Travis Kelce of Kansas City Chiefs looking on.Travis Kelce (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs superstar tight end Travis Kelce hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down as he enters his age-35 season, but one ESPN writer believes that the regression will begin right here in 2024.

Last season, Travis Kelce missed two games but still compiled 93 receptions for 984 yards and five touchdowns. He was virtually unstoppable in the postseason, however, with 35 receptions for 355 yards and three touchdowns.

in his 2024 fantasy football projections, ESPN’s Mike Clay precicts Kelce to fall below 1,000 yards receiving for the second consecutive year. Clay has the three-time Super Bowl champion finishing with 83 receptions for 836 yards and seven touchdowns.

Clay believes Travis Kelce will lead Kansas City in receptions and yards while sharing the team lead in TD receptions with second-year wideout Rashee Rice. He predicts that Rice, Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy will all compile over 50 receptions and north of 700 yards receiving.

 

2023 marked the first year since 2015 where Kelce failed to hit 1,000 yards receiving. Of course, the perennial Pro Bowler would have undoubtedly hit the feat if he didn’t miss two games.

For his career, Kelce has 907 receptions for 11,328 yards and 74 touchdowns.

Travis Kelce & Chiefs Open 2024 vs. Ravens

Kelce and the Chiefs will welcome a familiar foe when reigning MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens travel to Arrowhead Stadium to visit KC in the NFL KIckoff Game on Sept. 5 at Arrowhead Stadium.

This will be a rematch from last year’s AFC Championship Game, in which the Chiefs won a defensive slugfest 17-10. Jackson is 1-4 in his career against Kansas City, with three losses decided by a single possession.

After playing host to Jackson and company, the Chiefs will stay home and welcome another familiar rival in Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.

VIDEO: Former NFL MVP Cam Newton Lays Down Some Harsh Criticism For Caitlin Clark As She Continues To Take A Ton Of Punishment

Cam Newton on a podcast and Caitlin Clark complaining during a game.Cam Newton and Caitlin Clark (Photos via YouTube and Getty Images)
Former Carolina Panthers star quarterback and 2015 NFL MVP Award winner Cam Newton gave Caitlin Clark some constructive criticism on how to deal with the physicality that she has endured from her WNBA opponents.

Caitlin Clark has come as advertised for the Indiana Fever, but it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows for the Iowa product and her giant fanbase. Clark’s opponents have noticeably gotten rather physical against her, and officials frequently fail to blow whistles on instances where she is clearly fouled.

That notion reared its ugly head a week ago when Chennedy Carter of the Chicago Sky delivered an unnecessary shoulder check on Clark after making a two-point basket in the third quarter of their game. Officials called a standard foul on Carter at the time, but the WNBA later reviewed the play and upgraded it to a flagrant foul.

While countless fans have expressed disgust and frustration with the amount of physical contact Clark has taken from her opponents, Newton took a different approach during the latest edition of his “4th & 1 with Cam Newton” show:

“Why are we actin’ as if she’s America’s sweetheart in a league that, she’s in a league full of hyenas and lions, tigers and bears? Everybody is comin’ after you to try to dethrone you, and trying to get in your head-mentally, physically, emotionally. And this is just an example of that.

“Nobody is above getting checked or being disliked. So, Caitlin, welcome to the big leagues. Everybody ain’t gonna like you. Everybody not gon’ like the fact that you just are as young as you are and you’re the face of the WNBA. They’re not gonna like the fact that Nike just dropped a big boy bag on you. So, yeah…what did Steve Smith say? You gotta ice up, son.”

Steve Smith Sr., Newton’s former teammate, famously said “Ice up son” to then-New England Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib after his Panthers defeated Tom Brady and company in a 2013 Monday night showdown.

To her credit, Caitlin Clark has taken the high road and refused to call out her opponents or the officials publicly. But if the physical contact against her continues to ramp up, the WNBA may ultimately decide to step in and protect one of its most marketable stars.

Caitlin Clark Is Off To A Phenomenal Start

The 22-year-old hasn’t disappointed in the slightest since turning professional.

Through her first 12 games, Clark is averaging 16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game while shooting 32.7 percent from downtown. The Iowa legend had 30 points (matching her personal best) in Friday night’s 85-83 win over the Washington Mystics.