Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

DK Metcalf vs Travis KelceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

DK Metcalf is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.5 PPG to Travis Kelce's 9.1 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

DK Metcalf is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, DK Metcalf (10.5 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Travis Kelce (9.1 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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WRPittsburgh Steelers#25PPG LEADER

DK Metcalf

PPG

10.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

850

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

TEKansas City Chiefs#10

Travis Kelce

PPG

9.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

851

Rec TDs

Targets

108

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

DK Metcalf

Travis Kelce

Head to Head

10.5 PPG9.1 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

DK Metcalf: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #25 at the position). Travis Kelce: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #10 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE in most league formats.

DK Metcalf vs Travis Kelce: The Full Breakdown

Comparing DK Metcalf (WR, Pittsburgh Steelers) against Travis Kelce (TE, Kansas City Chiefs) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. DK Metcalf averaged 10.5 PPG in 2025 over 15 games, while Travis Kelce posted 9.1 PPG across 17 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

DK Metcalf has his bye in Week 9, Travis Kelce in Week 5. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: DK Metcalf (age 28) 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?

•DK Metcalf outscored Travis Kelce by a projected 24 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Travis Kelce played 17 games in 2025 compared to DK Metcalf's 15. That durability gap means Travis Kelce contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•DK Metcalf scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Travis Kelce saw 108 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•DK Metcalf is 8 years younger than Travis Kelce (28 vs 36), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

DK Metcalf vs Travis Kelce: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	DK Metcalf	Travis Kelce
PPG (Half-PPR)	10.5	9.1
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	158	155
Receptions	59	76
Rec/Game	3.9	4.5
Receiving Yards	850	851
Rec Yds/Game	56.7	50.1
Receiving TDs	6	5
Targets	99	108
Target Share/Game	6.6	6.4
Age	28	36
Experience	6 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 5

Summary

DK Metcalf outscored Travis Kelce by 1.4 PPG in 2025 (10.5 to 9.1). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start DK Metcalf or Travis Kelce in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, DK Metcalf has the edge at 10.5 PPG compared to Travis Kelce's 9.1 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 DK Metcalf and Travis Kelce average in 2025?▾

DK Metcalf averaged 10.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 1.4 points per game.

When are DK Metcalf and Travis Kelce's bye weeks in 2026?▾

DK Metcalf (PIT) has a bye in Week 9, and Travis Kelce (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.