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    Giants ‘appear intent’ on featuring Likely

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    SNY’s Connor Hughes said “the Giants appear intent on featuring (Isaiah Likely)” this season.

    The drumbeat continues to grow louder for Likely, who has been rumored multiple times throughout the offseason as the player the team was planning to feature. In June, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan said Likely was Jaxson Dart’s “favorite target” in practice, so this latest piece of news hardly comes as a surprise. According to Hughes, Likely has “displayed clear early chemistry with Dart” in training camp, and the 26-year-old tight end “appears to be the No. 2 option behind Nabers.” Currently going around the 10th round in fantasy drafts, Likely could emerge as a solid late-round option for fantasy managers who pass on the elite tight end options early in drafts.
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  • NYG Tight End #9
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    With Malik Nabers still off the field, that’s a given. Still, Likely finds himself as barely a top-12 tight end by ADP. The argument could be made that he belongs closer to the top 10. “Given the way [Jaxson] Dart likes to throw to his tight ends, it suggests that Likely is in for a breakout season given the chemistry they already have developed,” Raanan concludes.
  • NYG Tight End #9
    With Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton both sidelined with injuries, it’s not a complete surprise to hear that Likely was the preferred target over recently signed vets like Odell Beckham Jr. and JuJu Smith-Schuster. That said, it’s an encouraging sign for Likely and his fantasy managers, who are hoping that his first season away from Mark Andrews can lead to a breakout in 2026. Likely had a down year in 2025, posting career lows in targets (36), receptions (27), yards (307), and touchdowns (1), while appearing in 14 games. The 26-year-old tight end has shown flashes throughout his career and has drawn praise throughout much of the offseason. He profiles as a fringe TE1/TE2 with a chance for immense upside in an offense that’s devoid of top talent at receiver after Nabers.
  • NYG Tight End #9
    This is the third positive report in as many months for Likely, who is set to handle TE1 duties for his new team. Johnson is slated for the TE2 role after posting a 45/528/5 receiving line in his second NFL season last year. Giants WR1 Malik Nabers recently underwent a clean-up procedure on his knee and field-stretching WR Darius Slayton is recovering from core muscle surgery. Nabers will retake the No. 1 pass-catching role when healthy. Slayton, 29, is on the downslope. Likely is in the low-end TE1 tier and could improve his stock through the spring and summer.
  • NYG Tight End #9
    The context isn’t entirely crystal clear from the article as the question wasn’t included, but it alludes to the idea that Likely is going to put up bigger numbers. Giants beat writers seem in lockstep on the idea that New York will use multiple tight ends often in 2026 — something that makes plenty of sense when you look at their wideout room — and especially if Malik Nabers is sidelined early in the year, it would make sense to see Likely have some big games. He’s clearly at least in the low-end TE1 tier, and we can see an argument for higher given how little we saw of him as a featured option behind Mark Andrews.
  • NYG Tight End
    Likely followed former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh to New York in free agency, as expected, and signed a three year deal worth up to $47.5 million — a hefty deal considering Likely’s 2025 struggles in Baltimore. With the signing, the Giants “essentially swapped Likely in for Wan’Dale Robinson, signaling the shift in their offensive approach,” Duggan said (Robinson signed with the Titans). Likely will be “paired often” with TE Theo Johnson in a New York offense that should be among the league leaders in two tight end usage, just like Harbaugh’s Ravens, Duggan added. Likely, who should operate as a big slot receiver for Jaxson Dart, could have volume-based upside in 2026.
  • NYG Tight End #80
    He can get up to $47.5 million with incentives. John Harbaugh gets his upside tight end for what looks poised to be a huge role in New York’s offense. Likely should be in the low-end TE1 ranks to start the year, with the upside to perhaps make a push for the middle. The soon-to-be 26-year-old played only 14 games last year for the Ravens, catching a career-low 27 balls while dealing with injury and playing behind a resurgent Mark Andrews.
  • FA Tight End #80
    The history between Likely and Giants head coach John Harbaugh makes this an easy one to connect. Harbaugh drafted Likely in the fourth-round of the 2022 NFL Draft and saw his selection quickly pay dividends. The soon-to-be free agent has caught 135 passes for 1,568 yards and 15 touchdowns in his four-year career and would make for a nice receiving threat for Jaxson Dart. Likely’s ability to play in the slot could also soften the blow of losing Wan’Dale Robinson, which seems likely as we approach the league’s legal tampering period. Likely should have a strong market in the coming days so it’s possible he shops around before landing with a new team.
  • BAL Tight End #80
    Speaking to Jon Gruden on Gruden Goes Long, Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely said he wants to “be able to blossom” moving forward. He added that he would like to return to Baltimore, a place he considers “home,” but was upfront with the fact that “business is business” as he works his way through his first free agency of his career. “I just want to be on a team where I can get out there and help a quarterback, help a team be able to put as much points on the board as possible,” Likely concluded. We’ll need to see how the coming months play out, but it certainly appears as if Likely is preparing to find a new home on the open market for the 2027 season.
  • BAL Tight End #80
    When the Ravens surprisingly re-upped Mark Andrews in-season, it seemed to point to the idea that Likely could leave in free agency. This report only accentuates that. Turning 26 in April, Likely would seem to be one of the few free agent tight ends (perhaps alongside Chig Okonkwo) with any real starter upside. Zrebiec believes “he should do quite well” in free agency.
  • BAL Tight End #80
    Likely, an unrestricted free agent, could see interest from multiple teams this spring, including the Commanders, who are likely to move on from veteran TE Zach Ertz after his catastrophic knee injury in 2025. “Likely would bring more upside with his catch-and-run ability. A move player in the formation, Likely would also be schemed to create underneath one-on-ones,” Bowen said. In his four seasons with the Ravens, Likely popped off a few times in a run-heavy offense, usually when Mark Andrews was sidelined. Likely since the start of the 2024 season ranks fourth among all tight ends in ESPN’s open score, which measures a player’s ability to separate from defenders. He would be an intriguing fantasy option as an every-down player in Washington.

