Source + player page
Footballguys fantasy football takes on Isaiah Likely
Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from Footballguys about Isaiah Likely.
22
Insights
20
Positive
0
Negative
Insight ledger
All Footballguys insights about Isaiah Likely
PositiveValueJul 31, 2026
Likely is being targeted regularly by his new Giants quarterback in early training camp, especially with Malik Nabers still on the shelf. Per Jake Ciely of The Athletic, Likely could join the group of tight ends who lead their teams in targets. Despite limited usage in Baltimore, Likely has an attractive 11.6 yards per reception (seventh best, min. 100 targets) and 5.5 yards after catch per reception, ahead of Dalton Kincaid, Sam LaPorta, Brock Bowers, and many others. While there are no guarantees with Likely, he offers significant upside as a tight end taken outside the top-10 at the position.PositiveValueJul 31, 2026
Likely is being targeted regularly by his new Giants quarterback in early training camp, especially with Malik Nabers still on the shelf. Per Jake Ciely of The Athletic, Likely could join the group of tight ends who lead their teams in targets, particularly if Nabers misses the start of the season. Despite limited usage in Baltimore, Likely has an attractive 11.6 yards per reception (seventh-best, min. 100 targets) and 5.5 yards after catch per reception, ahead of Dalton Kincaid, Sam LaPorta, and Brock Bowers. While there are no guarantees, Likely offers significant upside for a tight end taken outside the top-10 at the position.PositiveValueJul 31, 2026
Likely is being targeted regularly by his new Giants quarterback in early training camp, especially with Malik Nabers still on the shelf. Per Jake Ciely of The Athletic, Likely could join the group of tight ends who lead their teams in targets, particularly if Nabers misses the start of the season. Despite limited usage in Baltimore, Likely has an attractive 11.6 yards per reception (seventh best, min. 100 targets) and 5.5 yards after catch per reception, ahead of Dalton Kincaid, Sam LaPorta, Brock Bowers, and many others. While there are no guarantees with Likely on the Giants, he offers significant upside for a tight end taken outside the top-10 at the position.PositiveValueJul 31, 2026
Likely is already being targeted regularly by his new Giants quarterback in early training camp, especially with Malik Nabers still on the shelf. He could join the group of tight ends who lead their teams in targets. Despite limited usage in Baltimore, Likely has an attractive 11.6 yards per reception (seventh-best among tight ends with min. 100 targets) and 5.5 yards after catch per reception, ahead of Dalton Kincaid, Sam LaPorta, Brock Bowers, and many others. He offers significant upside for a tight end taken outside the top-10 at the position.PositiveValueJul 31, 2026
Likely is already being targeted regularly by his new Giants quarterback in early training camp, especially with Malik Nabers still on the shelf. Jake Ciely notes Likely could join the group of tight ends who lead their teams in targets, particularly if Nabers misses the start of the season. Despite limited usage in Baltimore, Likely has an attractive 11.6 yards per reception (seventh-best, min. 100 targets) and 5.5 yards after catch per reception, ahead of Dalton Kincaid, Sam LaPorta, and Brock Bowers. He offers significant upside for a tight end taken outside the top-10 at the position.PositiveBreakoutJul 30, 2026
Likely finally has the opportunity to break out after years behind Mark Andrews in Baltimore. Despite limited targets, in games with at least 4 targets over the last three seasons, he averaged 10.9 fantasy points per game (TE1-level numbers). Now reunited with John Harbaugh at the Giants, he can be Jaxson Dart's second aerial option. The departure of Wan'Dale Robinson opens short and intermediate route opportunities. Theo Johnson's presence limits upside, but in casual leagues he should be available around Round 13 and is worth speculating on as a late-round TE.PositiveBreakoutJul 30, 2026
Likely finally has the opportunity to break out with the Giants at ADP TE13, though the source notes few seem aware. After multiple seasons requesting a trade from Baltimore, his departure was finally granted. Being behind Mark Andrews did not reflect a lack of ability. In the last three seasons, in games where he played 16 snaps, he had at least 4 targets and averaged 10.9 fantasy points per game (low TE1 numbers). The source expresses enthusiasm about the elements supporting his breakout.PositiveBreakoutJul 30, 2026
