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Head to Head

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Cade Otton vs Isaiah LikelyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Cade Otton is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 6.2 PPG to Isaiah Likely's 3.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Cade Otton is the better fantasy play this season.

Cade Otton has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.8-PPG advantage is real (6.2 to 3.4), and Cade Otton's 1 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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TETampa Bay Buccaneers#29PPG LEADER
Cade Otton
PPG
6.2
Games
15
Rec
59
Rec Yds
572
Rec TDs
1
Targets
81
Bye
Week 10
TENew York Giants#99
Isaiah Likely
PPG
3.4
Games
14
Rec
27
Rec Yds
307
Rec TDs
1
Targets
36
Bye
Week 11

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Cade Otton
Isaiah Likely

Head to Head

6.2 PPG3.4 PPG
15 GP14 GP
Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Cade Otton: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #29 at the position). Isaiah Likely: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Cade Otton is producing at 28% of elite pace and Isaiah Likely at 15%. That ranking gap means Cade Otton carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Cade Otton vs Isaiah Likely: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Cade Otton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) finished the 2025 season averaging 6.2 fantasy points per game in 15 games. Isaiah Likely (New York Giants) came in at 3.4 PPG over 14 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Cade Otton carries a 2.8-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Cade Otton is the volume tight end in this matchup with 59 receptions for 572 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 Cade Otton, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Cade Otton sits Week 10 while Isaiah Likely is off Week 11. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Cade Otton (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Isaiah Likely (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

  • Cade Otton outscored Isaiah Likely by a projected 48 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Cade Otton played 15 games in 2025 compared to Isaiah Likely's 14. That durability gap means Cade Otton contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Cade Otton scored 1 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
  • Cade Otton saw 81 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cade Otton vs Isaiah Likely: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatCade OttonIsaiah Likely
PPG (Half-PPR)6.23.4
Games Played1514
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)9348
Receptions5927
Rec/Game3.91.9
Receiving Yards572307
Rec Yds/Game38.121.9
Receiving TDs11
Targets8136
Target Share/Game5.42.6
Age2726
Experience3 yrs4 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 10Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Cade Otton holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 6.2 points per game. Isaiah Likely averaged 3.4 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Cade Otton or Isaiah Likely in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Cade Otton has the edge at 6.2 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 Cade Otton and Isaiah Likely average in 2025?

Cade Otton averaged 6.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Isaiah Likely averaged 3.4 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 2.8 points per game.

When are Cade Otton and Isaiah Likely's bye weeks in 2026?

Cade Otton (TB) has a bye in Week 10, and Isaiah Likely (NYG) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cade Otton or Isaiah Likely a better fantasy tight end in 2026?

Cade Otton outscored Isaiah Likely by 2.8 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.

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