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Yahoo Fantasy Football fantasy football takes on Isaiah Likely
Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from Yahoo Fantasy Football about Isaiah Likely.
25
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Insight ledger
All Yahoo Fantasy Football insights about Isaiah Likely
PositiveBreakoutSep 12, 2026
Likely is expected to be a focal point in the passing game after following head coach John Harbaugh from Baltimore and signing a $40 million contract. The 25-year-old was stuck behind Mark Andrews on the depth chart with the Ravens but in 10 games without Andrews throughout his first four NFL seasons, he scored seven touchdowns. The Cowboys allowed the second-most points in 2024, then allowed the most in 2025, yielding a league-high 60 touchdowns. They made sweeping personnel changes across the defense during the offseason but also have a first-time defensive coordinator. Star wide receiver Malik Nabers' health remains in question and plenty of focus is on the return of Odell Beckham Jr. The source states Likely is one of the most overlooked tight ends in Week 1 and has breakout potential, recommending to start him with confidence.PositiveValueSep 11, 2026
The source recommends Isaiah Likely as a tight end streamer option over Mark Andrews for Week 1, positioning him as a more attractive alternative given Andrews' decline and the shallow tight end position.PositiveProjectionSep 8, 2026
Isaiah Likely is ranked as the No. 6 tight end for Week 1 fantasy football, with a note to double-check status before kickoff.PositiveSleeperSep 4, 2026
Likely signed with the Giants to be the primary receiving tight end in a young, rising offense, following head coach John Harbaugh. Hayden Winks spotlighted him as essentially a slot receiver in New York's offense, with most projections placing him as the No. 2 target behind Malik Nabers. Over the past three years, among tight ends with 100+ targets, Likely ranks fourth in fantasy points per target (1.77), behind George Kittle, Tucker Kraft, and Mark Andrews. He's sitting in double-digit rounds despite a track record of thriving in solo roles in pass-catcher-light offenses, making him a legitimate candidate to finish top five at the position by year's end.PositiveRoleSep 3, 2026
Likely joined the Giants in free agency following head coach John Harbaugh from Baltimore. At 25 years old, he played second-fiddle to Mark Andrews throughout his first four seasons in Baltimore but is expected to be a focal point in the passing game alongside Malik Nabers. New offensive coordinator Matt Nagy comes from Kansas City, where he used Travis Kelce to create mismatches. Likely has top-five upside and could be viewed as a safer pick than Kittle or Kraft coming off injuries.NegativeValueSep 2, 2026
Isaiah Likely is recommended as a safer tight end alternative a round later than Kittle for leagues with short benches or no IR slot, in case Kittle's recovery takes longer than expected.PositiveRoleSep 1, 2026
The source drafted Isaiah Likely as a TE option, noting that he could see more targets in the event that Malik Nabers isn't ready or gets hurt again. The source also mentions that Likely could be used in the run game with a Josh Jacobs suspension looming, providing additional offensive role opportunity.NegativeDepth ChartAug 31, 2026
The source notes Likely left the Ravens in free agency, opening up target share in the Ravens passing game. With Likely departed, Zay Flowers should improve on his 2025 production.PositiveBreakoutAug 28, 2026
Likely was signed by John Harbaugh's Giants in March after never getting an extended chance to be the starter in Baltimore, where Mark Andrews blocked him from a proper fantasy breakout. Over his four-year career, Likely has averaged 11.6 yards per catch and scored 15 touchdowns; only George Kittle has more touchdowns and a higher yards-per-reception average over that span. The source projects that if Likely's targets increase from the 50-60 range to the 80-90 range, his efficiency and red-zone prowess will produce a tight end breakout. Likely and Dart form one of the source's favorite sneakier stacks in fantasy for 2026. At 26 years old, Likely is extremely cheap, going as TE13 in the 10th round. The source recommends pivoting to Likely as a consolation if you miss out on elite options like Brock Bowers or Tucker Kraft.NegativeRoleAug 24, 2026
The source drafted Likely as their TE1. The source notes that tight end could be viewed as a position of weakness on the roster, but they can always use depth at RB and WR to address that during the season if needed, suggesting Likely is a mid-tier TE option.NegativeBreakoutAug 21, 2026
Likely, 26, has followed head coach John Harbaugh from Baltimore to New York, where he will be a featured part of the Giants' passing attack and identified as the de facto No. 2 receiver behind Malik Nabers (who has recovered from a torn ACL and is on track for Week 1). Jaxson Dart's ability to make plays off-script meshes with Likely's strengths; Likely will serve as a red-zone weapon and downfield threat while fighting for YAC. The source emphasizes there is almost no risk associated with selecting Likely given his late-round ADP.NegativeBustAug 20, 2026
