Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

AJ Barner vs Isaiah LikelyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

AJ Barner is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.1 PPG to Isaiah Likely's 3.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

AJ Barner is the better fantasy play this season.

AJ Barner has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.7-PPG advantage is real (7.1 to 3.4), and AJ Barner's 7 touchdowns show scoring upside. Isaiah Likely is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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TESeattle Seahawks#22PPG LEADER

AJ Barner

PPG

7.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

519

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

TENew York Giants#99

Isaiah Likely

PPG

3.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

307

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

AJ Barner

Isaiah Likely

Head to Head

7.1 PPG3.4 PPG

17 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

AJ Barner: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #22 at the position). Isaiah Likely: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, AJ Barner is producing at 32% of elite pace and Isaiah Likely at 15%. That ranking gap means AJ Barner carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

AJ Barner vs Isaiah Likely: The Full Breakdown

AJ Barner and Isaiah Likely are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. AJ Barner averaged 7.1 PPG across 17 games with the Seattle Seahawks, while Isaiah Likely posted 3.4 PPG in 14 appearances for the New York Giants.

A 3.7-PPG gap gives AJ Barner the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

AJ Barner is the volume tight end in this matchup with 52 receptions for 519 yards, while Isaiah Likely profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 27 catches). In weeks where Isaiah Likely finds the end zone he out-scores AJ Barner, but the floor gap is real.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 11 bye. That means you need a backup plan at tight end for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire AJ Barner at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Isaiah Likely is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: AJ Barner (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Isaiah Likely (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•AJ Barner outscored Isaiah Likely by a projected 63 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•AJ Barner played 17 games in 2025 compared to Isaiah Likely's 14. That durability gap means AJ Barner contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•AJ Barner scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•AJ Barner saw 68 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Both players share a Week 11 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

AJ Barner vs Isaiah Likely: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	AJ Barner	Isaiah Likely
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.1	3.4
Games Played	17	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	121	48
Receptions	52	27
Rec/Game	3.1	1.9
Receiving Yards	519	307
Rec Yds/Game	30.5	21.9
Receiving TDs	6	1
Targets	68	36
Target Share/Game	4.0	2.6
Age	24	26
Experience	1 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 11

Summary

AJ Barner outscored Isaiah Likely by 3.7 PPG in 2025 (7.1 to 3.4). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start AJ Barner or Isaiah Likely in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, AJ Barner has the edge at 7.1 PPG compared to Isaiah Likely's 3.4 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did AJ Barner and Isaiah Likely average in 2025?▾

AJ Barner averaged 7.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Isaiah Likely averaged 3.4 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 3.7 points per game.

Do AJ Barner and Isaiah Likely share a bye week?▾

Yes, both AJ Barner and Isaiah Likely share a Week 11 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at tight end for that week.

Is AJ Barner or Isaiah Likely a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

AJ Barner outscored Isaiah Likely by 3.7 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.