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Factoid

Travis Kelce

Kelce in 2022 was an all-time difference maker

A popular theory that was kicked around during training camp involved Travis Kelce declining significantly. He was turning 33 in October, after all, and with Tyreek Hill gone, it would potentially result in more teams being able to take him away with double teams. That was the theory.

It didn’t age well.

Kelce instead had one of his best seasons, catching 110 passes for 1,338 yards and 12 touchdowns. All other tight ends finished at least 24 catches for 424 yards back. George Kittle was the only tight end to finish within 5 touchdowns of him (with a late flurry, Kittle finished with 11 TDs).

For fantasy purposes, these numbers made Kelce a huge difference maker. He’s just a lot better than everyone else at his position. Using PPR scoring, Kelce was over 100 points better than any other tight end.

Since the merger in 1970, only three other players have been 100 points more productive than anyone else at their position (again, using PPR). Christian McCaffrey did it in 2019. Emmitt Smith in 1995. And Kellen Winslow back in 1980.

Below see the rundown of the 41 players in the last 53 seasons who’ve been at least 50 points better than anyone else at their position. You get one of those players on your fantasy roster, and typically you’re going to have a good year.

Tight ends, by the way, are well represented on this list, holding 10 of the spots. Typically there are one or two dominant players at the position, who put up numbers a lot better than what you get with a middle- or later-round pick.

SEPARATING FROM THE PACK (1970-)
YearPosPlayerYardsTDPPRNext BestDiff
2019RBChristian McCaffrey, Car.2,39219471.2Aaron Jones, G.B.152.4
1995RBEmmitt Smith, Dall.2,14825426.8Barry Sanders, Det.116.5
1980TE• Kellen Winslow, S.D.1,2909272.0Dave Casper, 2TM111.6
2022TETravis Kelce, K.C.1,34312318.3T.J. Hockenson, 2TM100.9
2019WRMichael Thomas, N.O.1,7169374.6Chris Godwin, T.B.98.5
1986QBDan Marino, Mia.4,74344413.0Boomer Esiason, Cin.98.5
2021WRCooper Kupp, LAR1,96516439.5Davante Adams, G.B.95.2
2010RBArian Foster, Hou.2,22018396.0Peyton Hillis, Cle.91.0
2000TE• Tony Gonzalez, K.C.1,2039267.3Shannon Sharpe, Balt.89.3
2001RBMarshall Faulk, St.L.2,14721425.7Priest Holmes, K.C.86.8
2016RBDavid Johnson, Ariz.2,11820413.8Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.86.4
1998QBSteve Young, S.F.4,62442441.9Brett Favre, G.B.86.0
2013TE• Jimmy Graham, N.O.1,21516303.5Tony Gonzalez, Atl.84.6
2007QBTom Brady, N.E.4,90452462.1Tony Romo, Dall.82.7
2007WRRandy Moss, N.E.1,49323385.3Reggie Wayne, Ind.69.9
1986TE• Todd Christensen, Oak.1,1538258.3Mark Bavaro, NYG68.2
2018QBPatrick Mahomes, K.C.5,36952496.1Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt.66.9
1980WRJohn Jefferson, S.D.1,35613295.6Dwight Clark, S.F.66.5
1984QBDan Marino, Mia.5,07748445.5Neil Lomax, St.L.66.4
2009RBChris Johnson, Ten.2,50916398.9Adrian Peterson, Min.66.0
1990WRJerry Rice, S.F.1,50213328.2Andre Rison, Atl.65.4
1987WRJerry Rice, S.F.1,12923315.9J.T. Smith, St.L.65.2
2006RBLaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.2,34333483.3Steven Jackson, St.L.63.9
2013QBPeyton Manning, Den.5,44656498.8Drew Brees, N.O.61.5
1987TE• Mark Bavaro, NYG8678189.7Robert Awalt, St.L.60.0
2008TE• Tony Gonzalez, K.C.1,05810261.8Jason Witten, Dall.59.5
2010TE• Jason Witten, Dall.1,0029250.2Vernon Davis, S.F.58.8
1992WRSterling Sharpe, G.B.1,46913332.9Jerry Rice, S.F.57.0
2005TE• Antonio Gates, S.D.1,10110259.1Todd Heap, Balt.56.6
2000RBMarshall Faulk, St.L.2,18926459.9Edgerrin James, Ind.56.6
2002RBPriest Holmes, K.C.2,28724442.7LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.56.5
1994RBEmmitt Smith, Dall.1,82522364.5Barry Sanders, Det.55.9
1993QBSteve Young, S.F.4,43231372.1John Elway, Den.55.2
1996TE• Shannon Sharpe, Den.1,06210246.2Wesley Walls, Car.53.9
1986WRJerry Rice, S.F.1,65816347.0Stanley Morgan, N.E.53.9
2015RBDevonta Freeman, Atl.1,63414320.4Adrian Peterson, Min.53.7
1994QBSteve Young, S.F.4,26242413.8Brett Favre, G.B.53.5
1993RBEmmitt Smith, Dall.1,90010307.0Thurman Thomas, Buff.52.8
1988QBRandall Cunningham, Phil.4,43230384.8Jim Everett, LAR52.2
1974WRCliff Branch, Oak.1,09213247.2Drew Pearson, Dall.51.6
2014WRAntonio Brown, Pitt.1,73115391.1Demaryius Thomas, Den.50.2

Statistics compiled using search tools at Pro-Football-Reference.com

—Ian Allan

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