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Travis Kelce vs Trey McBrideWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Trey McBride is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.9 PPG to Travis Kelce's 9.1 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Trey McBride is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Trey McBride outscored Travis Kelce by 5.8 PPG in 2025 with 11 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Trey McBride is the clear pick. Travis Kelce 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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TEKansas City Chiefs#10
Travis Kelce
PPG
9.1
Games
17
Rec
76
Rec Yds
851
Rec TDs
5
Targets
108
Bye
Week 5
TEArizona Cardinals#1PPG LEADER
Trey McBride
PPG
14.9
Games
17
Rec
126
Rec Yds
1,239
Rec TDs
11
Targets
169
Bye
Week 14

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Travis Kelce
Trey McBride

Head to Head

9.1 PPG14.9 PPG
17 GP17 GP
Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Travis Kelce: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #10 at the position). Trey McBride: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #1 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Travis Kelce is producing at 41% of elite pace and Trey McBride at 68%. That ranking gap means Trey McBride carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Travis Kelce vs Trey McBride: The Full Breakdown

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 5 while Trey McBride is off Week 14. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Trey McBride is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Travis Kelce is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Travis Kelce (age 36) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Trey McBride (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

  • Trey McBride outscored Travis Kelce by a projected 99 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Trey McBride scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
  • Trey McBride saw 169 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
  • Trey McBride is 10 years younger than Travis Kelce (26 vs 36), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Travis Kelce vs Trey McBride: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatTravis KelceTrey McBride
PPG (Half-PPR)9.114.9
Games Played1717
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)155253
Receptions76126
Rec/Game4.57.4
Receiving Yards8511,239
Rec Yds/Game50.172.9
Receiving TDs511
Targets108169
Target Share/Game6.49.9
Age3626
Experience12 yrs3 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 5Week 14

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Trey McBride at 14.9 PPG, 5.8 points per game above Travis Kelce's 9.1. 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 Travis Kelce or Trey McBride in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Trey McBride has the edge at 14.9 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 Travis Kelce and Trey McBride average in 2025?

Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Trey McBride averaged 14.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.8 points per game.

When are Travis Kelce and Trey McBride's bye weeks in 2026?

Travis Kelce (KC) has a bye in Week 5, and Trey McBride (ARI) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Travis Kelce or Trey McBride a better fantasy tight end in 2026?

Trey McBride outscored Travis Kelce by 5.8 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.

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