FantasyPros ArticlesPlayer newsMain player profile
Source + player page

FantasyPros Articles fantasy football takes on Isaiah Likely

Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from FantasyPros Articles about Isaiah Likely.

79
Insights
42
Positive
14
Negative
Insight ledger

All FantasyPros Articles insights about Isaiah Likely

PositiveProjectionSep 12, 2026
Likely's 2025 season was crushed by a preseason foot injury; his 2024 season is more relevant. In 2024, among 57 qualifying tight ends, Likely ranked 17th in target per route run rate, tenth in yards per route run, eighth in first downs per route run, and eighth in fantasy points per route run. After signing a lucrative deal with the Giants this offseason, Likely should be their clear starting tight end and a strong part of their passing game, expected to open the season as the second option behind Malik Nabers. Dallas secondary was overhauled but allowed the fourth-most yards per target and fifth-most fantasy points per opportunity to tight ends in Weeks 12-18 last year; Likely could easily be a strong TE1 in Week 1.
Insight pageOriginal
PositiveProjectionSep 9, 2026
Using 2024 metrics, Likely ranked 17th in target per route run rate, tenth in yards per route run, eighth in first downs per route run, and eighth in fantasy points per route run among 57 qualifying tight ends. After signing a lucrative deal with the Giants this offseason, Likely should be their clear starting tight end and a strong part of their passing game. The source expects Likely to open the season as the second option in the passing game behind only Malik Nabers, positioning him for TE1 upside in Week 1.
Insight pageOriginal
PositiveProjectionSep 8, 2026
Isaiah Likely seems destined to emerge as the clear number two target in the Giants' passing attack, competing with Malachi Fields and Darnell Mooney behind Malik Nabers. His major upside lies in the touchdown department; he scored 15 times in a complementary role behind Mark Andrews in Baltimore. Now that Likely stands to be the out-and-out TE1, his overall usage should surpass anything done in Baltimore with career highs in catches, yards, and scores all firmly on the table, supporting a top-5 tight end finish.
Insight pageOriginal
NegativeBustSep 8, 2026
The source calls Likely the single most overpriced player in 2026 fantasy football drafts. He never really did more than occasionally flash upside during his time with the Ravens. He might not even be a full-time player, as he split first-team reps with third-year tight end Theo Johnson in preseason. At absolute best, Likely will eventually be the second target on a likely bad offense behind target-hog Malik Nabers. The source recommends moving him now before it's too late.
Insight pageOriginal
PositiveSleeperSep 6, 2026
Likely secured a three-year, $40 million deal with the Giants after flashing explosive playmaking behind Mark Andrews. Built more like a wideout than a traditional tight end, he offers a different level of separation and versatility. In 2026, he steps into an offense led by Jaxson Dart, a quarterback who targets the middle of the field and leans heavily on his tight ends. Early camp reports show a strong connection between Dart and Likely. Freed from heavy in-line duties, Likely will line up all over the formation as a primary target with one of the highest-upside profiles on the board and a direct path to beating his ADP.
Insight pageOriginal
PositiveProjectionSep 5, 2026
Stephen Floyd sees Likely as the type of tight end he wants when searching for a league winner: talent finally meeting opportunity. After four seasons sharing the field with Mark Andrews, Likely signed a three-year deal with New York and enters as the Giants' starting tight end, with training camp showing repeated indications the offense intends to feature the position. Jaxson Dart already showed willingness to target tight ends as a rookie, and Likely has demonstrated high-end efficiency when given meaningful volume. At roughly TE13 cost, Floyd would rather chase Likely's path to becoming one of Dart's primary targets than pay a premium for established names.
Insight pageOriginal
PositiveSleeperSep 5, 2026
Tal Malachovsky identifies Likely as a late-round bet to emerge as a true difference-maker at tight end. After spending four years sharing the field with Mark Andrews, Likely finally gets a much larger role with the Giants, where there is very little established target competition behind Malik Nabers. New York invested heavily in him with a three-year, $40 million deal, and his reunion with John Harbaugh should keep him heavily involved, particularly near the goal line. At a price around TE11 to TE13, Likely doesn't need to become an elite real-life tight end to smash his ADP; if volume finally catches up to talent, he has upside to become a weekly top-five option.