Hayden Winks rates Isaiah Likely as a good, not great player. The Giants will be among the most run-heavy teams with lots of FB/TE2 involved, and Likely won't be out there to block. Likely is basically a part-time slot receiver out there for 75-80% of routes, which is enough to be a low-end TE1 but Winks would fade anything higher than that. Winks prefers Bills TE Dalton Kincaid in a very similar role, noting Kincaid is a better receiver on a better offense.NegativeRoleAug 19, 2026
Likely's role in Baltimore's passing game remains uncertain as the Ravens explore other receiving options; the emergence of Ja'Kobi Lane as a potential WR2 adds competition to the receiving hierarchy beyond the traditional Mark Andrews-Likely dynamic.PositiveValueAug 19, 2026
One of the source's favorite later-round options at tight end this season; selected in the 11th round, making him a strong value play compared to earlier TE selections like Dallas Goedert.PositiveBreakoutAug 18, 2026
Likely is positioned as a prime breakout candidate for the Giants in 2026; at 26 years old, he has demonstrated the ability to step up when Mark Andrews missed games, and the source believes the opportunity for a big role on the offense is there. The source projects him to finish as a Top-10 TE this season. His ECR of 118 (TE12) has him going alongside proven players like Andrews, Dallas Goedert, Jake Ferguson, and Dalton Kincaid, but the source slightly prefers Likely to each of those guys given the upside case.PositiveBreakoutAug 18, 2026
Isaiah Likely is a prime breakout candidate for the Giants. He isn't really a traditional tight end but more of an oversized slot receiver with size/quickness combo (6'4", 240) that can be a tough cover for linebackers and safeties. While he has yet to put together a big season, he's still only 26 and usually stepped up when first string TE Mark Andrews missed games. Given the Giants' WR depth chart, there's opportunity for a big role on the offense. The source is here for the breakout case and thinks he'll finish as a Top-10 TE this season. His ECR of 118 (TE12) has him going alongside very good and more proven players (Andrews, Dallas Goedert, Jake Ferguson, Dalton Kincaid), and the source slightly prefers Likely to each of those guys given the upside case.NegativeRoleAug 18, 2026
Likely did not start for the Ravens in preseason Week 1 and lost snaps to FB Patrick Ricard, TE Theo Johnson and TE Chris Manhertz for blocking reasons. He played 6-of-16 snaps with the first-team, all pass plays where he did not have his hand in the dirt. The source notes this snap loss will hurt him on the margins, as 2-TE play-action shots are how explosive plays are found. However, Likely will still be out there for a bulk of obvious passing situations as an upside TE2, and could be argued as a fantasy TE1 at one point. The source ranks him TE12.NegativeBreakoutAug 12, 2026
Likely moves from backup to Mark Andrews on the Ravens to a starting role with the Giants, following head coach John Harbaugh to New York. The organization has identified him as the de facto No. 2 receiver behind Malik Nabers. Jaxson Dart's affinity for off-script plays aligns well with Likely's strengths, and he provides red-zone and downfield threats with strong yards-after-catch ability. The source ranks him TE12 with a low-end TE1 ceiling and emphasizes 'there's almost no risk associated with selecting Likely, given his late-round ADP.'NegativeProjectionAug 12, 2026
Positioned as a fringe low-end TE1, suggesting borderline starter status with limited upside.NegativeProjectionAug 12, 2026
Positioned as a fringe low-end TE1, indicating marginal tight end1 status with limited upside in fantasy scoring.PositiveProjectionAug 11, 2026
In TE Premium, if you don't have a starting tight end by Round 8, this is the final call for players with real upside. Though the elite range might be out of reach, Isaiah Likely has a path to being a mid-to-high-end TE1.PositiveRoleAug 11, 2026
Likely was brought in as a new tight end addition to the Giants' receiving corps to support Dart in 2026.NegativeDepth ChartJul 28, 2026
Tight end Isaiah Likely left the Ravens for a big deal elsewhere in the offseason, representing a loss to Baltimore's offensive weapons.PositiveRoleNo date
Ranked Tier III (#13 overall); John Harbaugh clearly wanted him in New York, and he should have a real opportunity for career highs across the board, especially if Malik Nabers misses time to start the season.PositiveBreakoutNo date
Likely figures to be in for a breakout campaign in 2026 after following Harbaugh from the Ravens to the Giants and finally getting out from under Mark Andrews' shadow. He totaled back-to-back 400-plus yard seasons with the Ravens in 2023-2024 but averaged just 17.4 routes run per game for his career (vs. 28.8 for top-20 TE in routes last season). With a full-time starting role expected, he's been a 'favorite target' of Jaxson Dart's this spring and has upside to insert himself into the top-12 of the group or better.