Who Should I Start? Jonnu Smith or Isaiah Likely

Friday, November 21, 8:41 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith failed to catch a single pass in Week 11, marking his first game without a reception since Week 4 of last season. Though the matchup against the Chicago Bears is favorable, there is little reason to expect Smith to bounce back to fantasy relevance in Week 12. The Steelers remain unpredictable in how they deploy their tight ends, with Smith, Pat Freiermuth, and Darnell Washington all playing significant snaps. It is clear, however, that Smith's fantasy value is entirely touchdown-dependent, as he has topped 20 receiving yards just four times this year. As the TE29 in RotoBaller's Week 12 rankings, fantasy managers should look elsewhere for a streaming option.

Saturday, November 22, 11:57 AM

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely has yet to post a breakthrough performance and hasn't found the end zone yet this season. That's a big difference from his six touchdowns and four double-digit fantasy point finishes from last year. Likely has also been dealing with some nagging injuries for most of the year, which could be playing a part in everything. The New York Jets are 15th against opposing tight ends this season, and have only given up one touchdown and 160 yards to the position over the last four weeks. While Likely should see an extra target or two with Rashod Bateman (ankle) sidelined, it doesn't seem like a prime time for a breakout performance. He's currently projected as a low-end TE2, leaving him outside of the fantasy radar in most leagues.