Likely finally has the opportunity to break out after years behind Mark Andrews in Baltimore. Despite limited targets, in games with at least 4 targets over the last three seasons, he averaged 10.9 fantasy points per game—TE1-level production. The source is enthusiastic about his late-round value because he reunites with John Harbaugh, can be the second aerial option for Jaxson Dart, and the Giants offense could make a significant leap. Wan'Dale Robinson's departure opens short and intermediate route opportunities. Theo Johnson's presence limits upside, but in casual leagues he should be available around Round 13 and is worth speculating on.PositiveBreakoutJul 30, 2026
Likely could finally break out after being traded from the Ravens to the Giants. His time behind Mark Andrews did not reflect a lack of ability. In the last three seasons, in games where he played 16 snaps, he had at least 4 targets and averaged 10.9 fantasy points per game (low-end TE1 numbers). The source expresses enthusiasm about his potential with the Giants, suggesting his opportunity has finally arrived after years of requesting a departure from Baltimore.PositiveBreakoutJul 30, 2026
Likely finally has the opportunity to break out after years behind Mark Andrews in Baltimore. Despite limited targets, in games with at least 4 targets over the last three seasons, he averaged 10.9 fantasy points per game (TE1-caliber numbers). Now reunited with John Harbaugh in New York, he can be the second aerial option to Jaxson Dart; the Giants' offense could make a significant leap with Wan'Dale Robinson's departure opening short and intermediate route opportunities. Theo Johnson's presence limits upside, but in casual leagues he's findable around Round 13 and worth speculating on.PositiveBreakoutJul 30, 2026
Likely is a Giants TE at ADP TE13 who could finally break out after years with the Ravens. The source notes his time behind Mark Andrews did not reflect a lack of ability. In the last three seasons, in games where he played 16 snaps, he had at least 4 targets and averaged 10.9 fantasy points per game (low TE1 numbers). The source expresses enthusiasm about his potential with the Giants, suggesting he has been undervalued and could finally get the opportunity to produce at a TE1 level.NegativeProjectionJul 27, 2026
Isaiah Likely finished as TE21 in 2023 (30 receptions, 411 yards, 5 TDs, 5.1 PPG) at age 23 in his second year. His performance represents the historical baseline for TE21 ADP performance over the last five seasons.PositiveRoleJul 26, 2026
The Giants made their biggest free-agent investment in Likely, and he's expected to be a featured piece of the offense. The team essentially swapped Likely in for Robinson, signaling a shift in their offensive approach. OC Matt Nagy plans to use Likely as a receiving tight end in the slot, creating logistical mismatches for opposing defenses. Likely should see more volume in New York than he did in Baltimore, though Zach Charbonnet. That wants to see evidence of a substantial role and developing chemistry with Jaxson Dart in training camp before investing at his TE12 ADP.PositiveRoleJul 26, 2026
Likely was signed by the Giants as their biggest free-agent investment and is expected to be a featured piece of the offense. The Giants essentially swapped Likely in for Wan'Dale Robinson, signaling a shift in their offensive approach. Coaches feel that Likely can become a weapon as OC Matt Nagy's 'U,' or receiving tight end, setting up shop in the slot and creating logistical mismatches for opposing defenses. He should see more volume in New York than he did in Baltimore, where he never moved ahead of Andrews on the depth chart and recorded just 27 receptions for 307 yards over 14 games last season.NegativeValueJul 26, 2026
Likely is currently at TE12 ADP. Zach Charbonnet. That is optimistic about his role in New York but wants to see evidence in training camp before investing at that price—specifically local observers reporting a substantial role in the passing offense and developing chemistry with Jaxson Dart. The argument hinges on volume, but opportunity has to be earned first; first-team reps, target hierarchy, and deployment will signal when Likely deserves to move up the draft board.PositiveRoleJul 26, 2026
