The New York Giants' offense operated like a well-oiled machine in quarterback J.J. McCarthy's first start with the club. Almost every member of the unit left their fingerprints on the thrilling 27-21 overtime road upset of the Houston Texans — except Isaiah Likely.
In a one-game sample, Likely's stock took the biggest hit from the Giants' signal-caller shake-up. He reeled in two of four targets for just 12 scoreless yards, a far cry from the torrent pace he was on with Jameis Winston under center. The dip in production was stark, though it's nothing a date with the hapless Philadelphia Eagles can't fix for the standout tight end.
New York is favored on the road against the Eagles for the first time in nearly two decades. The NFC East rivals are trending in polar opposite directions, and Philadelphia is arguably the friendliest matchup that Likely could've drawn post-bye.
Giants TE Isaiah Likely has a golden opportunity to get back on track vs. Eagles
81.4 percent of Likely's routes this season have come from the slot, where he does a ton of damage. The 26-year-old ranks second in the NFL among all players, not only TEs, in targets (50) and third in receiving yards (305) in that alignment. Guess who's been getting absolutely shredded by inside pass-catchers: the Eagles.
Philly's defense sits in the bottom three in receptions (60), receiving yards (734) and touchdowns (eight) allowed to the slot in 2026, and that's hardly a coincidence. Beyond Pro Bowler Zack Baun, their linebackers and safeties are a liability in coverage, namely Andrew Mukuba. Cornerback Cooper DeJean, the team's primary nickel, is seeing significant year-over-year regression, which also hasn't helped.
Not to mention, Giants star wideout Malik Nabers should see plenty of Eagles All-Pro corner Quinyon Mitchell. The latter is one of the league's premier shutdown guys who can truly take away an opponent's best option. Of course, the former is no slouch and is among football's top playmakers, yet there are better areas to attack than this heavyweight duel.
All in all, everything is falling into place for a big Likely bounce-back in Philadelphia, but factors outside his control may complicate matters. Big Blue is actively exploring the market for additional firepower ahead of the upcoming Nov. 10 trade deadline.
Giants' trade deadline plans may come at Isaiah Likely's expense
Whether New York's attempts to upgrade the roster, specifically at running back, prove successful remains to be seen. Head coach John Harbaugh has said (and shown) he'll "turn over every stone," however, and seems open to taking a massive swing. Indianapolis Colts workhorse running back Jonathan Taylor, a Salem, New Jersey native, is on the radar, and his arrival would ding Likely's usage and outlook.
A blockbuster swap for Taylor, or any high-profile tailback, changes the entire complexion of the G-Men. Considering his status as a three-down force and the presumed price to acquire him, he'd instantly become the focal point of their game plan. In this case, the days of funneling opportunities to Likely and (to a lesser degree) Nabers are over.
Harbaugh's desire to ground and pound is no secret; he wants to win in the trenches, for better or worse. It's been easier said than done with the Giants' shaky backfield. Taylor's presence solves that problem ... and probably means Likely will dud on a more recurring basis.
Note: Advanced metrics courtesy of Fantasy Points' data suite 2.0 ($).
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