Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Chig Okonkwo vs Isaiah LikelyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Chig Okonkwo is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 5.6 PPG to Isaiah Likely's 3.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Chig Okonkwo is the better fantasy play this season.

Chig Okonkwo has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.2-PPG advantage is real (5.6 to 3.4), and Chig Okonkwo's 2 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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TETennessee Titans#31PPG LEADER

Chig Okonkwo

PPG

5.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

560

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

TENew York Giants#99

Isaiah Likely

PPG

3.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

307

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Chig Okonkwo

Isaiah Likely

Head to Head

5.6 PPG3.4 PPG

17 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Chig Okonkwo: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #31 at the position). Isaiah Likely: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Chig Okonkwo is producing at 25% of elite pace and Isaiah Likely at 15%. That ranking gap means Chig Okonkwo carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Chig Okonkwo vs Isaiah Likely: The Full Breakdown

Chig Okonkwo and Isaiah Likely are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Chig Okonkwo averaged 5.6 PPG across 17 games with the Tennessee Titans, while Isaiah Likely posted 3.4 PPG in 14 appearances for the New York Giants.

A 2.2-PPG gap gives Chig Okonkwo 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.

Chig Okonkwo is the volume tight end in this matchup with 56 receptions for 560 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 Chig Okonkwo, but the floor gap is real.

Chig Okonkwo has his bye in Week 9, and Isaiah Likely rests in Week 11. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

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: Chig Okonkwo (age 26) 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?

•Chig Okonkwo outscored Isaiah Likely by a projected 37 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Chig Okonkwo played 17 games in 2025 compared to Isaiah Likely's 14. That durability gap means Chig Okonkwo contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Chig Okonkwo scored 2 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Chig Okonkwo saw 79 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Chig Okonkwo vs Isaiah Likely: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Chig Okonkwo	Isaiah Likely
PPG (Half-PPR)	5.6	3.4
Games Played	17	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	95	48
Receptions	56	27
Rec/Game	3.3	1.9
Receiving Yards	560	307
Rec Yds/Game	32.9	21.9
Receiving TDs	2	1
Targets	79	36
Target Share/Game	4.6	2.6
Age	26	26
Experience	3 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 11

Summary

Chig Okonkwo outscored Isaiah Likely by 2.2 PPG in 2025 (5.6 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 Chig Okonkwo or Isaiah Likely in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Chig Okonkwo has the edge at 5.6 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 Chig Okonkwo and Isaiah Likely average in 2025?▾

Chig Okonkwo averaged 5.6 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 2.2 points per game.

When are Chig Okonkwo and Isaiah Likely's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Chig Okonkwo (TEN) has a bye in Week 9, and Isaiah Likely (NYG) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Chig Okonkwo or Isaiah Likely a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Chig Okonkwo outscored Isaiah Likely by 2.2 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.