Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Dawson Knox vs Isaiah LikelyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Dawson Knox is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 5.4 PPG to Isaiah Likely's 3.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Dawson Knox is the better fantasy play this season.

Dawson Knox is the better play on a neutral week. 5.4 PPG with 417 yards gives a reliable baseline. Isaiah Likely at 3.4 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Dawson Knox higher, but do not fade Isaiah Likely entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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TEBuffalo Bills#33PPG LEADER

Dawson Knox

PPG

5.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

417

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

TENew York Giants#99

Isaiah Likely

PPG

3.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

307

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Dawson Knox

Isaiah Likely

Head to Head

5.4 PPG3.4 PPG

16 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Dawson Knox: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #33 at the position). Isaiah Likely: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Dawson Knox is producing at 25% of elite pace and Isaiah Likely at 15%. That ranking gap means Dawson Knox carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Dawson Knox vs Isaiah Likely: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Dawson Knox and Isaiah Likely is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Buffalo Bills tight end put up 5.4 PPG in 2025 over 16 games; Isaiah Likely of the New York Giants averaged 3.4 in 14. A 2.0-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 2.0 points favors Dawson Knox, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one tight end to the other.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Dawson Knox had 36 catches for 417 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.

Dawson Knox has his bye in Week 7, 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: Dawson Knox (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?

•Dawson Knox outscored Isaiah Likely by a projected 34 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Dawson Knox played 16 games in 2025 compared to Isaiah Likely's 14. That durability gap means Dawson Knox contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Dawson Knox scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Dawson Knox saw 49 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Dawson Knox vs Isaiah Likely: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Dawson Knox	Isaiah Likely
PPG (Half-PPR)	5.4	3.4
Games Played	16	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	86	48
Receptions	36	27
Rec/Game	2.3	1.9
Receiving Yards	417	307
Rec Yds/Game	26.1	21.9
Receiving TDs	4	1
Targets	49	36
Target Share/Game	3.1	2.6
Age	29	26
Experience	6 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 11

Summary

5.4 PPG for Dawson Knox versus 3.4 for Isaiah Likely in 2025. The baseline favors Dawson Knox, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Dawson Knox or Isaiah Likely in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Dawson Knox has the edge at 5.4 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 Dawson Knox and Isaiah Likely average in 2025?▾

Dawson Knox averaged 5.4 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 2.0 points per game.

When are Dawson Knox and Isaiah Likely's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Dawson Knox (BUF) has a bye in Week 7, and Isaiah Likely (NYG) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Dawson Knox or Isaiah Likely a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Dawson Knox outscored Isaiah Likely by 2.0 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.