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Rico Dowdle vs Travis Kelce

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

RBPittsburgh SteelersPPG LEADER
Rico Dowdle
PPG
11.6
Games
17
Rush Yds
1,076
Rush TDs
6
Rec
39
Rec Yds
297
Bye
Week 9
TEKansas City Chiefs
Travis Kelce
PPG
9.1
Games
17
Rec
76
Rec Yds
851
Rec TDs
5
Targets
108
Bye
Week 6

Head to Head

11.6 PPG9.1 PPG
17 GP17 GP
Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 6

Rico Dowdle vs Travis Kelce: Who Should You Start?

Comparing Rico Dowdle (RB, Pittsburgh Steelers) against Travis Kelce (TE, Kansas City Chiefs) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Rico Dowdle averaged 11.6 PPG in 2025 over 17 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.

Rico Dowdle has his bye in Week 9, Travis Kelce in Week 6. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

The Bottom Line

11.6 PPG for Rico Dowdle versus 9.1 for Travis Kelce in 2025. The baseline favors Rico Dowdle, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Rico Dowdle or Travis Kelce in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Rico Dowdle has the edge at 11.6 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 Rico Dowdle and Travis Kelce average in 2025?

Rico Dowdle averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.5 points per game.

When are Rico Dowdle and Travis Kelce's bye weeks in 2026?

Rico Dowdle (PIT) has a bye in Week 9, and Travis Kelce (KC) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.