Just when everyone seemed ready to write him off, Kansas City Chiefs veteran star Travis Kelce proved that he was far from done. In fact, this might not even be his final season in the pros, as expected.
Kelce has been the most reliable weapon for Patrick Mahomes' passing game this season. That used to be by design, though, and while they're still giving him scripted touches, it now feels like it's more out of necessity.
That's why, as much as everyone should celebrate watching vintage Kelce go off for big gains, Andy Reid's team still must address its most glaring offensive flaw: The wide receiver corps continues to leave plenty to be desired.
Is Travis Kelce's strong start to the season sustainable?
Through the first three games of the season, the future Hall of Famer has logged three, nine, and two catches. The volume has fluctuated, but production has been steady, with averages of 23.7, 11.2, and 29.5 yards per reception.
While he won't always draw 11 targets per contest, Kelce is making the most of every opportunity he has. He's moving the chains, breaking loose for big chunks down the middle of the field, just like he did time and time again while he was in his prime.
Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelce for 48 yards on the FIRST snap of the game pic.twitter.com/oCSvdMj1id
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 27, 2026
Kenneth Walker III and the running game are opening so many lanes between the numbers for Kelce to burn teams down the field, and that should continue to be the case going forward. That said, he's no spring chicken, and just hoping that he'll keep this up is a dangerous game to play.
Rashee Rice finally had his first strong game of the season, although it came against the ever-struggling Miami Dolphins. Other than that, the wide receiver corps didn't do much to raise their hands and get the monkey off their backs.
Mahomes has always been great at doing a lot with a little, but this team can't really talk itself into thinking they don't need to make another move. They're on the right track again, and failing to address this while they still can might come back to haunt them when it matters most.
At the end of the day, everyone wants to see Kelce go out with a bang. He doesn't have anything else to prove at this point in his career, but he deserves the right to walk away from the game on his own terms and, hopefully, on top.
Notably, adding more weapons around him will only help him increase his production. Otherwise, it won't be long before defenses start giving him the good-old star treatment again, not that it ever really worked against him.
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