Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Colston Loveland vs Isaiah LikelyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Colston Loveland is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.5 PPG to Isaiah Likely's 3.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Colston Loveland is the better fantasy play this season.

Colston Loveland is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 8.5 PPG and 711 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Isaiah Likely (3.4 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Colston Loveland as the starter and Isaiah Likely as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TEChicago Bears#16PPG LEADER

Colston Loveland

PPG

8.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

713

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

TENew York Giants#99

Isaiah Likely

PPG

3.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

307

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Colston Loveland

Isaiah Likely

Head to Head

8.5 PPG3.4 PPG

16 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Colston Loveland: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #16 at the position). Isaiah Likely: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Colston Loveland is producing at 39% of elite pace and Isaiah Likely at 15%. That ranking gap means Colston Loveland carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Colston Loveland vs Isaiah Likely: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Colston Loveland (Chicago Bears) finished the 2025 season averaging 8.5 fantasy points per game in 16 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.

Colston Loveland carries a 5.1-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.

Colston Loveland is the volume tight end in this matchup with 58 receptions for 713 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 Colston Loveland, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Colston Loveland 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

If you can acquire Colston Loveland 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: Colston Loveland (age 22) 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?

•Colston Loveland outscored Isaiah Likely by a projected 87 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Colston Loveland played 16 games in 2025 compared to Isaiah Likely's 14. That durability gap means Colston Loveland contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Colston Loveland scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Colston Loveland saw 82 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Colston Loveland is 4 years younger than Isaiah Likely (22 vs 26), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Colston Loveland vs Isaiah Likely: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Colston Loveland	Isaiah Likely
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.5	3.4
Games Played	16	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	48
Receptions	58	27
Rec/Game	3.6	1.9
Receiving Yards	713	307
Rec Yds/Game	44.6	21.9
Receiving TDs	6	1
Targets	82	36
Target Share/Game	5.1	2.6
Age	22	26
Experience	-	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Colston Loveland holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 8.5 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 Colston Loveland or Isaiah Likely in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Colston Loveland has the edge at 8.5 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 Colston Loveland and Isaiah Likely average in 2025?▾

Colston Loveland averaged 8.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Isaiah Likely averaged 3.4 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 5.1 points per game.

When are Colston Loveland and Isaiah Likely's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Colston Loveland (CHI) 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 Colston Loveland or Isaiah Likely a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Colston Loveland outscored Isaiah Likely by 5.1 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.