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Will Chiefs Figure Out What The Rest Of Us Know? Kelce Needs The Ball

Written By Bob Harris | fantasy football | Posted 14-Nov-14 @ 0:44 PT

As NFL.com's Chris Wesseling noted Thursday, the Chiefs have been one of the NFL's hottest teams since their season-opening loss to the Titans. They have managed to reel off six wins in their past seven games without a single touchdown by a wide receiver.

Beyond Jamaal Charles, how is Alex Smith's ball-control offense moving the chains?

After speaking with defensive coordinators and head coaches about the NFL's most underappreciated offensive players, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock provided an answer.

Chiefs' second-year tight end Travis Kelce was "the common denominator, the hot name" as the most underrated star, according to Mayock.

Kelce is second only to Dwayne Bowe in receptions and yards and leads Kansas City with four receiving touchdowns. According to Pro Football Focus, Kelce has been the most effective run-after-catch tight end in the league this season.

A former quarterback with only two years of experience at tight end, Kelce is an athletic freak with 4.61 wheels and power-forward size.

Although he drew comparisons to Jason Witten, Heath Miller and Jeremy Shockey coming out of Cincinnati two years ago, Wesseling has been touting him as a less physical version of Rob Gronkowski since August.

As Wesseling summed up: "Limited to roughly half of the offensive snaps in his first healthy season, Kelce has only scratched the surface of immense potential."

To which fantasy nation says: "Scratch harder."

Meanwhile, ChiefsDigest.com's Herbie Teope reports that receiver A.J. Jenkins (shoulder) did not practice Thursday as the Chiefs prepare to host the Seattle Seahawks.

Jenkins, who worked on a limited basis Wednesday, joined tight end Anthony Fasano (knee) as a non-participant. Thursday marked a second straight day of missed practice for Fasano.

Wide receiver Donnie Avery (groin) was limited Thursday.

Avery returned to practice last week, also in a limited fashion, as he attempts to return to action after undergoing a sports hernia procedure in early October. Avery has missed five straight games.