The Kansas City Chiefs’ revenge tour begins on primetime as Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and co. open their 2026 campaign against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football.
The Chiefs are coming off their first missed postseason since 2014, bookending a dynastic run that featured five Super Bowl appearances and three titles. With a healthy Patrick Mahomes under center, Kansas City aims to remind the league who runs the AFC West — opening the season against the division’s defending champs.
Kickoff from Arrowhead Stadium is at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Chiefs are 2.5-point home favorites with -130 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Broncos are +110 underdogs, with the game total set at O/U 43.5 points.
Let’s dive into the top Travis Kelce prop bet for Monday’s clash between the Broncos and the Chiefs.
Travis Kelce Receptions Pick for Broncos vs. Chiefs
Best Bet: Travis Kelce 5+ Receptions (+125)
Even after a disappointing 2025, Andy Reid’s Chiefs are merely one season removed from a blistering six-year stretch that featured five Super Bowl appearances and three titles. At the heart of their reign was one of the league’s most prolific QB-TE connections between Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
Although Kelce, 36, is slowing down in the twilight of his career, he’s still an 11-time Pro Bowler for a reason. The future Hall of Famer finished last year ranked sixth among tight ends in receptions (76) and fourth in receiving yards (851). Kelce hauled in five or more catches in eight games last season, including both matchups against the Broncos. In their first meeting in Week 11, he exploded for nine catches on 13 targets — both season highs.
Mahomes is returning to the gridiron for the first time since tearing his ACL and LCL late last season, and Monday night is anything but a tune-up game. The Chiefs are pitted against one of the sport’s most imposing defenses, which led the NFL with 68 sacks in 2025.
But while Denver’s pass rush and secondary were largely elite last year, the team struggled to defend tight ends. The Broncos ranked in the league’s bottom third in targets, receptions, and yards allowed to the position — something that Mahomes and Kelce repeatedly exposed in their two matchups.
With Mahomes attempting to recapture his MVP form against one of the NFL’s most dominant coverages, his favorite target should serve as a reliable safety valve. And at plus odds, there’s tantalizing value in backing Kelce to pile up at least five receptions on Monday Night Football.
