Chiefs need more from Travis Kelce

If the Kansas City Chiefs are going to win it all, they need Travis Kelce to hit another level.

Travis Kelce is one of the best tight ends in the National Football League. He can catch, run with the ball and block like a bad mother. In short, Kelce is one of the more valuable players on the offensive side of the ball in this league.

Still, the Chiefs need him to do more. Last year, Kelce’s stats mirrored what he did in 2014. Here’s a side-by-side comparison.

2014: 67 receptions, 862 yards, 5 touchdowns
2015: 72 receptions, 875 yards, 5 touchdowns

Of course, those are great numbers for a tight end and earned Kelce a Pro Bowl berth last season. So why does he need to step up? Because Kansas City doesn’t have a No. 2 wideout capable of carrying the load, and the burden needs to be taken off Jamaal Charles to some degree.

Kelce is 26 years old and in the prime of his career. If he can go to the next level and reach 1,000 yards with 7-8 touchdowns on 80 receptions, it could make the difference between the offense being good and being great.

Last year, the Chiefs didn’t get very consistent production out of Kelce. Only six times did he go over 50 receiving yards and just once eclipsed 100 yards, coming in Week 1 against the Houston Texans. This isn’t to suggest Kelce isn’t getting the job done, but he can do more. He would likely be the first one to tell you that.

If the talented tight end can take the proverbial leap, the Chiefs will benefit in a major way.