Isaiah Likely
Tight End #80
Isaiah Likely News
Isaiah Likely Showing Strong Connection With New Quarterback
The New York Giants have a lot riding on new tight end Isaiah Likely after they signed him to a three-year, $40 million deal in free agency in March, so it's good to hear from John Fennelly of Giants Wire that he and new quarterback Jaxson Dart "have already shown a connection in early workouts this past spring." The former fourth-rounder by the Baltimore Ravens out of Coastal Carolina in 2022 could never get out of Mark Andrews' shadow in his four seasons with the Ravens, but he'll have a chance to immediately break out in 2026 in his first year in the Big Apple after following head coach John Harbaugh to the Giants. The G-Men think that the 26-year-old can become offensive coordinator Matt Nagy's receiving tight end out of the slot to create mismatches for opposing defenses. Likely can also be used as a blocker, but the Giants will probably have others do most of that. After catching 135 of his 194 targets for 1,568 yards and 15 touchdowns in his first four NFL seasons with the Ravens, Likely will enter 2026 as a low-end TE1 target/high-end TE2 target in fantasy drafts with the potential for a true breakout in New York.
Jul 17, 2026 10:18 AM EST
Isaiah Likely has Clear Breakout Potential Now That he's Out of Baltimore
The Athletic's Dan Duggan writes that New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely is a breakout candidate in 2026 after signing a three-year, $40 million contract in free agency, the richest contract the team handed out in new head coach John Harbaugh's first season in the Big Apple. The big contract (he's now the fourth-highest-paid TE in the NFL) wasn't considered an overpay, either, because Likely's receiving talent is evident. The 26-year-old former fourth-rounder in 2022 by Baltimore out of Coastal Carolina never exceeded 42 receptions or 477 receiving yards in his four seasons in Baltimore because of the presence of veteran Mark Andrews. With the Giants, Likely will operate as the G-Men's unquestioned No. 1 tight end after following Harbaugh from Baltimore, and "the team needs his production to match his compensation." Likely's case for a 2026 breakout will be even stronger if top wideout Malik Nabers (knee) isn't ready for the start of the regular season in September. Likely is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 14 fantasy TE, but he'll have top-10 upside at the position if he stays healthy in his first year in New York.
Jul 15, 2026 11:02 AM EST
Isaiah Likely Remains a Potential Redraft Sleeper Entering 2026
After spending the first four seasons of his career with the Baltimore Ravens, tight end Isaiah Likely signed a three-year deal with the New York Giants this past spring. Likely consistently flashed upside as a Raven, but his production in Baltimore was limited by the presence of Ravens tight end Mark Andrews. In New York, Likely will play alongside another talented tight end in Theo Johnson. Still, the Giants' financial commitment to Likely seemingly indicates that he will get a chance to be his team's clear TE1 for the first time in his career. Even in a part-time role with the Ravens, Likely collected 11 receiving touchdowns across a two-season span from 2023 to 2024. Early reports out of Giants camp indicate that Likely has already begun to establish himself as a high-volume target in a New York passing game that is riddled with health and production question marks. Likely's profile comes with some risk, but he certainly has the potential to vastly outproduce his current redraft ADP of TE11.
Jul 7, 2026 10:30 AM EST
Isaiah Likely the Favorite Target of Young QB in Spring Practices
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely, who followed head coach John Harbaugh over from the Baltimore Ravens this offseason, was quarterback Jaxson Dart's "favorite target in open practices this spring," according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. The athletic tight end was dangerous on crossing routes, and his needle is pointing firmly up in fantasy football as the 2026 season nears. The 26-year-old former fourth-round pick of the Ravens in 2022 out of Coastal Carolina never had more than 477 yards in his four seasons in Baltimore, but he should be a featured piece of the Giants' offense after he saw a career-low 36 targets in 2025. Duggan writes that the G-Men gave Likely a three-year, $40 million contract based on the projection that he "will thrive" after spending the last four years in Mark Andrews' shadow. We should expect the Giants to "manufacture touches for Likely on screens." RotoBaller has likely ranked as the No. 12 fantasy TE right now, and if receiver Malik Nabers (knee) isn't ready for the start of the season, Likely's role will be even bigger early on.
