Who Should I Start? Isaiah Likely or Gunnar Helm

Monday, September 1, 3:51 PM

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (foot) was not seen at Monday's practice, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. It's not a suprise, as Likely had foot surgery on Aug. 1 and is expected to miss the start of the 2025 regular season. While the 25-year-old will not be ready to play in Sunday night's Week 1 showdown against the Buffalo Bills, the Ravens do expect him to return in the early part of the season. The fact that Baltimore didn't put Likely on Injured Reserve to begin the year means he should be back before Week 5. Likely saw an increased role alongside Mark Andrews in 2024, catching 42 passes for 477 yards and six touchdowns in 16 regular-season games (nine starts), and he has 11 TDs the last two seasons. However, the presence of Andrews limits his fantasy upside as a touchdown-dependent TE2 heading into his fourth NFL season.

Sunday, August 31, 1:09 PM

Tennessee Titans tight end Gunnar Helm logged five receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown on and was PFF's highest-graded player at the position this preseason. The Titans invested a fourth-round pick in the Texas product, and it could prove to be a steal should Helm continue to impress. While Chig Okonkwo is expected to start in 2025, he is entering the final year of his rookie contract, potentially opening the door for Helm to take over next season. Still, Helm's strong preseason suggests he is likely to have a role as a rookie as he works to build rapport with quarterback Cameron Ward early on. He shouldn't be prioritized in most redraft leagues, but Helm belongs on the radar for all fantasy managers heading into the regular season.