Insight pageOriginal
PositiveValueSep 2, 2026
Stephen Floyd frames Isaiah Likely as exactly the type of tight end to target for league winner: talent finally meeting opportunity; after four seasons sharing field with Mark Andrews, Likely signed three-year deal with New York and enters season as Giants' starting tight end; training camp provided repeated indications offense intends to feature position; Jaxson Dart already showed willingness to target tight ends as rookie and Likely demonstrated high-end efficiency when given meaningful volume; at roughly TE13 cost, Floyd prefers chasing his path to becoming one of Dart's primary targets over paying premium for established names.
Insight pageOriginal
PositiveSleeperSep 2, 2026
Tal Malachovsky identifies Isaiah Likely as one of his favorite late-round bets to emerge as true difference-maker at tight end; after spending four years sharing field with Mark Andrews, finally gets chance to step into much larger role with Giants where very little established target competition exists behind Malik Nabers; New York invested heavily with three-year, $40 million deal; reunion with John Harbaugh should keep him heavily involved, particularly near goal line; at TE11 to TE13 price, doesn't need to become elite real-life tight end to smash ADP; if volume finally catches up to talent, has upside to become weekly top-five option without costing anything close to that on draft day.
Insight pageOriginal
PositiveProjectionSep 1, 2026
Looking back to 2024, Likely ranked 17th in target per route run rate, tenth in yards per route run, eighth in first downs per route run, and eighth in fantasy points per route run among 57 qualifying tight ends. After signing a lucrative deal with the Giants this offseason, Likely should be their clear starting tight end and a strong part of their passing game, with only Darnell Mooney, Darius Slayton, Calvin Austin, and Malachi Fields to contend with for targets behind Malik Nabers. The source projects Likely could easily be a solid TE1 in 2026 and is worth a late-round dart.
Insight pageOriginal
PositiveSleeperAug 30, 2026
Likely reunites with John Harbaugh at the Giants after splitting time with Mark Andrews for four years in Baltimore. The familiarity in offensive scheme and increase in playing time, targets, and opportunity position him as the top tight-end option for New York. Despite low usage in Baltimore, Likely produced over 300 yards on 27 receptions. Currently drafted as the 12th tight-end, he is projected to see 65-70+ receptions and 700 yards, putting him just a few touchdowns away from second-tier production in PPR leagues.
Insight pageOriginal
PositiveValueAug 24, 2026
Isaiah Likely is available at Fantrax ADP 125 (TE11), representing the biggest discount on this list with a 16-pick gap compared to FantasyPros ADP of 109. His situation has changed dramatically for the better: after four seasons behind Mark Andrews in Baltimore, he signed with the Giants and enters 2026 with a clear path to targets. During his first four NFL seasons, he caught 135 passes for 1,568 yards and 15 touchdowns. The source projects he could push for 80 receptions and 900 yards in his first year in New York. His 2025 production of 27 catches for 307 yards and one touchdown makes the pick look risky on surface stats, but that's exactly why his ADP is so appealing on Fantrax. At pick 125, downside is limited while upside is substantial; he could easily outperform his draft position and become one of the better late-round tight end values.
Insight pageOriginal
PositiveProjectionAug 23, 2026
Likely's 2025 season was crushed by a foot injury sustained in the preseason, and Derek Brown can't honestly tell if he was fully healthy last season. Brown tosses the 2025 campaign in the trash and rewinds to 2024, when among 57 qualifying tight ends, Likely ranked 17th in target per route run rate, tenth in yards per route run, and eighth in first downs per route run and fantasy points per route run. After signing a lucrative deal with the Giants this offseason, Likely should be their clear starting tight end and a strong part of their passing game, with only Darnell Mooney, Darius Slayton, Calvin Austin, and Malachi Fields to contend with for targets behind Malik Nabers. Brown projects Likely could easily be a solid TE1 this season and is worth a late-round dart in a ton of drafts in 2026.
Insight pageOriginal
