Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Evan Engram vs Isaiah LikelyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Evan Engram is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 4.9 PPG to Isaiah Likely's 3.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Evan Engram is the better fantasy play this season.

Evan Engram is the better play on a neutral week. 4.9 PPG with 468 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 Evan Engram higher, but do not fade Isaiah Likely entirely.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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TEDenver Broncos#35PPG LEADER

Evan Engram

PPG

4.9

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

461

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

Evan Engram

Isaiah Likely

Head to Head

4.9 PPG3.4 PPG

16 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Evan Engram: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #35 at the position). Isaiah Likely: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Evan Engram is producing at 22% of elite pace and Isaiah Likely at 15%. That ranking gap means Evan Engram carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Evan Engram vs Isaiah Likely: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Evan Engram and Isaiah Likely is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Denver Broncos tight end put up 4.9 PPG in 2025 over 16 games; Isaiah Likely of the New York Giants averaged 3.4 in 14. A 1.5-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 1.5 points favors Evan Engram, 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.

Evan Engram is the volume tight end in this matchup with 50 receptions for 461 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 Evan Engram, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Evan Engram is off Week 10 and Isaiah Likely Week 11. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

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: Evan Engram (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?

•Evan Engram outscored Isaiah Likely by a projected 26 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Evan Engram played 16 games in 2025 compared to Isaiah Likely's 14. That durability gap means Evan Engram contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Evan Engram scored 1 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Evan Engram saw 76 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 Evan Engram (26 vs 31), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Evan Engram vs Isaiah Likely: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Evan Engram	Isaiah Likely
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.9	3.4
Games Played	16	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	78	48
Receptions	50	27
Rec/Game	3.1	1.9
Receiving Yards	461	307
Rec Yds/Game	28.8	21.9
Receiving TDs	1	1
Targets	76	36
Target Share/Game	4.8	2.6
Age	31	26
Experience	8 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 11

Summary

4.9 PPG for Evan Engram versus 3.4 for Isaiah Likely in 2025. The baseline favors Evan Engram, 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 Evan Engram or Isaiah Likely in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Evan Engram has the edge at 4.9 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 Evan Engram and Isaiah Likely average in 2025?▾

Evan Engram averaged 4.9 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 1.5 points per game.

When are Evan Engram and Isaiah Likely's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Evan Engram (DEN) 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 Evan Engram or Isaiah Likely a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Evan Engram outscored Isaiah Likely by 1.5 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.