Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Dallas Goedert vs Isaiah LikelyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Dallas Goedert is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.3 PPG to Isaiah Likely's 3.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Dallas Goedert is the better fantasy play this season.

Dallas Goedert is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 10.3 PPG and 591 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 Dallas Goedert 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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TEPhiladelphia Eagles#5PPG LEADER

Dallas Goedert

PPG

10.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

591

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

Dallas Goedert

Isaiah Likely

Head to Head

10.3 PPG3.4 PPG

15 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Dallas Goedert: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #5 at the position). Isaiah Likely: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Dallas Goedert is producing at 47% of elite pace and Isaiah Likely at 15%. That ranking gap means Dallas Goedert carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Dallas Goedert vs Isaiah Likely: The Full Breakdown

Dallas Goedert and Isaiah Likely are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Philadelphia Eagles tight end averaged 10.3 PPG in 2025, a full 6.9 points per game ahead of Isaiah Likely's 3.4 with the New York Giants. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

A 6.9-PPG gap gives Dallas Goedert 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.

Dallas Goedert is the volume tight end in this matchup with 60 receptions for 591 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 Dallas Goedert, but the floor gap is real.

Dallas Goedert has his bye in Week 10, 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

If you can acquire Dallas Goedert 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: Dallas Goedert (age 31) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Isaiah Likely (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Dallas Goedert outscored Isaiah Likely by a projected 117 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Dallas Goedert played 15 games in 2025 compared to Isaiah Likely's 14. That durability gap means Dallas Goedert contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Dallas Goedert scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.7 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Dallas Goedert saw 82 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Isaiah Likely is 5 years younger than Dallas Goedert (26 vs 31), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Dallas Goedert vs Isaiah Likely: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Dallas Goedert	Isaiah Likely
PPG (Half-PPR)	10.3	3.4
Games Played	15	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	155	48
Receptions	60	27
Rec/Game	4.0	1.9
Receiving Yards	591	307
Rec Yds/Game	39.4	21.9
Receiving TDs	11	1
Targets	82	36
Target Share/Game	5.5	2.6
Age	31	26
Experience	7 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 11

Summary

Dallas Goedert outscored Isaiah Likely by 6.9 PPG in 2025 (10.3 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 Dallas Goedert or Isaiah Likely in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Dallas Goedert has the edge at 10.3 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 Dallas Goedert and Isaiah Likely average in 2025?▾

Dallas Goedert averaged 10.3 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 6.9 points per game.

When are Dallas Goedert and Isaiah Likely's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Dallas Goedert (PHI) 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 Dallas Goedert or Isaiah Likely a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Dallas Goedert outscored Isaiah Likely by 6.9 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.