Jun 12, 2026 9:56 AM EST
Isaiah Likely Carries Significant Dynasty Upside into First Season in New York
After spending the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens, tight end Isaiah Likely signed a three-year, $40 million contract in free agency with the New York Giants this past March. Likely routinely flashed high upside during his time in Baltimore, but his path to consistent fantasy production was blocked by the presence of fellow Ravens tight end Mark Andrews. In New York, Likely may now be facing another playing time split with incumbent Giants tight end Theo Johnson. However, the team's sizable financial commitment to Likely indicates that he is the Giants' TE1, as does Likely's familiarity with new Giants and former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. Additionally, Likely could conceivably open 2026 as the number one target in New York's passing game with star Giants wideout Malik Nabers (knee) facing an uncertain recovery timeline from the serious knee injury that ended his 2025 campaign. Likely's fantasy profile still lacks certainty, but his dynasty upside is significant as he enters his first season with his new team.
Jun 5, 2026 8:59 AM EST
Isaiah Likely Remains Well-Positioned for Mid-Career Breakout Following NFL Draft
After spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens, tight end Isaiah Likely landed a three-year, $40 million deal with the New York Giants in free agency. Likely flashed upside throughout his time with Baltimore, but his path to consistently fantasy-relevant production was often blocked by the presence of veteran Ravens tight end Mark Andrews. In New York, Likely could find himself in another timeshare for tight end snaps with incumbent Giants tight end Theo Johnson. Johnson had a solid year in 2025, recording 45 receptions for 528 yards and five touchdowns on 74 targets across 15 games. However, given the financial investment the Giants made in Likely and the fact that he's following former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh from Baltimore to New York, it wouldn't be shocking to see Likely open the year as the clear TE1. The Giants also do not have an obvious second option in the passing game behind star wideout Malik Nabers (knee), which could further open the door for a breakout year from Likely. A significant jump in production for Likely is not guaranteed, but his dynasty value is in a better spot after his move to New York.
Apr 28, 2026 8:58 AM EST
John Harbaugh "Certain" Isaiah Likely Will Break Out
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh said that he is "certain" tight end Isaiah Likely will take a major leap in 2026, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. Harbaugh explained that he saw tremendous upside in Likely when the two were together in Baltimore, but the tight end never had much of an opportunity to break out because of the scheme and personnel. Indeed, Likely had his career-worst fantasy finish last year, checking in as the TE45 with 27 catches, 307 yards, and one touchdown. If Harbaugh is right, Likely could be due for his first-ever top-18 finish in 2026. However, we also need to be careful of just how much trust we invest in offseason coachspeak. Likely finds himself in a crowded Giants offense that also features Malik Nabers (knee), Theo Johnson, Darius Slayton, and Darnell Mooney. Likely is a high-risk, high-reward trade target this offseason. He could break out, as Harbaugh suggested, but he could also be headed for another year in a depth role.
Apr 5, 2026 9:15 AM EST
Isaiah Likely Expected to be "Featured Piece" in Giants Offense
New tight end Isaiah Likely, who received a three-year, $40 million contract in free agency, is expected to be a "featured piece" in the New York Giants' offense this year, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. Duggan adds that the Giants essentially swapped Likely in for receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, "signaling the shift in their offensive approach" under new head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. Likely will be paired often with fellow TE Theo Johnson, while Chris Manhertz was re-signed as the primary blocker at the position. Likely, 25, was expected to be a bigger part of the Baltimore Ravens' offense in 2025 under Harbaugh, but the former fourth-rounder suffered a foot injury in the preseason and got a late start to the year. He never really recovered and finished with a career-low 27 catches for 307 yards and only one touchdown on 36 targets in 14 games (seven starts). Likely will be an obvious bounce-back candidate in fantasy football in 2026, although Johnson's presence could keep his ceiling low.
Mar 17, 2026 9:05 AM EST
Giants Signing Isaiah Likely to Three-Year Deal
The New York Giants are signing former Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely to a three-year, $40 million deal on Monday with a maximum value of $47.5 million, multiple sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. The deal makes Likely the third-highest paid tight end in the NFL and will pair him with young quarterback Jaxson Dart and receiver Malik Nabers. The 25-year-old will finally get out of the shadow of veteran Mark Andrews in Baltimore. The move to the Big Apple will make Likely a popular sleeper pick in 2026 fantasy football drafts with clear TE1 upside, although the Giants still have a very capable pass-catching TE in Theo Johnson. The money the Giants are giving Likely suggests he'll be the primary TE1 in New York next year, giving him the most fantasy upside he's had yet in his career. A foot injury caused Likely to get a late start in 2025, and he never recovered, finishing with a career-low 307 yards and only one touchdown on 27 catches through 14 games.
