Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Brenton Strange vs Isaiah LikelyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Brenton Strange is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.9 PPG to Isaiah Likely's 3.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Brenton Strange is the better fantasy play this season.

Brenton Strange is the better play on a neutral week. 7.9 PPG with 540 yards gives a reliable baseline. Isaiah Likely at 3.4 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Brenton Strange higher, but do not fade Isaiah Likely entirely.

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

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TEJacksonville Jaguars#19PPG LEADER

Brenton Strange

PPG

7.9

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

540

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

TENew York Giants#99

Isaiah Likely

PPG

3.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

307

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Brenton Strange

Isaiah Likely

Head to Head

7.9 PPG3.4 PPG

12 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Brenton Strange: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #19 at the position). Isaiah Likely: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Brenton Strange is producing at 36% of elite pace and Isaiah Likely at 15%. That ranking gap means Brenton Strange carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Brenton Strange vs Isaiah Likely: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Brenton Strange and Isaiah Likely is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Jacksonville Jaguars tight end put up 7.9 PPG in 2025 over 12 games; Isaiah Likely of the New York Giants averaged 3.4 in 14. A 4.5-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 4.5 points favors Brenton Strange, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one tight end to the other.

Brenton Strange is the volume tight end in this matchup with 46 receptions for 540 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 Brenton Strange, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Brenton Strange is off Week 7 and Isaiah Likely Week 11. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Brenton Strange is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Isaiah Likely is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Brenton Strange (age 25) 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?

•Brenton Strange outscored Isaiah Likely by a projected 77 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Isaiah Likely played 14 games in 2025 compared to Brenton Strange's 12. That durability gap means Isaiah Likely contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Brenton Strange scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Brenton Strange saw 60 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Brenton Strange vs Isaiah Likely: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Brenton Strange	Isaiah Likely
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.9	3.4
Games Played	12	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	95	48
Receptions	46	27
Rec/Game	3.8	1.9
Receiving Yards	540	307
Rec Yds/Game	45.0	21.9
Receiving TDs	3	1
Targets	60	36
Target Share/Game	5.0	2.6
Age	25	26
Experience	2 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 11

Summary

7.9 PPG for Brenton Strange versus 3.4 for Isaiah Likely in 2025. The baseline favors Brenton Strange, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Brenton Strange or Isaiah Likely in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Brenton Strange has the edge at 7.9 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 Brenton Strange and Isaiah Likely average in 2025?▾

Brenton Strange averaged 7.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Isaiah Likely averaged 3.4 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 4.5 points per game.

When are Brenton Strange and Isaiah Likely's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Brenton Strange (JAX) has a bye in Week 7, and Isaiah Likely (NYG) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Brenton Strange or Isaiah Likely a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Brenton Strange outscored Isaiah Likely by 4.5 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.