5 bold predictions for Kansas City Chiefs in 2020

2. Travis Kelce will start to decline as Chiefs top target

Kelce is a match-up nightmare at tight end that causes a ton of problems for opposing defensive coordinators. He led the Chiefs in catches and receiving yards last season with 97 and 1,229 respectively. Look for both totals to decrease in 2020.

This does not mean Kelce is going to suddenly become an average tight end. He’ll still be elite at the position for several more seasons. However, it’s foolish to ignore the reality that he’s now playing in his 30s. His best days are behind him from an athletic perspective.

Fortunately, the myriad of weapons surrounding Kelce in the receiving corps will allow him to continue to produce at a high level even when age starts to erode his skills. The sheer speed of guys like Sammy Watkins and Mecole Hardman make it really difficult to double team Kelce on a consistent basis. He’s still got more than enough juice to win a high percentage of one-on-one battles.

If you look at his game closely in 2020 you’re going to see a receiver who doesn’t have quite as much burst down the seam as he did during his prime. Kelce’s decline will be subtle, but they will start to appear this season.