The upcoming 2026 fantasy football season has sparked considerable debate regarding the prospects of tight end Isaiah Likely. Following his move to the New York Giants after a five-year tenure with the Baltimore Ravens, many in the fantasy community are eyeing him as a potential breakout candidate. However, a closer examination of his past performance and the context of his new team suggests a more cautious approach is warranted.
Detailed Analysis of Isaiah Likely's Fantasy Prospects
Isaiah Likely's transition to the New York Giants has ignited discussions among fantasy football managers. The narrative supporting his potential surge often highlights his reunion with coach John Harbaugh and the absence of a clear secondary receiving option behind Malik Nabers in the Giants' offense. This combination of opportunity and familiarity is presented as a catalyst for a significant performance increase.
However, it is crucial to temper this optimism with a review of Likely's track record over his five seasons in Baltimore. While he occasionally displayed glimpses of his talent, these moments were often isolated. For instance, his explosive 9-reception, 111-yard, 1-touchdown outing in Week 1 of the 2024 season led to a frenzy on the waiver wire, with many managers anticipating a sustained breakout. Yet, he only managed to achieve double-digit fantasy points in three other games throughout the remainder of that season. This pattern of intermittent flashes followed by inconsistent production has been a defining characteristic of his career.
The 2025 season was particularly challenging for Likely, as he averaged a mere 4.4 fantasy points per game, making him largely irrelevant for fantasy rosters. This poor performance occurred even while sharing the tight end room with a less effective Mark Andrews, who still commanded 70 targets over 17 games. Despite an open pathway to a more prominent role, Likely failed to capitalize. His statistics further underscore this point: he accumulated only 37 targets for the entire season, fewer than his reception total from the previous year. His target share stood at a modest 11.2%, and he earned a target on just 16.9% of his routes run, ranking him 39th in the league. Additionally, his 1.4 yards per route run placed him 26th. These metrics collectively indicate that his struggles were not merely a result of circumstances but rather a reflection of his on-field output.
The argument for Likely's resurgence in New York posits that he is finally in a favorable environment. Yet, this contradicts the reality of his situation in Baltimore, where he already had a similar opportunity to step up as the second passing option behind Zay Flowers. Despite this, he never firmly established himself in that role. Therefore, expecting a dramatic change in performance under the same head coach who, over five years, did not significantly alter his usage of Likely, seems overly optimistic. Coach Harbaugh's consistent deployment of Likely suggests a clear understanding of his capabilities.
Considering these factors, Likely is currently ranked as TE14, while his Average Draft Position (ADP) is TE12. The tight end position offers a deep pool of talent this season, diminishing the need for fantasy managers to chase speculative profiles. Consequently, many analysts, including myself, would advise against drafting Isaiah Likely in 2026.
Based on a thorough evaluation of Isaiah Likely's career trajectory and statistical performance, it appears prudent for fantasy managers to exercise caution. While the allure of a new team and potential opportunity is understandable, his past inconsistencies and statistical shortcomings suggest that a breakout season is far from guaranteed. Instead, focusing on more reliable tight end options in the draft might yield better results.
