Isaiah Likely 2026 fantasy outlook and rest-of-season projection
- Age
- 26
- Height / weight
- 6'4", 241 lb
- Experience
- 5th season
- Drafted
- 2022 R4, #139
2026 Season
- PPR PPG
- 13.1
- Pos rank
- TE9
- Rostered
- 88%
Week 4 vs. Cardinals, Sun Oct 4, 1:00 PM ET 6th vs. TEs, favorable
Isaiah Likely Rest-of-Season Outlook
Every-down TE1 every week
Preseason Projection vs. Reality
He finished TE45 last season at 4.4 points per game.
Our Take After Week 4
Through 3 games he's TE9 at 13.1 PPR points per game, against 4.4 over 14 games last season (TE45). He's running ahead of last season's pace.
Last season he ranked 27th of 81 in route participation (51.3%), 34th of 82 in target share (8.8%) and 31st of 82 in efficiency (1.29 yards per route run). His points come from his route participation. Target share is the soft spot. Jameis Winston is his quarterback.
The job is secure: he's the listed starter and one of the best at his position. The main risk is health, and Theo Johnson is next on the depth chart if he misses time.
The next favorable matchups are the Cardinals in Week 4 (6th against TEs) and the Commanders in Week 5 (2nd against TEs).
Read our preseason outlook (June 2026)
Published June 17, 2026. Kept for reference; the take above replaces it.
For four years Likely was a part-time piece behind Mark Andrews, and the underlying numbers still hint at what's been bottled up. In 2024 he posted a 0.478 EPA per play with a 63.8% success rate and turned 58 targets into six scores; even a banged-up, 12-game 2025 yielded a 0.15 EPA mark, 75% catch rate and a tidy 1.29 yards per route. He's never crossed 60 targets in a season. That ceiling is gone now.
The Giants paid $40 million over three years to make him the centerpiece tight end, and outside Malik Nabers (rehabbing an ACL) the pass-catching depth is thin. The path to a career-high target share is obvious, even if a run-leaning scheme caps the absolute volume. Projections near 66 catches and 790 yards make him a back-end TE1 worth a late-round shot around pick 130. The talent has always been there; finally so is the opportunity.
What Drives His Outlook
His 2025 rank among the 81 tight ends who played at least six games. Each bar is one tight end, best on the left; his is highlighted.
Route participation
Target share
Efficiency
- Average depth of target
- 8.0
- Drop rate
- 2.8%
- Red-zone targets
- 6
- Route participation
- 51.3%
- YAC per reception
- 4.3
What Could Change His Value
Upside
- A soft stretchThe Cardinals in Week 4 and the Commanders in Week 5 are top-10 matchups for TEs.Wk 4 ARI, 6thWk 5 WAS, 2ndWk 6 NO, 3rdWk 7 HOU, 16th
- Every-down route participation51.3% route participation, 27th of 81 TEs in 2025.
Risk
- HealthHis role is secure; if he misses time, Theo Johnson is next on the depth chart.
- Ball security2 fumbles in 2025.
All Isaiah Likely stats & analysis
TEs like Isaiah Likely
Isaiah Likely Fantasy Outlook FAQ
What is Isaiah Likely's fantasy outlook for the rest of the 2026 season?
Isaiah Likely projects as an every-down TE1 every week for the rest of the 2026 season: a weekly starter in TE-premium, 12-team and 10-team leagues. His route participation (51.3% route participation, 27th of 81 TEs in 2025) supports that. His target share (8.8% target share, 34th of 82 TEs in 2025) holds him back. See his live rank in Redraft Command.
What is Isaiah Likely's rest-of-season fantasy ranking?
Isaiah Likely is the TE9 in PPR points per game through Week 4. That puts him in TE1 territory, a weekly starter in 12-team leagues.
What is Isaiah Likely's projected role going forward?
Isaiah Likely is the listed starting TE, with Theo Johnson next on the depth chart. Nothing on the chart threatens the job, so the role is his to lose on performance.
Will Isaiah Likely get more targets?
Isaiah Likely's targets are holding steady: 7.5 a game over his last two games against 7.7 for the season. His share of the offense is what his fantasy value rides on.
What is Isaiah Likely's fantasy football upside?
Isaiah Likely's upside: his ceiling this season is 27.8 PPR points (Week 1, TE1), his route participation (51.3% route participation, 27th of 81 TEs in 2025) gives him a weekly floor to build on and the Cardinals in Week 4 and the Commanders in Week 5 are top-10 matchups for TEs.
What could hurt Isaiah Likely's fantasy value?
Isaiah Likely's risks: Theo Johnson is next on the depth chart if he is benched or hurt and his target share (8.8% target share, 34th of 82 TEs in 2025) limits his scoring. See his injury status and history.
How difficult is Isaiah Likely's remaining fantasy schedule?
Favorable: of his next seven games, 4 come against a top-10 matchup for TEs and 2 against one of the stingiest defenses, by PPR points allowed to the position.