Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cole Kmet vs Travis KelceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Travis Kelce is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.1 PPG to Cole Kmet's 4.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Travis Kelce is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Travis Kelce outscored Cole Kmet by 5.1 PPG in 2025 with 5 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Travis Kelce is the clear pick. Cole Kmet profiles as a matchup-dependent tight end who can spike but lacks the consistent floor.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TEChicago Bears#99

Cole Kmet

PPG

4.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

347

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

TEKansas City Chiefs#10PPG LEADER

Travis Kelce

PPG

9.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

851

Rec TDs

Targets

108

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Cole Kmet

Travis Kelce

Head to Head

4.0 PPG9.1 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Cole Kmet: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Travis Kelce: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #10 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Cole Kmet is producing at 18% of elite pace and Travis Kelce at 41%. That ranking gap means Travis Kelce carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Cole Kmet vs Travis Kelce: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Cole Kmet and Travis Kelce for your lineup, you are not alone. Cole Kmet finished the 2025 season at 4.0 PPG for the Chicago Bears (16 games), and Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 for the Kansas City Chiefs (17 games).

That 5.1-point weekly advantage for Travis Kelce is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Travis Kelce is the volume tight end in this matchup with 76 receptions for 851 yards, while Cole Kmet profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (2 scores on 30 catches). In weeks where Cole Kmet finds the end zone he out-scores Travis Kelce, but the floor gap is real.

Cole Kmet has his bye in Week 7, and Travis Kelce rests in Week 5. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Travis Kelce is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Cole Kmet is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Cole Kmet (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Travis Kelce (age 36) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Travis Kelce outscored Cole Kmet by a projected 87 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Travis Kelce played 17 games in 2025 compared to Cole Kmet's 16. That durability gap means Travis Kelce contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Travis Kelce scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Travis Kelce saw 108 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Cole Kmet is 9 years younger than Travis Kelce (27 vs 36), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cole Kmet vs Travis Kelce: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cole Kmet	Travis Kelce
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	9.1
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	64	155
Receptions	30	76
Rec/Game	1.9	4.5
Receiving Yards	347	851
Rec Yds/Game	21.7	50.1
Receiving TDs	2	5
Targets	48	108
Target Share/Game	3.0	6.4
Age	27	36
Experience	6 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 5

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Travis Kelce at 9.1 PPG, 5.1 points per game above Cole Kmet's 4.0. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Cole Kmet or Travis Kelce in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Travis Kelce has the edge at 9.1 PPG compared to Cole Kmet's 4.0 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Cole Kmet and Travis Kelce average in 2025?▾

Cole Kmet averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.1 points per game.

When are Cole Kmet and Travis Kelce's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cole Kmet (CHI) has a bye in Week 7, and Travis Kelce (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cole Kmet or Travis Kelce a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Travis Kelce outscored Cole Kmet by 5.1 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.