Fantasy Football Week 9 Start or Sit: Travis Kelce

By Cody Williams @TheSizzle20 on October 31, 2014

The Kansas City Chiefs are a team that, even after the first eight weeks of the season, it’s hard to know what to make of them. Particularly in terms of Fantasy Football, it’s hard to know which Chiefs players you can trust—outside of Jamaal Charles of course—on a week-to-week basis.

Tight end Travis Kelce is certainly not an exception to that rule by any stretch. Over the first four weeks of the season, it seemed like Kelce was emerging as one of the solid mid-tier tight ends in the league. However, from week five and on his value has not been nearly at the level that it was.

In the three games since week four (week six was a bye for Kansas City), Kelce has eclipsed the 48-yard mark for receiving just once. That’s a number that he was above three times over the first four weeks of the season. Moreover, he’s only been in the endzone once over his last three games after scoring twice in the first two weeks. The one time he did score over these last three games, he did so in a two-catch, 15-yard performance that was saved by the touchdown.

With the production that the Chiefs tight end has been putting up lately, fantasy owners might be thinking that benching him is the right call. Looking at his recent production, it’s hard to argue that decision. Throw in the fact that Kansas City squares off with the New York Jets this season, though, and that changes the conversation entirely.

The Jets are the fourth-worst defense in the league this season against opposing tight ends, allowing 10.6 points per game. Moreover, no team in the league has allowed more touchdowns to opposing tight ends than the Jets have this season. When you look at how poor their secondary has handled tight ends and consider Kelce’s ability to accrue yards after the catch, that seems like a recipe for success.

There are warranted concerns about Kelce right now and his role in the Chiefs’ offense. However, he’s going to get some work surely and the Jets are a team that some work could mean a big impact. In that light, Kelce needs to be in your week nine lineup if you’re on the fence at tight end.

Cody Williams is a Senior Writer with Rant Sports. Follow Cody on Twitter @TheSizzle20, add him on Google and like his Facebook page.