Noah

Gray

Gray will get $10 million in guaranteed money on his new deal. He’s a three-year vet of the league and has spent his entire career with the Chiefs. A good knower of the system, he’s a sure bet to see decent snaps if Travis Kelce were ever to miss time, and he has a career receiving line of 63-640-4 in 50 career games. Gray is now under contract through 2027.

Third-year pro Gray inched up on his 2022 totals but still finished with an underwhelming receiver slash of 28/305/2. That was somehow good for fifth on the Chiefs in receiving, but Gray never threatened for more than TE2 streamer value in fantasy. Heading into the final year of his rookie contract, the only way for Gray to get on the 2024 radar would probably be a surprise Travis Kelce retirement.

With Travis Kelce sidelined, Gray tied for the team lead in targets, but he didn’t do anything with them. In fact, one of Gray’s missed connections was his most notable, as he made a classic “business decision” to avoid an admittedly crushing hit. Smart for Gray’s health, but not the sort of thing that is going to keep him involved once Kelce returns, perhaps as early as Week 2 against the Jaguars.

We haven’t received official word on Travis Kelce’s (knee) status for the evening, but Bushman being elevated before kickoff isn’t a good sign. The only fantasy weight Bushman carries heading into Week 1 is what his elevation could signal for Kelce. If Kelce is unable to go, Noah Gray would be on the radar as a desperation streamer. In addition to Bushman, the Chiefs also elevated DT Matt Dickerson.

Kelce was believed to have suffered a hyper-extended knee in Tuesday’s practice, but underwent an MRI to confirm the severity of his injury. His availability for Thursday night’s matchup against the Lions is very much up in the air at this point, but the team will reportedly test his knee again on Wednesday to determine is status for the game. Backup tight end Noah Gray would be on the streaming radar if Kelce is unable to go on Thursday.

Rapoport also notes that Kelce’s injury is “not believed to be a long-term injury,” but the team will “wait for swelling to go down and go from there.” Kelce was listed as a limited participant in Tuesday’s practice, but his participation in Wednesday’s practice could be more telling about his status for Thursday night’s game. If he’s unable to go against the Lions, Noah Gray would have some upside as a streaming option.

This would certainly put a damper on the Chiefs’ Week 1 opener against the Lions on Thursday night. Kelce’s injury comes just two days before the Chiefs are set to kickoff the season in primetime, which gives him limited time to recover before Thursday evening. His status could be one to monitor up until the team announces inactives 90 minutes before kickoffs, but fantasy managers would be wise to have a contingency option in place. Noah Gray is listed as the backup to Kelce on the team’s depth chart and could serve as a viable pivot off the All-Pro tight end, but there are likely other tight ends with more certain roles currently on waivers.

Bell, who had surgery in August, will miss the regular season’s first four weeks. Bell caught nine of 13 targets in 2021 as a little-used second or third tight end in the KC offense. His absence will likely lead to increased snaps for Noah Gray in a Chiefs offense that should use more two-TE sets than it has in recent years.

Gray led the Chiefs in tight end targets with Travis Kelce (COVID-19) sidelined. He’ll return to his role as KC’s nominal TE2 when Kelce returns next week against the Bengals.

Kelce, who is vaccinated against COVID-19, couldn’t make it back after testing positive for the virus early this week. Tyreek Hill cleared the league’s COVID protocols and will suit up against Pittsburgh. In Kelce’s place, Noah Gray and Blake Bell will likely split tight end duties for KC. Neither is a reliable fantasy option.