Can Travis Kelce Get Anywhere Near the Level of Jimmy Graham?

[bubba29 3]

Will KC evolve their offense to take advantage of his mismatch ability like NO does with Graham? It seems Kelce should be used more in their passing game.

[tigeru 65]

Need someone better than Smith throwing to him for that

[shorepatrol 1,735]

Need someone better than Smith throwing to him for that

Not if charles stays healthy and kniles keeps it up in his role he doesn't

[IMMensaMind 459]

I think I was first on this bored talking up Kelce; I put him #4 TE in my preseason list. I think he's got what it takes to end up there.

[Challenger 72]

Sure, replace smith with breezy.

[IMMensaMind 459]

Sure, replace smith with breezy.

 

The shortcomings of Smith are amply compensated for by the lack of real targets in KC.

[weepaws 2,452]

Will KC evolve their offense to take advantage of his mismatch ability like NO does with Graham? It seems Kelce should be used more in their passing game.

Is KC trading for Brees ?

[p00h 85]

I think he's gonna be a stud TE, but not JG level, and not yet anyway. I think Smith is more than servicable to get him the targets, and he's good enough to make the best of those targets, but JG level production is not in the making yet. The way the game is evolving, we'll be seeing a lot more stud TEs coming thru now. Already have the Bennetts, and the Donnells. The guy the JEts got should be decent too...

[Frozenbeernuts 1,652]

I think smith is extremely underrated. Hes not as flashy as other qbs, but he is better than just serviceable. Look at who he has had to throw to in KC. Dwayne bowe and then a pile of garbage this is only kelces 6th game in the nfl, correct? Their growth playing together should be a good combo all year.

 

I dont think he will be consistent enough to beat graham however. Even on grahams down weeks he is at 60 yards and a td. I think sean peyton starts going back to his all pro TE to help his 1-3 team.

[PackYourNut 47]

He has the talent, but he has to be given the opportunity. In that system, the answer is probably no. But, there is only one Jimmy Graham, so expecting that is kind of unrealistic anyhow. He can become a top 5 guy for sure though.

[Challenger 72]

There is Jimmy Graham and then there is everyone else. Not like Kecle can't be good, but just not 1st rounder guarantee awesome.

[SaintsInDome2006 128]

This week is another chance to release Kelce. On the road vs SF. Al Smith will be looking to show up Harbaugh with his new and better Vern Davis. All day long I think.

[D-Thomas58 3]

I think he can actually. KC is going to continue to expand his role as a pseudo wide receiver. We saw them do it a few times against New England, and he's shown WR quality hands and speed, which at his size is scary. Smith is criminally underrated as a passer as well. I'm starting Kelce from here-on-out without any hesitation.

[Filthy Fernadez 2,696]

I have him in my money league but Graham like production? Really?!

 

Let's R-E-L-A-X for a few weeks and keep the hype train at a reasonable speed.

[Challenger 72]

I think he can actually. KC is going to continue to expand his role as a pseudo wide receiver. We saw them do it a few times against New England, and he's shown WR quality hands and speed, which at his size is scary. Smith is criminally underrated as a passer as well. I'm starting Kelce from here-on-out without any hesitation.

 

Really, so you can see Kelce being drafted first round? Even Julius Thomas doesn't get that much love.

 

Larry Donnell and Martellus Bennett must be the next Calvin Johnson.

[D-Thomas58 3]

Graham isn't exactly setting the world on fire this year. Why is it so outlandish to think Kelce can eventually match Graham's production? I'm not saying he definitely will, but it's possible given his physical abilities and WR skill set.

[PackYourNut 47]

Graham isn't exactly setting the world on fire this year. Why is it so outlandish to think Kelce can eventually match Graham's production? I'm not saying he definitely will, but it's possible given his physical abilities and WR skill set.

 

All that matters is if YOU think so... It's certainly possible, just not likely. Roll with your gut!

[Frozenbeernuts 1,652]

I have him in my money league but Graham like production? Really?!

 

Let's R-E-L-A-X for a few weeks and keep the hype train at a reasonable speed.

Is 30 mph reasonable?

[Frozenbeernuts 1,652]

Graham isn't exactly setting the world on fire this year. Why is it so outlandish to think Kelce can eventually match Graham's production? I'm not saying he definitely will, but it's possible given his physical abilities and WR skill set.

Yeah graham isnt lighting the world on fire and is still producing quality numbers. He will hit his stride. I mean if the saints want to tank the rest of the season by featuring travaris cadet and stone hands colston, then yeah graham will not be a super stud. I would just find it really hard to believe peyton doesnt go to his bread and butter to get back into winnerville.