The Giants made their biggest free-agent investment in Likely, and he's expected to be a featured piece of the offense. The team essentially swapped Likely in for Robinson, signaling a shift in their offensive approach. OC Matt Nagy plans to use Likely as a receiving tight end in the slot, creating logistical mismatches for opposing defenses. Likely should see more volume in New York than he did in Baltimore, where he recorded 27 receptions for 307 yards over 14 games and never moved ahead of Andrews on the depth chart.PositiveRoleJul 26, 2026
Likely joined the Giants as their biggest free-agent investment and is expected to be a featured piece of the offense. The Giants essentially swapped Likely in for Wan'Dale Robinson, signaling a shift in their offensive approach. Likely never hit his potential in Baltimore and never moved ahead of Mark Andrews on the depth chart, recording just 27 receptions for 307 yards over 14 games last season. Now in New York, coaches feel Likely can become a weapon as OC Matt Nagy's 'U,' or receiving tight end, setting up shop in the slot and creating logistical mismatches for opposing defenses. The argument centers on volume, and Likely should see more of that in New York than he did in Baltimore.PositiveValueJul 21, 2026
Isaiah Likely's contract with the Giants ($40 million over three years, $26 million guaranteed) ranks 4th in annual average value ($13.33M) among all tight ends, placing him in the same tier as George Kittle, Trey McBride, and Kyle Pitts Sr. This top-tier starter money illustrates the Giants' structural commitment to his role and the value they place on him, contrasting sharply with his TE18 finish in Baltimore despite being drafted as high as TE22 in preseason ADP.PositiveSleeperJul 21, 2026
Isaiah Likely, a four-year fantasy sleeper with the Ravens who never finished higher than TE18, is being drafted as TE11 this season after signing a three-year, $40 million contract ($26 million guaranteed) with the New York Giants. The source argues the stars are finally aligning for him to deliver every-week value in 12-team leagues due to: (1) John Harbaugh's Giants regime prioritizing him in free agency as the most intriguing available tight end; (2) his top-tier starter contract ranking 4th in AAV among all tight ends; (3) an open depth chart with targets behind Malik Nabers up for grabs while Nabers recovers from injury; and (4) young quarterback Jaxson Dart bringing playmaking talent.PositiveBreakoutJul 15, 2026
The source projects Isaiah Likely as a breakout candidate in 2026 after joining the Giants. Despite not posting big numbers over four seasons with the Ravens due to situation rather than talent, the 26-year-old is now out from under Mark Andrews' shadow and signed with the Giants. The source notes there is a legitimate chance he spends a big chunk of the 2026 season as the top option in the Giants' passing game, with Malik Nabers' Week 1 availability uncertain and the rest of the pass-catching corps consisting of "a whole lotta blah." The Giants playing from behind with regularity further supports breakout potential.PositiveBreakoutJul 15, 2026
The source projects Likely will lead the Giants in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches on the way to a top-five PPR finish at tight end in 2026. At 26 years old, Likely is out from under Mark Andrews' shadow and making big money with New York. The source argues there's a legitimate chance he becomes the top option in the Giants' passing game, especially with uncertainty around Malik Nabers' Week 1 availability and the rest of the pass-catching corps being "a whole lotta blah." With the Giants playing from behind regularly, Likely is positioned for a major breakout.PositiveValueJul 6, 2026
At tight end, there are three doors: pay big bucks for McBride or Brock Bowers, target a second tier 4-5 players deep, or wait for 'Other Guys.' There isn't an 'Other Guy' with higher ceiling than Isaiah Likely, and his asking price is already creeping up. While Likely has never been tasked with being a no-doubt TE1, John Harbaugh is confident enough he can be that player that he brought Likely with him from Baltimore. Likely is going to shatter his career-highs across the board this year. Top-five upside with a sticker price outside the top-10. The source notes 'Likely a wise pick. Get it?'