RADIO
Isaiah Likely Looks to Build on Fast Start
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely went off on Monday Night Football against the Cowboys, hauling in eight targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns. He led the team in receiving yards while finishing second in targets, just one behind Malik Nabers. Likely showed his athleticism and his scheme fit with new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy designing plays for him similar to the schemes that led to Travis Kelce flourishing under Nagy in Kansas City. He has a tough matchup in Week 2 against the Rams, but he looks ready to live up to the hype and be a true top-10 TE this season in a very heavily involved role with the Giants.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaiah Likely Shines With Two Touchdowns Against Cowboys
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely hauled in all eight targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns in the 28-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Likely was the team's leading receiver throughout training camp, and he lived up to the hype in Week 1. Of his eight catches, four came on third down. Despite playing only 49% of the snaps in Week 1, he looks primed for a key role in the passing game this season. With quarterback Jaxson Dart and the Giants offense looking sharp in Week 1, Likely should continue to see valuable opportunities in the passing game. He faces the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2, where Likely should be considered a mid-TE1 despite the limited snap share.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Isaiah Likely a Strong Starting Option Against Cowboys
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely is set to make his debut in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys. Likely signed a three-year, $40 million contract with the Giants this offseason, reuniting with former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh in New York. During his time in Baltimore, he had 135 receptions for 1,568 yards and 15 touchdowns in 63 games as the backup tight end behind Mark Andrews. Likely has been a key part of the Giants' offense throughout training camp, leading the team in receiving with star Malik Nabers (knee) missing most of camp. If Nabers is inactive or has a limited snap count in Week 1, Likely has a legitimate shot to be the team's leading receiver against the Cowboys' defense, which allowed the most passing yards in the NFL last season. Likely profiles as a low-end TE1 in the season opener and should be a solid starting option.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaiah Likely Could Hit The Ground Running This Season
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely is creating some real buzz in the fantasy community, mostly because he is no longer blocked from playing time behind Mark Andrews for the Baltimore Ravens. He has been impressive in training camp, and there is a real belief among many who follow the team that he emerges as the No. 2 target behind Malik Nabers on the outside for the Giants. Adam Bernstein of GMENHQ, a Giants blog, wrote this about Likely: "Given the state of New York's receiver room, there's a real chance he functions as Dart's No. 2 receiving option behind Malik Nabers." Likely played in 14 games last year with the Baltimore Ravens and caught 27 passes for 307 yards and a touchdown, playing most of the season behind Andrews on the depth chart. This is an opportunity for a breakout season for Likely in an expanded role.
Source: GMEN HQ blog
Source: GMEN HQ blog
Theo Johnson's Redraft Stock Has Slipped
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson still has a role, but the fantasy case has taken a hit. Johnson was productive last season, finishing with 45 catches for 528 yards and five touchdowns, yet Isaiah Likely has been the more prominent receiving option throughout camp. Likely caught six passes during live work in the Aug. 20 joint practice with Miami and was described by Jordan Raanan as one of Jaxson Dart's favorite targets. Johnson, meanwhile, had a quiet camp before a shoulder injury cost him additional practice time late in August. Head coach John Harbaugh has said Johnson should be ready for Week 1, so the injury itself is not the main concern. The bigger issue is where the targets are going. RotoBaller has Likely at TE15 in its September half-PPR rankings and Johnson at TE42. Johnson should still see the field, especially in two-tight-end sets, but he is looking more like a secondary option in the passing game than a breakout candidate.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaiah Likely Could Have a Breakout Season in First Year With Giants
ESPN's Dan Graziano does not think anyone should be surprised if tight end Isaiah Likely is a "breakout star" in his first season with the New York Giants in 2026. Likely followed head coach John Harbaugh from the Baltimore Ravens to the Giants in free agency, and Giants coaches "light up" when talking about Likely. The coaching staff thinks that Likely will "be a real asset" for quarterback Jaxson Dart as a receiver and "think he can win in both man and zone coverage." The Giants love how he has evolved his relationship with Dart, and he is a regular visitor to the QB room. The connection that Likely has formed with Dart on and off the field "could pay major dividends." Graziano thinks that Likely is a strong candidate to be the Giants' second-leading receiver this year, and potentially more if receiver Malik Nabers (knee) needs more time to get up to speed after tearing his ACL and meniscus early last year. The 26-year-old former fourth-rounder from Coastal Carolina never had over 477 receiving yards or six touchdowns in his four years in Baltimore, where he was in the shadow of Mark Andrews. Now that he is the TE1 in the Big Apple, Likely has clear TE1 upside in fantasy, with RotoBaller ranking him as the No. 15 player at the position heading into the new season.
