Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

David Njoku vs Isaiah LikelyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

David Njoku is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 6.3 PPG to Isaiah Likely's 3.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

David Njoku is the better fantasy play this season.

David Njoku has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.9-PPG advantage is real (6.3 to 3.4), and David Njoku's 4 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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TECleveland Browns#26PPG LEADER

David Njoku

PPG

6.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

293

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

TENew York Giants#99

Isaiah Likely

PPG

3.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

307

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

David Njoku

Isaiah Likely

Head to Head

6.3 PPG3.4 PPG

11 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

David Njoku: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #26 at the position). Isaiah Likely: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, David Njoku is producing at 29% of elite pace and Isaiah Likely at 15%. That ranking gap means David Njoku carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

David Njoku vs Isaiah Likely: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. David Njoku (Cleveland Browns) finished the 2025 season averaging 6.3 fantasy points per game in 11 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.

David Njoku carries a 2.9-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.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. David Njoku had 33 catches for 293 yards; Isaiah Likely posted 27 for 307. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 11 bye. That means you need a backup plan at tight end for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

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: David Njoku (age 29) 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?

•David Njoku outscored Isaiah Likely by a projected 49 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Isaiah Likely played 14 games in 2025 compared to David Njoku's 11. That durability gap means Isaiah Likely contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•David Njoku scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•David Njoku saw 48 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Both players share a Week 11 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

David Njoku vs Isaiah Likely: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	David Njoku	Isaiah Likely
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.3	3.4
Games Played	11	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	69	48
Receptions	33	27
Rec/Game	3.0	1.9
Receiving Yards	293	307
Rec Yds/Game	26.6	21.9
Receiving TDs	4	1
Targets	48	36
Target Share/Game	4.4	2.6
Age	29	26
Experience	8 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, David Njoku holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 6.3 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 David Njoku or Isaiah Likely in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, David Njoku has the edge at 6.3 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 David Njoku and Isaiah Likely average in 2025?▾

David Njoku averaged 6.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 11 games in 2025. Isaiah Likely averaged 3.4 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 2.9 points per game.

Do David Njoku and Isaiah Likely share a bye week?▾

Yes, both David Njoku and Isaiah Likely share a Week 11 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at tight end for that week.

Is David Njoku or Isaiah Likely a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

David Njoku outscored Isaiah Likely by 2.9 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.