Who Should I Start? Ian Thomas or Isaiah Likely

Tuesday, March 25, 1:32 PM

The Las Vegas Raiders announced on Tuesday that they signed free-agent tight end Ian Thomas (calf) to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday. Thomas will head to the AFC West after spending the first seven years of his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers after they selected him in the fourth round (101st overall) in the 2018 NFL draft out of Indiana. The 28-year-old never really established himself as a fantasy asset in Carolina, with his best season coming in his rookie campaign with a 36-333-2 line on 49 targets in 16 games (six starts). Thomas landed on Injured Reserve in 2024 with a calf injury and only caught three of six targets for seven yards in five games (two starts). He scored four touchdowns in his first three seasons but hasn't found the end zone since. In Vegas, he'll provide TE depth behind Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer and will remain off the fantasy radar.

Friday, September 12, 12:51 PM

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (foot) was in uniform and doing a workout in front of the training and medical staff on Friday, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Likely has "upped his activity level" and is getting closer, but he won't play in Week 2 against the division-rival Cleveland Browns. It sounds as though Likely could return as early as Week 3 against the Detroit Lions after fracturing his foot in training camp. The 25-year-old will miss a second straight game to open the year, giving veteran tight end Mark Andrews an opportunity for increased opportunities this Sunday after he fell flat in the season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills last Sunday night, when he had just one catch for five yards. We'd expect Andrews to be more involved this weekend, especially if receiver Rashod Bateman (undisclosed) cannot play.