Gunnar Helm vs Isaiah Likely: Who Should You Start?
Gunnar Helm (4.4 PPG) and Isaiah Likely (3.4 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two tight ends are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Gunnar Helm played 16 games for the Tennessee Titans; Isaiah Likely suited up 14 times for the New York Giants.
A 1.0-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.
Gunnar Helm is the volume tight end in this matchup with 44 receptions for 357 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 Gunnar Helm, but the floor gap is real.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Gunnar Helm sits Week 5 while Isaiah Likely is off Week 11. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