Source: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano
Source: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano
Theo Johnson Wears Non-Contact Jersey at Monday's Practice
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (shoulder) was wearing a red, non-contact jersey at the team's practice on Monday, according to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. Johnson is still not a full-go this week after injuring his shoulder in practice last Monday. The fact that the 25-year-old was even out there on Monday suggests that he should be fine for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday night, Sept. 13, against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. The former fourth-round selection in the 2024 NFL draft from Penn State improved in his second season in 2025, catching 45 of his 74 targets for 528 yards and five touchdowns in 15 starts after posting a 29-331-1 line in 12 games as a rookie. Johnson could have a decent role in his third NFL campaign in a Giants offense that figures to utilize plenty of two-tight-end sets, but unless Isaiah Likely misses time with an injury, his fantasy football ceiling will be low in an offense that wants to ground and pound. At RotoBaller, Johnson is ranked as the No. 42 fantasy TE, so he should only be drafted for depth in two-TE leagues.
Source: New York Daily News - Pat Leonard
Source: New York Daily News - Pat Leonard
Isaiah Likely a Potential Steal at Current ADP
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely's stock continues to rise this offseason, but his ADP has remained quite reasonable as fantasy football drafts are in full swing. Entering this summer, there was uncertainty about how Likely and Theo Johnson would split reps in this Giants offense. As the preseason has progressed, it has become evident that not only is Likely the No. 1 tight end here, but he has also emerged as one of quarterback Jaxson Dart's favorite targets. There are plenty of vacated targets available following the departure of wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, who was targeted 280 times over the last two seasons. While a lot of those targets should go to Malik Nabers, who is coming back from an ACL tear, Likely should also see significant volume. Presumably, his floor is what we saw from Johnson last year: 45 catches, 528 yards, five touchdowns, and a TE18 finish. Meanwhile, his ceiling is a top-five fantasy tight end. There's a lot working in his favor, including the fact that he's athletic, sits atop the depth chart, has the trust of his quarterback and head coach, and plays in an offense that is trending upward. Likely currently has a 10th-round ADP in most leagues, which is a very reasonable price tag for a tight end who figures to get in your starting lineup every week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Theo Johnson Dealing With Shoulder Injury
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (shoulder) suffered a shoulder injury at training camp practice on Monday, head coach John Harbaugh told Evan Barnes of Newsday Sports. Although Johnson missed a third day of practice on Wednesday with his shoulder injury, all signs point to him avoiding a serious injury that would keep him from being able to play in the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. The 25-year-old former fourth-round selection in the 2024 NFL draft out of Penn State took a notable step forward in 2025 in his second season, catching 45 of his 74 targets for 528 yards and five touchdowns in 15 starts for the G-Men. Johnson would be a lot more attractive in fantasy football leagues if the Giants had not signed Isaiah Likely to lead their TE room in 2026. New York could run a considerable amount of two-tight-end sets with Likely and Johnson involved, but unless Likely is injured, Johnson is going to remain off the radar in single-TE leagues this year. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 41 TE this year.
Source: Newsday Sports - Evan Barnes
Source: Newsday Sports - Evan Barnes
Theo Johnson Suffers Undisclosed Injury on Monday
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (undisclosed) left training camp practice early on Monday with an undisclosed injury, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. Duggan described it as an "odd scene," with Johnson going down while blocking and trainers immediately coming out onto the field. Johnson then walked off, slammed his helmet, ripped his gloves off, and pulled his hood over his head. He walked directly off the field toward the locker room and was walking briskly while not being accompanied by a trainer. It does not sound like a significant injury for the 25-year-old, but we will have an update on the specific nature of his injury when those details emerge. The former fourth-rounder in 2024 from Penn State is set to operate as New York's TE2 behind newcomer Isaiah Likely in his third NFL season in 2026, leaving little fantasy upside in single-TE leagues. Johnson took a step forward in his sophomore campaign in 2025, catching 45 of his 74 targets for 528 yards and five touchdowns after posting a 29-331-1 line in 12 games as a rookie. RotoBaller has Johnson ranked as the No. 41 fantasy TE.
