Dawson Knox vs Isaiah Likely: Who Should You Start?
Deciding between Dawson Knox and Isaiah Likely is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Buffalo Bills tight end put up 5.0 PPG in 2025 over 17 games; Isaiah Likely of the New York Giants averaged 3.4 in 14. A 1.6-point margin that could shift on any given week.
The per-game difference of 1.6 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 12, 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.
