taylor and Travis.

Now, this drop-off isn’t some fluke. It’s part of a steady, albeit painful trend. Kelce’s age, combined with a crowded Kansas City offense, is making him more human by the season. With young rising stars like Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy stepping into bigger roles, plus the reemergence of Hollywood Brown, the target share Kelce once dominated is suddenly up for grabs. The 8.3 targets per game he averaged last year? Don’t expect that to hold steady. Fewer looks for Kelce means fantasy owners could be left nursing draft regret faster than Patrick Mahomes scrambles out of the pocket.

Why Board the Titanic When You Can Grab a Lifeboat?

Now, here’s where things take a turn for the pragmatic (and painful): Tight ends over the age of 35 putting up north of 200 fantasy points? They’re about as rare as an undefeated season. Tony Gonzalez is the only one who’s pulled it off, and while Kelce feels superhuman at times, history suggests the odds are not in his favor. Gonzalez hit that mark three times, and while Kelce shares the Hall of Fame DNA, it’s important to remember he’s stared down a workload heavy enough to make Derrick Henry cringe.

Even worse? His age might not just limit the volume. Watching Kelce last season, it was abundantly clear that those trademark “yards after catch” skills we all worshiped have started to fade. The juice is… thinner. Sure, he’s still crafty and shreds zone coverage as if defenses were running in slow motion, but that burst of old isn’t coming back, even if he sheds the 25 pounds he’s rumored to be cutting.

Should You Draft Kelce in 2025?

This is where your decision-making gets dicey. Kelce is no longer a top-20 pick, and frankly, those who pull the trigger in the sixth or even seventh round may soon find themselves in fantasy purgatory. There’s no denying that drafting Kelce comes with risk, but it’s not all doom and gloom. If the stars align and target numbers sneak back into the comfortable range (think 7-8 per game), Kelce could still give you value, particularly in mid-tier or back-end rounds.

However, do not, under any circumstances, throw a Hail Mary pick for nostalgia. Sure, Kelce’s name has more value than half the league combined, but fantasy football isn’t about sentimentality; it’s about points. If you can grab him in Round 7 and back him up with a younger TE on the rise, that might be a risk worth taking. Just don’t blame anyone but yourself when Kelce’s numbers decline because the Chiefs decide their future lies with their next-gen weapons.

Final Verdict

The heartbreak is real. This is Travis Kelce we’re talking about. The icon. The man who made tight ends sexy in fantasy football. But even the best of the best must succumb to age eventually. While he’s not completely washed, drafting Kelce in 2025 smacks of overpaying for name value and fading fantasy relevance. His days of carrying teams are over, and while he might still offer some value as a TE2, the focus should be on emerging stars who can deliver upside and maybe even steal your league.

Draft responsibly, folks. And maybe pour one out as you pass on Kelce in the early rounds because this is how legends leave the realm of fantasy superstardom—with a whimper, not a winning TD.