Travis Kelce vs Trey McBride: Who Should You Start?
If you are choosing between Travis Kelce and Trey McBride for your lineup, you are not alone. Travis Kelce finished the 2025 season at 9.1 PPG for the Kansas City Chiefs (17 games), and Trey McBride averaged 14.9 for the Arizona Cardinals (17 games).
That 5.8-point weekly advantage for Trey McBride 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.
Trey McBride is the volume tight end in this matchup with 126 receptions for 1239 yards, while Travis Kelce profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (5 scores on 76 catches). In weeks where Travis Kelce finds the end zone he out-scores Trey McBride, but the floor gap is real.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Travis Kelce sits Week 6 while Trey McBride is off Week 11. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
