RADIO
Isaiah Likely fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 12 (2023). Our advice on whether you should start or sit Isaiah Likely for fantasy lineups.
BALLER MOVE: Start in 10+ Team Leagues
POSITIONAL VALUE: TE1
ANALYSIS: With the unfortunate injury to Mark Andrews in Week 11 that placed him on IR, the door is now ajar for second-year tight end Isaiah Likely to step up and fill his massive shoes. The 23-year-old from Coastal Carolina came into the league with major receiving chops, posting 900+ yards and 12 touchdowns his senior season.
Likely flashed countless times last season, filling the TE1 spot for Mark Andrews a few times when he was dealing with injuries or resting due to playoff seeding locked up. In games where Likely saw more than 60% of snaps, he finished as a top-10 tight end.
2023 has been a different story, as Likely has only recorded one game with more than a single reception thus far and zero top-15 finishes. Even when Andrews has missed time, the young backup tight end has produced next to nothing. Week 2 (Andrews out): one rec, eight yards on one target. Week 11 (Andrews left early 1Q): zero rec on two targets.
The difference moving forward is that Likely can now be game-planned into the offense from the get-go. Todd Monken has had an entire week of knowing that Andrews will be out moving forward and can devise a plan to get Likely more involved. With what we saw last year, Likely is clearly a talented player and it would be foolish not to get him more looks in a passing offense that has had its fair share of struggles.
Oh, and the Chargers cannot stop anyone on defense no matter how opposing teams choose to attack. Los Angeles ranks 30th against tight ends in PPR, setting up Likely for a nice prime time performance. Based on his proven talent and the wonderful matchup, he is a fine TE1 option this week and should be for the rest of the season.
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