Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely is entering the 2026 season poised for a significantly expanded role in Todd Monken’s offense, building on a 2025 campaign that hinted at his potential as a legitimate weapon alongside Mark Andrews. The former Coastal Carolina product, drafted in the fourth round in 2022, has steadily carved out a niche in one of the NFL’s most dynamic passing attacks, and the numbers suggest his best football is still ahead of him.
Likely finished the 2025 regular season with 47 receptions for 512 yards and 4 touchdowns, operating primarily as Baltimore’s second tight end behind Andrews. His target share climbed to 12.3 percent in the second half of the season, a clear indicator that Lamar Jackson was increasingly trusting him in critical situations. The Ravens’ front office has taken notice, and Likely’s development could reshape how opposing defenses scheme against Baltimore’s tight end-heavy personnel groupings.
What Makes Isaiah Likely a Rising Fantasy Football Asset?
Isaiah Likely‘s fantasy football stock is quietly climbing among sharp analysts who track snap count trends and target share data. His route participation rate jumped from 38 percent in 2024 to 54 percent in 2025, a significant leap that signals increased trust from the coaching staff. In 12-team PPR formats, Likely finished as a TE2 with occasional TE1 upside during Andrews’ two-game absence in Weeks 11 and 12, where he posted 11 catches for 128 yards.
The advanced metrics paint an even more compelling picture. Likely generated 1.83 yards per route run in 2025, a figure that ranked 14th among all NFL tight ends with at least 40 targets. His average depth of target sat at 7.2 yards, reflecting his role as a chain-mover in the intermediate zones rather than a deep threat. For fantasy managers in deeper leagues, Likely represents a high-floor streaming option with legitimate upside if Andrews were to miss time again.
How Likely Fits Into Baltimore’s Offensive Scheme
Todd Monken’s offense has increasingly leaned on 12 personnel — one running back, two tight ends — and Isaiah Likely is the primary beneficiary of that schematic shift. Baltimore deployed 12 personnel on 31 percent of offensive snaps in 2025, up from 24 percent the prior season. When Likely and Andrews share the field, the Ravens’ play-action rate climbs to 34 percent, compared to 27 percent in standard formations.
Looking at the tape, Likely’s best work comes from the slot, where his 6-foot-4 frame creates mismatches against nickel cornerbacks. He aligned in the slot on 42 percent of his routes in 2025, and his catch rate from that alignment was 71.4 percent — well above the positional average of 63 percent. Defenses have struggled to match his combination of size and route precision, particularly on crossers and option routes in the red zone.
Key Developments
- Likely’s contested catch rate improved to 58.3 percent in 2025, up from 44.1 percent in 2024, showing significant growth in his ability to win at the catch point.
- The Ravens did not add a tight end in the 2026 NFL Draft, signaling organizational confidence in Likely as the long-term TE2 behind Andrews.
- Likely played 58 percent of Baltimore’s offensive snaps in 2025, a career high and a 14-percentage-point increase from his 2024 snap share.
- In two-minute drill situations, Likely was targeted on 18 percent of Jackson’s passes, the third-highest rate on the team behind Andrews and Zay Flowers.
What’s Next for Likely and the Ravens?
The Ravens enter 2026 with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations, and Isaiah Likely‘s continued development could be the difference between a good offense and a great one. Baltimore’s salary cap situation is tight, but Likely remains on his rookie contract through 2026, giving the team cost-controlled production at a premium position. If he takes another step forward — particularly in red zone efficiency, where he converted just 5 of 11 targets into scores — Likely could push for 60-plus receptions and establish himself as one of the league’s most productive secondary tight ends.
The counterargument is that Andrews, still an elite talent at 31, will continue to command the lion’s share of high-value targets. But the trend lines are encouraging. Baltimore’s investment in 12 personnel, combined with Likely’s improving contested catch ability and route-running precision, suggests his role will only grow. For a fourth-round pick who many viewed as a developmental project, the trajectory is exactly what the Ravens hoped for when they selected him out of Coastal Carolina.
What were Isaiah Likely’s stats in 2025?
Isaiah Likely recorded 47 receptions for 512 yards and 4 touchdowns during the 2025 regular season. He played 58 percent of Baltimore’s offensive snaps, a career high, and generated 1.83 yards per route run, ranking 14th among NFL tight ends with at least 40 targets.
Is Isaiah Likely a good fantasy football pick in 2026?
Isaiah Likely is a strong TE2 option in 12-team PPR leagues with TE1 upside if Mark Andrews misses time. His route participation rate climbed to 54 percent in 2025, and he posted 11 catches for 128 yards during Andrews’ two-game absence in Weeks 11 and 12.
What round was Isaiah Likely drafted in?
The Baltimore Ravens selected Isaiah Likely in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Coastal Carolina. He has steadily developed into a reliable contributor in Todd Monken’s offense over his first four seasons.
How does Isaiah Likely fit into the Ravens offense?
Likely operates primarily as Baltimore’s second tight end in 12 personnel packages alongside Mark Andrews. He aligned in the slot on 42 percent of his routes in 2025, posting a 71.4 percent catch rate from that alignment, and serves as a key chain-mover in the intermediate zones.
