Isaiah

Likely

Likely as clearly the going-in game plan in a game expected to be heavily influenced by weather. The rain cleared in the first half but Likely remained the featured option through the air, likely influenced by heavy blitz rates and unrelenting pressure from the Washington defense. The 11-target game was the fifth time this season that the veteran tight end hit double-digit targets but the first time doing so with J.J. McCarthy under center. Likely remains a surefire TE1 ahead of a difficult matchup against the Jaguars in Week 11.

Although it was another down day in the yardage department by his recent standards, Likely got the fantasy job done with his score and five receptions. It also wasn’t a bad outcome in a contest where J.J. McCarthy missed time with a hip injury and the Giants attempted only 27 throws vs. a reeling Eagles team. Likely’s touchdown was a five-yarder where he took advantage of mass defensive confusion at the goal line. It is unclear if McCarthy will be ready for Thursday’s short-week date with the Commanders, but Likely will remain a high-end QB1 even if Jameis Winston returns under center.

Likely was spotted limping at times during Week 7’s win over the Texans, which helps explain his subpar production. We’ll keep an eye on this one coming out of the bye, but we’re certainly not expecting anything serious here.

It was his first game with fewer than five targets all season. New York’s passing game simply targeted Houston outside the numbers and they ran the ball effectively enough that they didn’t need to feed Likely. He’ll be on the TE1 line in Week 9 against the Eagles once the Giants return from their bye week.

According to Hughes, “this is the player they targeted and wanted” as their quarterback the minute Jaxson Dart (knee) got hurt. Hughes acknowledges that coach John Harbaugh could eventually bench McCarthy later in the year, but it will take more than a bad “game or two” for that to happen. In the meantime, the weekly fantasy football outlooks for Malik Nabers and Isaiah Likely are more volatile than they were with Jameis Winston at the helm. Selling high could make sense. Hughes adds that McCarthy would have to play like a top-10 quarterback to make the coaching staff consider him for the starting role next season. That outcome seems highly unlikely.

Likely scored his fifth touchdown of the season and third over the last two games. He also caught a two point conversion, with all his scoring coming in the fourth quarter from J.J. McCarthy. The pass-heavy game script helped Likely salvage his fantasy day late in the game as he saw double-digit targets for the third straight game and fourth time this season. Now averaging 9.8 targets per game, Likely is squarely in the fantasy TE1 ranks heading into a tough Week 7 matchup against the Texans.

Theo Johnson has a neck injury and was limited in practice. Both tight ends should be able to suit up on Sunday. Coming off a career-high in targets (13), Likely is looking more like a top-five fantasy tight end every week. He should be in every fantasy lineup for his Week 6 date with the Saints.

Likely set a new career-high with 11 receptions in this one, and came up with two clutch touchdowns in the process. His first score came on a three-yard strike from Jameis Winston on a third-and-goal play that the Giants needed to stay in the game, cutting the Commanders’ lead to 19-13. Then, in the fourth quarter and with the Giants facing a fourth-and-eight, Likely turned an eight-yard reception upfield for a 17-yard touchdown that nearly looked like a fumble and turnover at the goal-line. Likely has been targeted 25 times in his last two games and has now gone for 66 or more yards in three of five games to start the season. He’s starting to show good chemistry with Jameis Winston and will be on the TE1 radar in next week’s game against the Saints.

The Giants’ passing offense is tethered to Jameis Winston’s scattershot arm, but Likely has a favorable matchup against the Commanders’ defense this week. He can be started as a low-end TE1 in this divisional showdown.

Likely is on track to face the Commanders’ fantasy-friendly defense in Week 5. Ideally, we will see him upgrade to full participation tomorrow. The Giants’ starting tight end warrants TE1 treatment thanks to his workload and plus matchup.