Who Should I Start? Jonnu Smith or Isaiah Likely

Sunday, August 31, 3:42 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith is reunited with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith for a third time, a partnership that has historically produced fantasy-relevant results. Smith said of his OC: "We've had a lot of success together. He will continue to move that needle, bring the best out of you, and demand the best from you. It's why we get along so well." Last year with the Miami Dolphins, Smith posted the best season of his career, with 88 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdowns. However, in his previous stint with Arthur Smith in Atlanta, he caught 50 passes for 582 yards and three touchdowns, which was his prior best. While the Steelers have other talented pass-catchers, including tight end Pat Freiermuth, Smith's offense has historically used multiple tight-end formations more than any other team. RotoBaller currently ranks the 30-year-old as a mid-range TE2 (ranked TE20) with potential for increased production due to his familiarity with the system. Smith's history with the offense and a strong preseason make him a solid late-round tight end target and a potential starter if needed.

Wednesday, August 27, 6:51 PM

Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said that "we expect him back in the early part of the season," when asked about the timetable for injured tight end Isaiah Likely (foot). Likely was not placed on short-term Injured Reserve on Tuesday despite suffering a small fracture in his foot early in training camp in late July that required surgery. While it's ultimately good news for the 25-year-old, it doesn't mean that Likely is going to be ready to play in the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 7, against the Buffalo Bills. Likely's injury definitely makes veteran Mark Andrews are more intriguing midrange TE1 target in upcoming fantasy drafts. Likely had a slightly bigger role alongside Andrews in 2024 and finished with a 42-477-6 line (all career-highs) in 16 regular-season games (nine starts). Likely is a low-end TE2 worth stashing in fantasy, especially TE-premium leagues.