Isaiah Likely

Isaiah Likely enters the 2026 fantasy football season in a much better situation than he did a year ago, because he’s now with the Giants after signing a three-year, $40 million deal that could rise to $47.5 million. That move matters a lot for fantasy, since it gives him a clearer path to a featured role than he had in Baltimore, where he often had to share the tight end spotlight. If he stays healthy, he has the profile of a player who can turn volume into real weekly upside.

The biggest question with Likely is durability, and that has to be part of the fantasy conversation. His 2025 season was derailed by a broken foot in training camp that required surgery, delaying his debut and forcing him to work back into form. Recent updates have suggested he’s recovered from that injury and was back practicing by late August, which is encouraging for his availability heading into 2026.

On the field, the appeal is pretty straightforward: Likely is the kind of tight end who can win after the catch and make the most of targets in space, which is exactly why analysts have been projecting a breakout-style season for him. Some 2026 fantasy projections have him around the TE1/TE2 border, with estimates in the 101- to 156-point range depending on format, which shows both his upside and the uncertainty around how his role shakes out in a new offense. In other words, the ceiling is real, but the floor still depends on health and chemistry.

For fantasy drafts, Likely looks like a strong mid-round target with difference-making upside if you wait on tight end. He’s not quite in the locked-in elite tier, but he’s absolutely the kind of player who can outperform his ADP and become a weekly starter if the Giants feature him the way many expect. If you want a confident 2026 breakout bet at tight end, Likely is one of the better names to circle.