[vuduchile 1,940]

He has the talent, but he has to be given the opportunity. In that system, the answer is probably no. But, there is only one Jimmy Graham, so expecting that is kind of unrealistic anyhow. He can become a top 5 guy for sure though.

I'd go with this.

[SaintsInDome2006 128]

I haven't seen anyone mention red zone opportunites. Reid seems to really have his head in a bag sometimes. He loves to bring Fasano in for RZ work. If Kelce gets RZ opportunities the sky is the limit.

[SexyRexy 60]

lets not get carried away....he's good tho prob a top 8 year

[Bishop82 61]

In a word...no.

[Challenger 72]

Everything is relative, so now people are saying Graham is not that good, so Kelce can catch up? What's the point of this thread then?

 

I get it, you want to feel as good as the person that drafted/waiver wired Bennet/Donnell. It's ok, you can feel good, Kelce was a good pick bro, no need go over board.

 

This thread and "Steve smith potentially #1" needs to merge.

[Frozenbeernuts 1,652]

Everything is relative, so now people are saying Graham is not that good, so Kelce can catch up? What's the point of this thread then?

 

I get it, you want to feel as good as the person that drafted/waiver wired Bennet/Donnell. It's ok, you can feel good, Kelce was a good pick bro, no need go over board.

 

This thread and "Steve smith potentially #1" needs to merge.

There are a lot of threads that need to merge into one title called "Run my team for me"

[Skinny_Bastard 154]

Not just about talent, it's also about opportunities. Graham is the focal point in the saints offense. He gets a solid 8-12 targets a week.

[meathook13 1]

I have both GRAHAM and KELCE. They both have a bye week 6. I don't put that much stock in that, but it got me thinking. Should I trade Graham and upgrade at rb? What could I expect in return? He has been down compared to his past years, but he still puts up numbers. Kelce is up and coming, but if he can give me a consistent 7-8 points a week with the occasional 15, the upgrade at rb could be significant and I wouldn't lost that much production at the te position. I'm just kicking this around and appreciate any thoughts.

[lesjroza 70]

Will KC evolve their offense to take advantage of his mismatch ability like NO does with Graham? It seems Kelce should be used more in their passing game.

 

This is a little bit funny to me. Kelce had 8 catches on 9 targets including a red zone TD this week.

 

How many targets would you like to see for him that would satisfy the desire to be "used more in the pass game"?

 

His snap count has been rising each week as he is essentially a rookie that didn't even have a full off-season, he missed a lot of OTAs rehabbing. I doubt he even knows what to do in the all the formations yet.

 

I'm a big believer in the talent but it sounds like hopes are way too high for him this week.

 

KC plays the 49ers in SF.

 

SF is a top 3 team covering TEs this year statistically, and in reality they probably are the best.

 

They shut down Ertz last week with no problem and they should shut down Kelce this week too. I have to play him at flex in a league I have no depth but I'd be sitting him everywhere else.

 

One last buy opportunity, there could be owners who will see the meager stats and think earlier was a fluke. Pounce!

[kolp 9]

NE was #1 against te's going into that MNF game.... Not saying Kelce is match proof, just pointing out an interesting fact. Also M. Bennett had a pretty big game against the 49ers, so I wouldn't bench him based off the matchup....

[lesjroza 70]

NE was #1 against te's going into that MNF game.... Not saying Kelce is match proof, just pointing out an interesting fact. Also M. Bennett had a pretty big game against the 49ers, so I wouldn't bench him based off the matchup....

 

You speak truth...........still the 49ers do have the ability to cover big bodies with big bodies and have proven it the rule with a few exceptions.

 

Additionally, the 49ers have specifically taken notice of Travis Kelchy who could be "the new Vernon Davis for Alex Smith"

 

http://www.49ers.com/video/videos/Niners-Now-Chiefs-TE-Travis-Kelce-is-On-the-Rise/a114f1f0-7066-4e9c-96e8-e9bf51161dea

 

Finally, while the Harbaugh really wants to win this game I suspect if they were going to lose they would much rather have it be to Jamaal Charles than Alex Smith throwing the ball to anybody.

[Bobbyn2022 53]

This is the week we see what Kelce is really made of. If he does it this week against the niners I'll be a believer and say yes he has the graham potential.

[Filthy Fernadez 2,696]

NE was #1 against te's going into that MNF game....

 

It's a conditional stat that the Gurus use and it's absolute garbage especially so early in the season.

