5 Fantasy Football Week 1 replacements for Travis Kelce

Travis Kelce's injury comes at one of the worst possible times for fantasy football players, as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Detroit Lions Thursday night to officially kick off the 2023 NFL season. Fortunately, the injury is believed to be minor with no serious lingering effects. However, for Kelce's fantasy owners this means trouble because of the Chiefs' early Week 1 game. With just one day before game day, it is highly advisable to look elsewhere and have a contingency plan ready to go.

#5. Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans

Chigoziem Okonkwo entered the summer as one of fantasy football's hottest sleeper tight ends, and despite that, the second-year pro remains available in over half of ESPN's fantasy leagues. Okonkwo is coming off of an impressive rookie campaign where he caught 32 balls for 450 yards and three scores. The Tennessee Titans' new starting tight end had just four catches through the first seven weeks of 2022, but closed this season with four 10+ point efforts over his last six appearances.

Of course, the Titans will be expecting fellow sophomore Treylon Burks to take a leap forward, and they also added superstar wideout Deandre Hopkins, but the team's passing game is barren outside of those two. Given quarterback Ryan Tannehill's age and rapidly declining production, Okonkwo makes sense as a streamer option, at a minimum, serving as the team's safety valve underneath the defenses.

The New Orleans Saints will be a tough Week 1 matchup for the Titans, but Tennessee is going to need to find other ways to move the ball if Derrick Henry cannot get it going. Okonkwo should have a solid target floor this week and must be added to your fantasy roster if he is still available.

#4. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys

Longtime Dallas Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz has swapped Dallas for Houston, and signed with the Texans this offseason. Now, sophomore tight end Jake Ferguson has taken the reigns and will serve as the team's starting tight end for 2023.

The Cowboys did not have much outside of Ceedee Lamb and Schultz for targets in the passing game last year, but America's Team went out and added Brandin Cooks to the fold this summer. This, combined with a healthy Michael Gallup, means there will be plenty of options for Dak Prescott, who notably struggled in 2022. Despite a more crowded receiver room, Prescott still loves his tight ends.

Schultz was able to establish himself as a fantasy football force thanks to his consistency. The newly minted Houston Texan recorded 55 or more catches and 550 or more yards in each of the last three years, and his role now belongs to Jake Ferguson.

The sophomore tight end is only owned in 5.3 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues, and although regarded as more of a blocker, that is the kind of thing that will get you snaps and keep you on the field. The Cowboys run a high-octane offense capable of supporting multiple players in fantasy, and Ferguson should be no exception.

As a rookie in 2022, Ferguson caught four passes for 40 yards and a score against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6, and popped back up in Week 12 against the New York Giants when he caught three passes for 57 yards. The Giants have notoriously struggled to cover tight ends for several years, making Week 1 an inviting matchup for Ferguson and the Cowboys. For fantasy football managers frantically searching for Kelce cover, the 24-year-old is worth a flier.

#3. Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers

Rookie tight ends do not typically excel in their first year in the NFL, but Kyle Pitts did, and Luke Musgrave might too. Aaron Rodgers is now long gone and has joined the New York Jets, leaving Jordan Love as the starting quarterback with a very unproven supporting cast surrounding him, especially for fantasy football purposes.

For starting tight end Musgrave, this is excellent news. The 42nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft has 4.61 40-yard dash wheels and has run a ton of routes with the Packers' first-team offense during the preseason. And, Love has shown to be willing to get the ball to his tight end and attack the middle of the field. Combine this with Musgrave's speed and YAC ability, and there is some serious upside to be had here.

Musgrave has been trending upwards all offseason, but despite the love he has gotten from the broader fantasy football community, the rookie is owned in 6.5 percent of ESPN's fantasy leagues. He has been a popular selection in dynasty and 12 or even 14-man leagues, but the hype has not translated to more standard formats. You could do a lot worse than to give Musgrave a shot on your fantasy team for a week while Kelce nurses his knee.

#2. Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints

If you thought you heard the last of Taysom Hill, think again. Everyone's favorite tight end is back again in 2023, and will reprise his role as quarterback/running back/wide receiver/tight end.

The Saints should be a much improved team this season after adding Derek Carr at quarterback and returning a (finally?) healthy Mike Thomas at receiver alongside Chris Olave. However, Alvin Kamara is suspended for the first three games and rookie Kendre Miller is already banged up, meaning the Saints are already, once again, a headache for fantasy football managers.

With free agent signing Jamaal Williams assuming the role of starting running back, Carr and the Saints should be able to move the ball well enough, but Williams is not matchup-proof either. The Titans have a decent front seven and should be able to stymie New Orleans in the trenches at least a little bit, which could lead to some opportunities for Hill.

Hill is owned in only owned in 6.1 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues, and the Saints recently designated him as their No. 3 QB and not a tight end of any kind. The 33-year-old is certainly a dart throw for Week 1; his highs are high and his lows are low. However, it is worth noting that Hill finished 2022 with 10 or more points in four of his last five games. He also finished with fewer than five points six times.

Hill's production is completely enigmatic, and you could probably find more fantasy-relevant options out there. However, Hill is simultaneously your best bet for matching or surpassing Kelce's production for Week 1.

#1. Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills

Dalton Kincaid who? Yes, the Buffalo Bills did draft the uber-talented tight end in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but this does not necessarily mean or translate to fantasy football success. Based on pedigree alone, it seems, Kincaid is owned in 65 percent of ESPN's fantasy leagues, but a lot of his owners will be disappointed to find Dawson Knox still standing after all this.

Knox was a popular fantasy sleeper over the last few years, but disappointed his fantasy managers with just one performance over 10 fantasy points through Week 10 in 2022. However, the 26-year-old managed to secure his first Pro Bowl berth and closed the season with touchdowns in each of his last four appearances, including a 6-98-1 line against the Dolphins in Week 15.

Despite the addition of Kincaid, Knox' usage should not change all that much. Over the last two seasons, Knox is second amongst all tight ends in end zone targets, and has been expected to score the sixth-most touchdowns on those targets.

The fifth-year tight end has actually played a lot with Kincaid, rather than sitting on the bench in favor of him. It is entirely possible that Knox remains the "tight end" while Kincaid plays a role as more of a receiver, namely in the slot. So, while Kincaid might take targets away from Knox, Knox is still going to play and play a lot. He also has a very strong rapport with Josh Allen, and in one of the league's best offenses, that means a lot.

In contrast to his rookie compatriot, Knox is available in nearly 90 percent of ESPN fantasy football leagues and is being drafted in between Lions rookie Sam LaPorta and Tyler Conklin. It is very possible that Knox can repeat as a top-15 tight end option this year, and should have his opportunities against a tough Jets defense in Week 1 at the expense of the Stefon Diggs-Sauce Gardner matchup.