Mar 9, 2026 9:17 AM EST
Giants Targeting Isaiah Likely in Free Agency
Baltimore Ravens impending free-agent tight end Isaiah Likely is among the players that the New York Giants are targeting in free agency, with the legal tampering period starting on Monday, March 9, according to Connor Hughes of SNY. The obvious connection here is that new Giants head coach John Harbaugh coached Likely in Baltimore. The 25-year-old had 1,568 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns on 135 catches in his four seasons with the Ravens, but he suffered a foot injury in training camp that caused him to miss the start of the 2025 season, and he never really recovered. Likely finished with a 27-307-1 line in 14 games (seven starts). Ultimately, he just hasn't been able to get out of the shadow of Mark Andrews, which is why it would be smart for him to sign elsewhere this offseason. A move to New York might not be the ideal fit, however, with rising TE Theo Johnson already on the roster.
Mar 8, 2026 8:43 PM EST
Ravens Want to Re-Sign Isaiah Likely
Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said on Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine that the team would still like to re-sign impending free-agent tight end Isaiah Likely, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Likely had a career year in 2024 with 42 catches, 477 yards, and six touchdowns on 58 targets in 16 regular-season games, but a foot injury cost him three games to start the 2025 campaign, and he never recovered. The 25-year-old caught just 27 of his 36 targets for a career-low 307 yards and one touchdown in 14 games played. It didn't help his cause that quarterback Lamar Jackson missed time with injury, too, and had one of the worst years of his career. The Ravens want Likely to return, but it's looking more likely that Likely will look for greener pastures on the open market and potentially a chance to be a bona fide TE1. The presence of Mark Andrews in Baltimore has made Likely an inconsistent TE2 in fantasy.
Feb 24, 2026 8:12 AM EST
Isaiah Likely on his Way Out in Baltimore?
Baltimore Ravens impending free-agent tight end Isaiah Likely isn't ruling out a return to the Ravens in free agency, but he also said "business is business" when it comes to a team that recently signed TE Mark Andrews and receiver Rashod Bateman to new deals, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. Likely suffered a foot injury in the preseason that caused him to miss the first three games of the 2025 season, and he was never able to recover, finishing with just 27 catches for a career-low 307 yards and one touchdown in 14 games played. The 25-year-old told his agent that "I just want to be able to blossom," and that's unlikely to happen with the Ravens as long as Andrews is still around. All signs are pointing to Likely moving to another team this offseason, which should make him more attractive as a potential TE1 in fantasy.
Feb 23, 2026 9:13 AM EST
Ravens Haven't Made Progress in Extension Talks With Isaiah Likely
The Baltimore Ravens haven't made progress in their efforts to sign impending free-agent tight end Isaiah Likely to a contract extension, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Meanwhile, fellow TE Mark Andrews signed a four-year, $56 million contract with the team in September of 2021. Zrebiec writes that it will be very tough for the Ravens to have two guys making top-eight TE money with all their other needs. The 25-year-old Likely had a disappointing fourth year in the NFL in 2025, catching 27 of his 36 targets for a career-low 307 yards and only one touchdown in 14 games. He never really got on track after injuring his foot in training camp last summer. The good news for him is that his disappointing campaign is unlikely to impact his market in free agency this offseason. Likely is versatile and can be a significant weapon in the passing game, but he hasn't been able to stand out in fantasy in Baltimore with Andrews also involved. A change of scenery could be what Likely needs to take the next step.
Feb 17, 2026 11:38 AM EST
Isaiah Likely Could be a Good Fit in Washington
ESPN's Matt Bowen believes the best fit for Baltimore Ravens impending free-agent tight end Isaiah Likely is with the Washington Commanders. The Commanders are making the transition from Kliff Kingsbury to David Blough at offensive coordinator, and Likely "could replace free agent Zach Ertz as the middle-of-the-field target for quarterback Jayden Daniels." Ertz has been a solid TE for Washington, but he's not getting any younger and is coming off a torn ACL. Likely would bring more upside with his catch-and-run ability, and Blough could scheme things up to "create underneath one-on-ones" for Likely. The 25-year-old former fourth-round pick in 2022 out of Coastal Carolina caught a career-low 27 passes for 307 yards and one touchdown in 14 games last year, but he had a 42-477-6 line in 2024. Getting out of Mark Andrews' shadow will certainly be helpful for Likely's fantasy value.
