RADIO
Theo Johnson a Buy-Low Target in Dynasty Formats
New York Giants 25-year-old tight end Theo Johnson put together a nice season in 2025, hauling in 45 of his 74 targets for 528 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He had a 16.7 percent target share, was eighth in red zone targets, 7th in average target distance, and seventh in snap share. The opportunities were there for him, but much was left on the table as he averaged only 8.5 fantasy points per game, which was 22nd amongst tight ends. To make matters worse for Johnson, the Giants brought in Isaiah Likely over from Baltimore, who has been a fantasy sleeper for many experts over the past few seasons but has never panned out. At this moment, Likely projects to be the team's No.1 tight end and potentially the No. 2 passing option in this offense that is dealing with Malik Nabers (knee) recovering from an injury, and a mediocre wide receiver room that includes Odell Beckham Jr., Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Malachi Fields. Johnson is off the radar in most redraft formats, but could be a decent buy-low option in dynasty if things with Likely don't work out, and it probably wouldn't take much to get him on your roster.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaiah Likely the No. 2 Option in Giants' Passing Attack
Despite a deep room of wide receivers on the New York Giants roster, NFL insider Connor Hughes reports that it is tight end Isaiah Likely standing out as the No. 2 option behind 2024 first-round pick Malik Nabers. Hughes calls Likely "more of a utility weapon than a traditional tight end" and points to his early chemistry with Jaxson Dart and the team's willingness to move him across the formation as indicators that a big year could be on the horizon. Likely has made plays at all three levels through the early days of training camp and could be in line for the heaviest target share of his young career after spending four seasons in Baltimore with All-Pro Mark Andrews. Likely is RotoBaller's TE14 and represents the exact type of upside that fantasy managers should be seeking in the later rounds of 2026 drafts.
Source: Connor Hughes
Source: Connor Hughes
Isaiah Likely Becoming a Safety Valve in Giants Offense
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely was one of the team's most active pass catchers on Saturday, hauling in six of his nine targets during competitive sessions, and The Athletic's Dan Duggan sees his place taking shape in a new-look Giants offense. After leading the team and nearly doubling the next closest player with 131 targets in 2025, receiver Wan'Dale Robinson departed for Tennessee in free agency, and Duggan believes Likely will inherit that underneath safety valve role for second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart. After sharing a depth chart with three-time Pro Bowler Mark Andrews for four seasons in Baltimore, Likely followed head coach John Harbaugh to the Giants, signing a three-year, $40 million deal. Harbaugh has sung Likely's praises for years, and with him finally getting an opportunity to serve as his team's primary tight end, with heavy volume potentially coming his way, RotoBaller's TE14 is a breakout candidate to target in the later rounds of drafts.
Source: Dan Duggan
Source: Dan Duggan
Theo Johnson May Be Re-Emerging as a Dynasty Buy-Low Target
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson was a steady contributor to his team's passing game in 2025, recording 45 catches for 528 yards and five touchdowns on 74 targets across 15 games. Still, New York made a significant addition at the tight end position in free agency, signing Isaiah Likely to a three-year, $40 million contract. Given the team's financial commitment and Likely's familiarity with new Giants head coach John. Harbaugh from their time together in Baltimore, Johnson seems likely to open the year as the TE2 in New York. However, the Giants' wide receiver corps currently profiles as one of the weaker units in the NFL, particularly given star wideout Malik Nabers' (knee) uncertain health outlook. As a result, the team could lean into more two-tight end sets to get two of their better pass-catchers on the field at the same time. In dynasty leagues where his value has tanked following New York's acquisition of Likely, Johnson could be worth targeting as a buy-low candidate.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaiah Likely Showing Strong Connection With New Quarterback
The New York Giants have a lot riding on new tight end Isaiah Likely after they signed him to a three-year, $40 million deal in free agency in March, so it's good to hear from John Fennelly of Giants Wire that he and new quarterback Jaxson Dart "have already shown a connection in early workouts this past spring." The former fourth-rounder by the Baltimore Ravens out of Coastal Carolina in 2022 could never get out of Mark Andrews' shadow in his four seasons with the Ravens, but he'll have a chance to immediately break out in 2026 in his first year in the Big Apple after following head coach John Harbaugh to the Giants. The G-Men think that the 26-year-old can become offensive coordinator Matt Nagy's receiving tight end out of the slot to create mismatches for opposing defenses. Likely can also be used as a blocker, but the Giants will probably have others do most of that. After catching 135 of his 194 targets for 1,568 yards and 15 touchdowns in his first four NFL seasons with the Ravens, Likely will enter 2026 as a low-end TE1 target/high-end TE2 target in fantasy drafts with the potential for a true breakout in New York.
