Nothing feels more like fantasy football season than your friend speaking a championship into existence after two straight years in last place.
With less than three months until the 2026 NFL season kicks off, GMEN HQ is previewing the New York Giants players who could land on your fantasy football roster.
After previously discussing Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo, let’s shift our attention to Giants tight end Isaiah Likely.
Should you draft New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely in fantasy football?
When building your preseason fantasy football strategy, I personally suggest focusing more on context than ADP or projected points.
John Harbaugh has unsurprisingly spent the offseason talking up Likely, whom he coached for the last four years in Baltimore.
Harbaugh loves his tight ends, with Todd Heap, Dennis Pitta, and Mark Andrews all being invaluable across Harbaugh’s nearly two decades coaching the Ravens.
Add in the many questions surrounding the Giants’ receivers, and you have an easy path for Likely to thrive in Matt Nagy’s offense.
Jaxson Dart needs a safety blanket, especially with Wan’Dale Robinson now in Tennessee. I’m personally not overly worried about Likely being a first-time starter after four years as the Ravens’ TE2.
Harbaugh saw enough of Likely not only to bring him to New York, but to guarantee him $21 million over three years.
I’m also not concerned by the thought of Theo Johnson taking snaps or targets away from Likely.
Johnson made major improvements as a receiving tight end last year, and he’ll continue factoring into the Giants’ offense. If anything, Johnson has a better chance of stealing targets from thereceiversthan Likely.
Whether or not you want Likely as your TE1 depends on how you typically build your roster. Many fantasy players have a strategy they stick to, regardless of the yearly results. I’ve gone running back in the first round lately, and I haven’t advanced beyond the playoffs’ opening round in a couple of years.
If you’re someone who prefers to take a tight end extremely early, then you’re better off with Trey McBride or Brock Bowers. But if you’re content waiting until the fourth or fifth round, then you should absolutely target Likely.
By no means are we predicting that Likely will explode for a 75-catch, 1,000-yard season. We nonetheless believe in how the Giants will use the tight end and how he’ll more than live up to expectations.
Unless, of course, you’re among those who have set your expectations incredibly high.
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