Feb 17, 2026 7:38 AM EST
Isaiah Likely Continues to Struggle, Carries TE3 Value into Week 17
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely had some big hopes and expectations entering this season after breaking out in a handful of games last year. He had a bunch of "almost big plays" this season, but ultimately, he's cracked the TE1 level twice and TE2 once. Now, the Ravens are probably operating without Lamar Jackson (doubtful - back), and even Mark Andrews has struggled to produce much over the last few weeks. Likely is riding two straight goose egg weeks into a Week 17 matchup with the Green Bay Packers who are eighth against tight ends in the last four weeks. The fourth-year pro projects as the TE27 on RotoBaller's rankings, which means there are better options on the waiver wire for fantasy managers looking for a streamer in their playoff matchup.
Dec 26, 2025 11:42 AM EST
Isaiah Likely Looking to Avenge Last Week's Dud
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isiah Likely has underperformed expectations this season, and he reached a new season-low last week with zero targets. It was a shockingly poor performance against a Bengals defense that is typically atrocious against tight ends. He'll look to get back on track on Sunday Night Football in Week 16 against the New England Patriots. The Patriots haven't been particularly strong against tight ends, either, surrendering the eighth-most fantasy points and sixth-most receptions to the position. The matchup offers Likely an opportunity to bounce back, but his floor is still too low to rely on him as a fantasy starter in Week 16. He currently ranks as RotoBaller's TE23.
Dec 20, 2025 8:57 PM EST
Isaiah Likely has Sneaky TE1 Value in Week 15
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely has seen an increased amount of work over the last two weeks. He finished as the TE9 in each of the last two weeks in half-PPR formats, and saw six targets in both games while catching nine of the possible 12. The last time he took on the Cincinnati Bengals' defense in Week 13, Likely finished with five catches for 95 yards and a fumble. The Bengals are far and away the weakest defense against opposing tight ends (ranked 32nd on the season and last four weeks), so Likely and Mark Andrews should both see plenty of opportunities. The biggest issue is the game script and if the Ravens' coaching staff actually wants to commit to the run, roll with Andrews more often, or keep finding Likely. With that being said, Likely projects as the TE12 on RotoBaller's rankings this week.
Dec 13, 2025 11:21 AM EST
Isaiah Likely in Line for Increased Playing Time in Baltimore?
Across 10 games so far this season, Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely has recorded 22 receptions for 248 yards and a touchdown on 31 targets. While his full-season numbers don't jump off the page, the 25-year-old appears to be trending upwards. Over his last two games, Likely has hauled in nine catches for 124 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets. If not for an ill-fated fumble at the goal line in Week 13 and a questionable call on a dropped touchdown in Week 14, Likely might have three scores over the last two weeks. Given veteran tight end Mark Andrews' (glute) presence in Baltimore, Likely's playing time usually has a defined ceiling. However, Andrews popped up on Thursday's injury report as a limited practice participant due to a glute injury heading into Baltimore's Week 15 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. If Andrews is facing any sort of missed time, Likely would immediately emerge as a high-upside starting tight end option for fantasy managers.
Dec 12, 2025 10:49 AM EST
Isaiah Likely Could Have Deep-League Appeal Heading into Week 15
Although Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely has had a pair of high-profile near-touchdowns over the past two weeks, the 25-year-old is also quietly emerging as a more consistent feature in his team's passing game. Across his last two outings, Likely has recorded nine catches for 120 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets. Baltimore continues to split tight end snaps between Likely and veteran Mark Andrews, which limits the upside for both players. Still, Likely has proven to be a relatively capable target-earner in a part-time role. In Week 15, the Ravens have a highly favorable matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals' defense has struggled to contain tight ends this season, and Likely torched them for 95 receiving yards on five catches in Week 13. In deep leagues, Likely could be a solid tight end streamer for fantasy managers in Week 15.
Dec 8, 2025 11:03 PM EST
Isaiah Likely Could Be Worth Stashing After Increased Involvement in Week 13
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely posted his most productive performance of the season in Week 13, recording five catches for 95 yards on six targets against the Cincinnati Bengals. However, the 25-year-old was also responsible for one of the turning points in the game when he coughed up a fumble as he was crossing the goal line, turning a touchdown into a touchback. Still, Likely's increased involvement is a positive sign for fantasy managers. Although he's failed to find the end zone so far this season, Likely recorded six touchdowns on 58 targets across 16 games in 2024 and has shown stretches of red zone chemistry with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throughout his career. The presence of tight ends Mark Andrews and Charlie Kolar in Baltimore limits Likely's upside, as he's played fewer than 60% of the team's offensive snaps in six straight games heading into his Week 14 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, in deep fantasy leagues, Likely may be worth stashing off the waiver wire in case an injury to Andrews opens up a significant playing time opportunity in Baltimore.
Dec 2, 2025 11:59 AM EST
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