Source: Giants Wire - John Fennelly
Source: Giants Wire - John Fennelly
Isaiah Likely has Clear Breakout Potential Now That he's Out of Baltimore
The Athletic's Dan Duggan writes that New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely is a breakout candidate in 2026 after signing a three-year, $40 million contract in free agency, the richest contract the team handed out in new head coach John Harbaugh's first season in the Big Apple. The big contract (he's now the fourth-highest-paid TE in the NFL) wasn't considered an overpay, either, because Likely's receiving talent is evident. The 26-year-old former fourth-rounder in 2022 by Baltimore out of Coastal Carolina never exceeded 42 receptions or 477 receiving yards in his four seasons in Baltimore because of the presence of veteran Mark Andrews. With the Giants, Likely will operate as the G-Men's unquestioned No. 1 tight end after following Harbaugh from Baltimore, and "the team needs his production to match his compensation." Likely's case for a 2026 breakout will be even stronger if top wideout Malik Nabers (knee) isn't ready for the start of the regular season in September. Likely is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 14 fantasy TE, but he'll have top-10 upside at the position if he stays healthy in his first year in New York.
Source: The Athletic - Dan Duggan
Source: The Athletic - Dan Duggan
Isaiah Likely Remains a Potential Redraft Sleeper Entering 2026
After spending the first four seasons of his career with the Baltimore Ravens, tight end Isaiah Likely signed a three-year deal with the New York Giants this past spring. Likely consistently flashed upside as a Raven, but his production in Baltimore was limited by the presence of Ravens tight end Mark Andrews. In New York, Likely will play alongside another talented tight end in Theo Johnson. Still, the Giants' financial commitment to Likely seemingly indicates that he will get a chance to be his team's clear TE1 for the first time in his career. Even in a part-time role with the Ravens, Likely collected 11 receiving touchdowns across a two-season span from 2023 to 2024. Early reports out of Giants camp indicate that Likely has already begun to establish himself as a high-volume target in a New York passing game that is riddled with health and production question marks. Likely's profile comes with some risk, but he certainly has the potential to vastly outproduce his current redraft ADP of TE11.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Has Theo Johnson's Dynasty Stock Fallen Too Far?
Across 15 games in 2025, New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson recorded 45 catches for 528 yards and five touchdowns on 74 targets. Despite the solid production, Johnson's dynasty value has plummeted over the offseason following the Giants' free agent acquisition of former Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely. New York's financial commitment to Likely and Likely's familiarity with new Giants head coach John Harbaugh both indicate that Johnson is most likely the team's TE2 entering 2026. Still, Johnson remains an intriguing young player with some production upside and established chemistry with Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart. New York also has significant questions in its wide receiver room outside of Malik Nabers (knee), which could lead the team to utilize multiple-tight-end personnel regularly. In dynasty formats, managers should be willing to take a flier on Johnson as a buy-low depth piece.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaiah Likely the Favorite Target of Young QB in Spring Practices
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely, who followed head coach John Harbaugh over from the Baltimore Ravens this offseason, was quarterback Jaxson Dart's "favorite target in open practices this spring," according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. The athletic tight end was dangerous on crossing routes, and his needle is pointing firmly up in fantasy football as the 2026 season nears. The 26-year-old former fourth-round pick of the Ravens in 2022 out of Coastal Carolina never had more than 477 yards in his four seasons in Baltimore, but he should be a featured piece of the Giants' offense after he saw a career-low 36 targets in 2025. Duggan writes that the G-Men gave Likely a three-year, $40 million contract based on the projection that he "will thrive" after spending the last four years in Mark Andrews' shadow. We should expect the Giants to "manufacture touches for Likely on screens." RotoBaller has likely ranked as the No. 12 fantasy TE right now, and if receiver Malik Nabers (knee) isn't ready for the start of the season, Likely's role will be even bigger early on.
Source: The Athletic - Dan Duggan
Source: The Athletic - Dan Duggan
Isaiah Likely Carries Significant Dynasty Upside into First Season in New York
After spending the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens, tight end Isaiah Likely signed a three-year, $40 million contract in free agency with the New York Giants this past March. Likely routinely flashed high upside during his time in Baltimore, but his path to consistent fantasy production was blocked by the presence of fellow Ravens tight end Mark Andrews. In New York, Likely may now be facing another playing time split with incumbent Giants tight end Theo Johnson. However, the team's sizable financial commitment to Likely indicates that he is the Giants' TE1, as does Likely's familiarity with new Giants and former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. Additionally, Likely could conceivably open 2026 as the number one target in New York's passing game with star Giants wideout Malik Nabers (knee) facing an uncertain recovery timeline from the serious knee injury that ended his 2025 campaign. Likely's fantasy profile still lacks certainty, but his dynasty upside is significant as he enters his first season with his new team.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Has Theo Johnson Become a Dynasty Steal After Market Overcorrection?