Rotoworld

  • NYJ Quarterback #11
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    Rich Cimini of ESPN reports that the Jets will sign Bailey Zappe to their practice squad.

    Zappe was unable to win the backup quarterback position — that’s going to rookie Cade Klubnik — but he’ll remain in the organization as the emergency signal-caller behind Geno Smith and Klubnik.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • BUF Wide Receiver #8
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    Bills signed WR Greg Dortch to their practice squad.

    Dortch was unable to make the Lions and was a relatively-surprising cut Sunday. The former Arizona wideout was a productive — albeit flawed — receiving option with the Cardinals, and it’s not hard to imagine him being someone who helps Josh Allen and the passing attack in Buffalo this fall. Fantasy managers should take a wait-and-see approach, but it’s at least someone to monitor.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • PHI Running Back #23
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    Eagles signed RB Jaydon Blue to their practice squad.

    Blue was waived by the Cowboys and went unclaimed, and the 2025 fifth-round pick will remain in the NFC East. He’ll begin the campaign behind Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley as backups to Saquon Barkley, but some strong performances in practice could give the 22-year-old a chance to receive touches in 2026.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • TB Quarterback #4
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    Buccaneers signed QB Easton Stick to their practice squad.

    Stick was released by the Colts at the end of the preseason. He’ll be third on the depth chart to begin the year behind Baker Mayfield and Jalon Daniels.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • LV Wide Receiver #10
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    Raiders placed WR Dont’e Thornton Jr. on the reserved/injured list.

    Thornton has been dealing with an undisclosed injury that has prevented the wideout from practicing over the last month. The 23-year-old can return in four weeks, but there’s no timeline as to when the 2025 fourth-round pick will return to the Vegas lineup.
    - Christopher Crawford
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    Chargers signed TE Patrick Herbert to their practice squad.

    Herbert had initially chose to join the Jaguars squad after being a late cut by Jacksonville, but instead he’ll join his big brother Justin Herbert in Los Angeles. Nepotism doesn’t always have to be a bad thing.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • CHI Running Back #36
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    Bears signed RB Salvon Ahmed to their practice squad.

    Ahmed was one of the final cuts of camp, but the 27-year-old will provide an extra body for the Bears and could be active on gamedays depending on the health of the tailbacks ahead of the other Chicago options.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • LA Defensive End #95
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    Myles Garrett (knee) did not participate in Monday’s practice.

    Garrett continues to not practice while experiencing swelling in his knee. It sounds like this is more maintenance than anything else, as the Rams want the start pass-rusher to be ready to roll and at his best for the opener against the 49ers next week in Australia. Still, it’s something to keep an eye on.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • LAC Running Back #34
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    Chargers RB Keaton Mitchell (undisclosed) did not practice Monday.

    Mitchell has been out of action for more than a week after experiencing a “minor setback” for an undisclosed injury. This could be a situation where we’re all left in the dark until the team is required to disclose injuries in the week leading up to Week 1, leaving fantasy managers to plan for contingencies. Any missed time from Mitchell would be a measurable boost to the weekly expectations of Omarion Hampton.
  • ARI Running Back #4
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    Cardinals HC Mike LaFleur said RB Jeremiyah Love is “progressing really well toward playing in Week 1.”

    Speaking to media Monday, Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said running back Jeremiyah Love “took another step yesterday and he’ll take another step today,” with the goal of being ready for Week 1, when the Cardinals visit the Chargers to kick off the regular season. The high ankle sprain suffered in the team’s first preseason game has the potential to cost Love regular season games considering the timing, but it sounds as if there is at least a sliver of hope that Love will not miss any regular season time. That said, there is also the possibility that Love is active come Week 1 but not at full strength, something that could realistically influence his workload early in the season. Fantasy managers will want to monitor the situation closely as the regular season approaches.