PositiveRoleAug 19, 2026
Likely was Big Blue's major free-agent signing, inking a three-year, $40 million deal to reunite with head coach John Harbaugh. All reports from practice note that Likely is currently the perpetual second-read for quarterback Jaxson Dart, behind receiver Malik Nabers. With an overwhelming number of targets vacated after Wan'Dale Robinson left, Likely is a lock to see the most looks in his career after playing the perpetual backup role behind Mark Andrews with the Ravens. The source notes this is an entirely different role and situation where past statistics make little sense for projection. Likely is a freak athlete and "move" tight end capable of feasting in the seam against smaller defensive backs and safeties, and should be a focal point in the red zone thanks to his huge catch radius.
Insight pageOriginal
PositiveBreakoutAug 6, 2026
Likely checks all boxes of the breakout TE checklist: he is one of the top two targets on his team (praised in camp as Jaxson Dart's go-to target, locked in as second option behind Malik Nabers); the Giants offense is predicted to score the same as Saints and Broncos in 2026; he has both blocking ability and receiving ability to remain on field for majority of snaps; John Harbaugh brought him over from Baltimore where he was splitting work with Mark Andrews, now positioned as the clear lead TE. The source projects him to finish well above his TE12 ADP.
Insight pageOriginal
PositiveBreakoutAug 5, 2026
Andrew Erickson identifies Likely as TE13 with significant upside. The Ravens opted to sign Mark Andrews to more years rather than extend Likely in the final year of his rookie deal. Likely struggled with injuries to himself and his QB in 2025, which hurt his production along with several near-miss touchdowns. Entering free agency and signing with the New York Giants, his stock is nowhere near where it was last year (TE16 finish in 2024). However, when Andrews missed time in the past, Likely averaged 11 PPG, equivalent to TE5 in PPG last year, warranting a shot if he carves out a clear TE1 role with John Harbaugh as head coach in NY. Harbaugh is one of the biggest Likely supporters, boding well for ample opportunities. Likely is ESPN's 3rd-highest-ranked TE in receiver score since 2023. He could be the de facto No. 1 target in Big Blue while Malik Nabers ramps up from his ACL injury, creating a perfect storm for a late-round tight end.
Insight pageOriginal
PositiveBreakoutJul 23, 2026
Isaiah Likely, ranked TE13 in ECR, is a breakout candidate following his head coach John Harbaugh from Baltimore to the Giants. He slots in as a top-two target on the offense behind Malik Nabers, and may even be the top target due to Nabers' ACL injury recovery concerns. Likely demonstrated elite upside when Andrews missed time in Baltimore (11 PPG, equivalent to TE5 in PPG last year), and is ESPN's 3rd-highest-ranked TE in receiver score since 2023. Harbaugh is known as one of Likely's biggest supporters, boding well for ample opportunities. With Nabers potentially unavailable early and the Giants losing WanDale Robinson in free agency, Likely could be the de facto No. 1 target and late-round tight end gem in 2026.
Insight pageOriginal
PositiveValueJul 22, 2026
Likely was picked in round ten as the go-to option for anyone skipping the top tight end tier entirely. He projects as the clear number two target earner in his offense, with a real path to being the number one target earner if his team's top receiver misses time, which remains a real possibility. Tossing out an injury-limited down year entirely, his last healthy season graded him top 10 among qualifying tight ends in both yards per route run and first downs per route run. He's currently going as essentially a free, double-digit-round alternative to paying up at the position.
Insight pageOriginal
PositiveValueNo date
At 108 ADP in round nine, Likely is a fine upside click for dynasty drafts. He signed a three-year, $40-million deal with the Giants after the Ravens let him walk, stepping into a lead tight end role over Theo Johnson. Despite career lows in targets (37), receptions (27), yards (307), and touchdowns (one) in 2025 due to an early-season sprained ankle, Likely is one of the best separators at the position, finishing 5th and 6th among all tight ends in target separation over the past two seasons. With Malik Nabers recovering from an ACL tear, quarterback Jaxson Dart is expected to look Likely's way early and often, similar to how he targeted Wan'Dale Robinson. The source projects Likely could be valued as a top-eight tight end asset this time next year.
Insight pageOriginal