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson caught 45 passes in 2025 for 528 yards and five touchdowns, demonstrating a clear chemistry with quarterback Jaxson Dart and finishing as the TE13 or better in six of their nine games played together. However, calls for a true year-three breakout were largely quieted when the Giants committed $26 million in guaranteed money to free agent Isaiah Likely. With Johnson having since fallen to TE40 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings, he could now be seen as a low-cost trade target with multiple paths to outperforming expectations. Head coach John Harbaugh arrives from Baltimore, where the Ravens were the only team in 2025 to run more plays out of 12-personnel than out of 11, and new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy's successful ability to run an offense through the tight end position is well documented. Johnson is only 25 years old, and in an offense proven desperate for secondary pass catchers by the recent signings of Odell Beckham Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Braxton Berrios, he could hold a legitimate role in 2026 and beyond.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Giants, GM Joe Schoen Agree on a Multi-Year Extension
The New York Giants and general manager Joe Schoen agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension on Thursday to keep him working with new head coach John Harbaugh for years to come, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. The 47-year-old Schoen, along with former head coach Brian Daboll, joined the Giants in 2022. Daboll was fired in October of last year, but the Giants kept Schoen around and trusted him to lead their search for a new head coach, which ultimately led to the hiring of Harbaugh. Before joining the G-Men, Schoen spent five seasons as the assistant GM for the Buffalo Bills under Brandon Beane. New York went 9-7-1 and won a playoff game in Schoen's first year with the organization, but they went 13-38 in the next three seasons. Despite a rough last three years, the Giants ownership is optimistic about the direction of the franchise, and they have liked how Schoen and Harbaugh have worked together early on.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Giants Offense to be a Run-First Unit?
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart thinks the offense will be a run-first unit in 2026 under new head coach John Harbaugh, according to Ryan Dunleavy of The California Post. "It sounds like we're not going to be throwing the ball a lot," Dart said. "We're going to keep giving it to Skatt until they can stop it." The Giants took Dart in the first round (25th overall) last year out of Ole Miss, and he quickly took over the starting QB job from Russell Wilson. The 23-year-old displayed some very intriguing dual-threat skills and finished as the QB14 in fantasy with 2,272 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions while adding 86 carries for 487 yards and nine touchdowns as a rusher in 14 games (12 starts). Dart's 487 rushing yards were third in the NFL, behind only Josh Allen and Justin Herbert, and his nine rushing TDs were tied for second with Trevor Lawrence. Long-term, Dart has high-end QB1 upside for fantasy managers, and he should be considered a low-end QB1 target in Year 2 in 2026 in an offense with plenty of talent around him through the air and in the backfield.
Source: The California Post - Ryan Dunleavy
Source: The California Post - Ryan Dunleavy
The Long-Called-For Isaiah Likely Breakout Could Finally Arrive in 2026
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely has long been a popular dynasty breakout candidate, but while playing his first four seasons for John Harbaugh in Baltimore, he was never truly able to get out from under the shadow of three-time Pro Bowler Mark Andrews. In following Harbaugh from the Ravens to the Giants in the early stages of free agency, his head coach remains the same, but he should have every chance to finally claim the top spot on the depth chart. Second-year tight end Theo Johnson had built a healthy rapport with Jaxson Dart in their first season together, but with the $26 million guaranteed commitment given to Likely as part of his three-year, $40 million deal, the expectation is that he will be heavily involved in New York's new look offense. With Wan'Dale Robinson departing for Tennessee in free agency, Likely could realistically see the second-most targets on the team, with his raw volume potentially increasing should 2024 first-round pick Malik Nabers miss any time at the start of the year as he continues to work his way back from the knee injury that ended his sophomore campaign. Likely is RotoBaller's dynasty TE15 and should finally be given a chance to live up to the hype that has followed him for years.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Theo Johnson Not the Primary Option in New System?
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson was one of the biggest risers at his position last year. However, just as quickly as his fantasy value took off, it could now be taking a hit. Johnson was the overall TE18 in his second season last year, catching 45 passes for 528 yards and five touchdowns. He benefitted from a Giants offense coached by Brian Daboll and quarterbacked by rookie Jaxson Dart. While Dart remains in place for 2026, Daboll is gone and has been replaced by John Harbaugh. Not only is there a new scheme in place, but Johnson also faces new competition after Isaiah Likely followed Harbaugh from Baltimore to New York. Given that Likely has a connection to the Giants' head coach and Johnson does not, the former may have an early advantage on the No. 1 tight end hunt. Johnson could still win the job with an impressive training camp, but more likely than not, we'll see split usage for the two tight ends. If that happens, it's unlikely that either would be able to carve out much standalone value on a week-by-week basis. If Likely misses time due to injury, Johnson would be a fringe top-12 fantasy tight end, but otherwise, he's more of a bench stash. Dynasty managers should look to sell high on Johnson, since we're wary of the possibility of him finishing higher than TE18 in 2026 and beyond. There's no resolution in sight, either, as Likely is signed through 2028 and Johnson is signed through 2027.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
