Travis Kelce's meteoric rise in popularity —‚ football reasons aside — is undeniable. His followers have increased exponentially, ratings for Chiefs games have skyrocketed, and he constantly ranks as one of the most heavily bet players on the prop market.
There are two general schools of thought projecting Kelce against the Bills.
On one hand, it's been somewhat of a down year for the future Hall of Famer. He's seeing fewer double times, there's a noticeable dip in explosive plays and — like the rest of the Chiefs — he's had his fair share of drops, including three last week.
On the other hand, Kelce owns the Bills, especially in the playoffs. Buffalo's defense is banged up and there's a theory that the 34-year-old has simply been slow playing it in 2023, conserving his energy for the right moment.
So which is it? Let's dive right into the best Travis Kelce prop bets for Chiefs-Bills this weekend, starting with the props we have the most confidence in cashing on. Good luck, have fun, and enjoy the second round of the NFL Playoffs!
Travis Kelce player props: Best bets for Chiefs TE vs. Bills
All odds courtesy of Sports Interaction, Canada's most trusted sportsbook. Bet on this weekend's NFL games now!
Travis Kelce catches: OVER 5.5 (-140)
Many feel that the 34-year-old Kelce's underwhelming regular season made him look (a) old, (b) washed up, or (c) disinterested. Others surmised that the increased media attention and heightened public interest in his every move started affecting his ability to prepare for games and execute on the field.
I'm not buying it, especially after last week.
Kelce's showing against Miami wasn't one of his greatest games ever — not even close, especially with the aforementioned drops — but he sure proved that he can still handle volume in big games. All said, he caught 7-of-10 targets for 71 yards in what really should have been another 100-yard game.
He's also gone for at least six catches in six straight playoff games, the third-longest streak in NFL history. Given his history against Buffalo — including six catches back in Week 14 — over 5.5 receptions is a prop to hammer.
Travis Kelce to score touchdown anytime (+125)
We've seen Mahomes look Kelce's way in the red zone, on third downs, and in clutch situations late in games for years — so why wouldn't we hop on this value, at least for a 20-spot for a chance to profit $25!? The man is way overdue for a score — he has somehow gone seven games without a touchdown.
Prior to last week against the Dolphins — in which Kelce dropped a likely touchdown — he found pay dirt in six straight playoff games.
Do we really expect Mr. Swift will let that drought continue in the game of the year!? He's second on the list of all-time postseason TD scorers (behind the great Jerry Rice, of course), and we just can't imagine he gets held out of the end zone for the eighth game in a row.
Travis Kelce receiving yards: UNDER 61.5 yards (O -115 / U -115)
This one's too close for comfort — I like Kelce to come down with at least six catches, but I'm not certain he can eclipse 61.5. Rookie wideout Rashee Rice and second-year running back Isiah Pacheco have turned into the real lethal weapons for this Chiefs team.
Rice was the breakout star in the wild card win while Pacheco — who did not play against the Bills in Week 14 — received a season-high 24 carries.
It's also entirely possible Buffalo sells out across the middle of the field to ensure Kelce isn't the one who beats the Bills. It could turn into a 'bend but don't break' type approach, similar to what we have seen with Bill Belichick against Buffalo's top options for many years.
We simply can't advise betting the OVER on Kelce's catches, betting him to score a touchdown, and betting his receiving yards OVER. The trifecta will be ruined one way or another, we just know it, and this could be the culprit. Buffalo surrendered just 44.5 receiving yards per game to tight ends this season and Kelce finished below 61.5 eight times during the regular-season campaign!
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