Source: The Athletic - Dan Duggan
Source: The Athletic - Dan Duggan
Theo Johnson in a Tough Position to Take the Next Step for Fantasy
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson was viewed as a player on the rise following a solid second season in which he topped 500 receiving yards and scored five times while developing an obvious rapport with quarterback Jaxson Dart. Unfortunately, the arrival of free agent acquisition Isaiah Likely could see his development plateau, while the return to health of 2024 first-round pick Malik Nabers has the potential to shrink the value of all of the Giants' complementary pass-catchers. Even with Nabers yet to shed his red non-contact jersey and see a full workload, Johnson has had a quiet training camp and is not a player carrying high fantasy expectations into the 2026 season. As RotoBaller's TE41, Johnson is going largely undrafted outside of the deepest multi-tight end leagues and would require an injury ahead of him to find his way back into the weekly streaming conversation in most formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaiah Likely Emerging as Major Piece of Giants Offense
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely is becoming one of Jaxson Dart's most trusted targets, according to Jordan Raanan. Likely caught six passes during live drills in Thursday's joint practice with the Miami Dolphins, with Raanan describing him as Dart's security blanket and favorite receiver. This hasn't come out of nowhere. Dart and Likely started building chemistry during the spring, and the Giants have featured their tight ends heavily throughout training camp. Likely gives Dart a big target in the middle of the field and can move around the formation, something New York has taken advantage of all summer. Malik Nabers is still working his way back from last year's knee injury, but Raanan expects Likely to remain a major part of the offense even once Nabers returns. Likely caught only 27 passes for 307 yards and one touchdown with Baltimore last season. His role in New York is shaping up to be much bigger.
Source: Jordan Raanan
Source: Jordan Raanan
Isaiah Likely Sees Prominent Role on Third Down in Preseason Opener
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely caught both of his targets for 11 yards in the team's 13-10 preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Likely caught both of his passes on third down, converting both to move the chains. While his receiving role appears to be a major factor (especially on third down) in offensive coordinator Matt Nagy's offense, his snap share was notable. In 16 snaps that the first-team played during their first preseason matchup, Likely played just six snaps, while Theo Johnson played seven and blocking tight end Chris Manhertz played five. Likely played all six of his snaps in 11 personnel, while Johnson and Manhertz operated primarily in heavy personnel. We've seen highly valued tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Evan Engram struggle to produce last season due to their low snap counts, so this could be something to watch for Likely during the course of the 2026 season.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Theo Johnson Losing Redraft Value as the Season Approaches
New York Giants 25-year-old tight end Theo Johnson finished the 2025 season as the TE19, with 528 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 74 targets. He had an impressive 11.73 yards per reception and became one of Jaxson Dart's favorite targets. However, the biggest thorn in Johnson's side is the offseason signing of 26-year-old tight end Isaiah Likely, who has been generating a lot of buzz in camp and has been one of Dart's favorite targets thus far. The wide receiver room for the Giants is extremely cloudy, with Malik Nabers (knee) recovering from injury and guys like Darius Slayton, Calvin Austin, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Odell Beckham Jr., rounding out the receiver room. While Johnson proved to be reliable and explosive in 2025 (10th in explosive rating), the target share will take a significant step backwards and Johnson likely won't remain fantasy relevant unless he has a spike in touchdown production. RotoBaller ranks Johnson as the TE39 entering the season, which makes him a dynasty stash at best.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaiah Likely Becoming Favorite Target for Giants QB
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely could be ready to make a big impact with his new team. In recent practices, Likely has been quarterback Jaxson Dart's favorite target. He snagged a team-high four receptions during Friday's practice session. The wide receiver room is a bit cloudy right now, so Likely has a chance to step up and make an impact in a big way. The 26-year-old could end up being the top target in New York until Malik Nabers (knee) returns to the field. Likely is Rotoballer's TE14, but he has the upside to be a top-10 player at his position this season.
Source: Dan Duggan
Source: Dan Duggan