 

Go back and look at the TEs they faced in Week 1-3. Charles Clay - Miami, Kyle Rudoph - Minny with Cassel throwing and Mychal Rivera - Oakland. Do any of those teams or players scream talent that the Pats were able to negate? No.........they don't.

 

That being said, I'm STOKED to have picked him up in my money league. He's very talented and has the right situation to be Top 5 maybe Top 3 this year.

 

[FeelingMN 273]

It's a conditional stat that the Gurus use and it's absolute garbage especially so early in the season.

 

Go back and look at the TEs they faced in Week 1-3. Charles Clay - Miami, Kyle Rudoph - Minny with Cassel throwing and Mychal Rivera - Oakland. Do any of those teams or players scream talent that the Pats were able to negate? No.........they don't.

 

That being said, I'm STOKED to have picked him up in my money league. He's very talented and has the right situation to be Top 5 maybe Top 3 this year.

 

Exactly. The Niners on the other hand have faced Witten, Bennett, whoever the Cards TE is, and Ertz. Bennett scored a TD but was held to low yardage on a ton of looks.

 

The Niners defense is a bad matchup and I would be sitting Kelce if I could....but will go with him over Ertz this weekend.

 

He's a good TE who will get better as he learns the game. But he shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as Graham until he does it multiple games over multiple years.

[Challenger 72]

Geez Kelce only played 52% of the snaps compare to Fasano 90% I hope Donnie Avery out will bump this number up some more.

[jerryskids 5,172]

Just made two trades that amounted to giving up Ingram and Harvin for Kelce and Michael Floyd, 1/2 pt PPR. Have Vernon and Niles who are both banged up; probably drop Niles.

 

Anyway, I'm on the Kelce hype train now. Choo CHOOOOOOO!!!

[HOKIEZ 34]

I think snap % can be a little misleading. What if 15% of those snaps he missed were run plays? Bottom line is, when he is in he looks like the 1st or 2nd option on most pass plays

[FeelingMN 273]

I think snap % can be a little misleading. What if 15% of those snaps he missed were run plays? Bottom line is, when he is in he looks like the 1st or 2nd option on most pass plays

s can or can’t do. Why is Travis Kelce still not getting all the snaps at tight end for the Chiefs? The two things we want a tight end to do are catch and block. Is Kelce a bad blocker or at least a worse blocker than the Chiefs tight end getting twice as many snaps as him for the season, Anthony Fasano?

 

I grade pass catching by ranking each tight end with at least 10 targets in yards per target. That’s simply receiving yards divided by targets. For blocking, I consulted ProFootballFocus and used their run blocking rankings. I’m not concerned about pass blocking for tight ends because those who can catch should be in patterns on passing downs, not blocking.

 

So we add the yards per target ranking and the run blocking ranking to get an overall, all-encompassing ranking. Guys who are tops this way should be getting major snaps or at least should not be out-snapped badly by teammates at the same position.

 

Here’s the top 10 in order: Delanie Walker and Kelce are tied at number one and have 187 and 133 snaps, respectively. Already we have a problem because Fasano again has 264. Why? Kelce is the third-best blocking tight end according to ProFootballFocus and Fasano is 13th; Kelce is third in yards per target while Fasano is 20th.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/splitsville--seeing-red-163256383.html

 

[highsider5 36]

Yeah yeah but, if I drafted Kelce, will I get burned

[Breesman32 11]

 

This is a little bit funny to me. Kelce had 8 catches on 9 targets including a red zone TD this week.

 

How many targets would you like to see for him that would satisfy the desire to be "used more in the pass game"?

 

His snap count has been rising each week as he is essentially a rookie that didn't even have a full off-season, he missed a lot of OTAs rehabbing. I doubt he even knows what to do in the all the formations yet.

 

I'm a big believer in the talent but it sounds like hopes are way too high for him this week.

 

KC plays the 49ers in SF.

 

SF is a top 3 team covering TEs this year statistically, and in reality they probably are the best.

 

They shut down Ertz last week with no problem and they should shut down Kelce this week too. I have to play him at flex in a league I have no depth but I'd be sitting him everywhere else.

 

One last buy opportunity, there could be owners who will see the meager stats and think earlier was a fluke. Pounce!

Kelce is the only real target on passing in KC(Bowe just isn't always on target), like Gronk in NE, and that only helps someone like Kelce. Also, SF shut down TEs who are not used as much. Ertz I don't think is used as a receiver, or is even as big as Kelce is, Arizona has no TE they target, Bennett got some catches against SF, and cowboys don't target Witten unless its a close game or a winning game against a team who could always come back(saints this year though they didn't quite come back, broncos last year).