Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Isaiah Likely vs Kyle PittsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Kyle Pitts is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.8 PPG to Isaiah Likely's 3.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Kyle Pitts is the better fantasy play this season.

Kyle Pitts is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 9.8 PPG and 928 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Isaiah Likely (3.4 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Kyle Pitts as the starter and Isaiah Likely as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Isaiah Likely and Kyle Pitts in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

TENew York Giants#99

Isaiah Likely

PPG

3.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

307

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

TEAtlanta Falcons#6PPG LEADER

Kyle Pitts

PPG

9.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

928

Rec TDs

Targets

118

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Isaiah Likely

Kyle Pitts

Head to Head

3.4 PPG9.8 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Isaiah Likely: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Kyle Pitts: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #6 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Isaiah Likely is producing at 15% of elite pace and Kyle Pitts at 45%. That ranking gap means Kyle Pitts carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Isaiah Likely vs Kyle Pitts: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two tight ends. Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons) averaged 9.8 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Isaiah Likely (New York Giants, 3.4 PPG) by 6.4 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 6.4-PPG gap gives Kyle Pitts the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Kyle Pitts is the volume tight end in this matchup with 88 receptions for 928 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 Kyle Pitts, but the floor gap is real.

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

If you can acquire Kyle Pitts at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Isaiah Likely is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Isaiah Likely (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Kyle Pitts (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Kyle Pitts outscored Isaiah Likely by a projected 109 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kyle Pitts played 17 games in 2025 compared to Isaiah Likely's 14. That durability gap means Kyle Pitts contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Kyle Pitts scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Kyle Pitts saw 118 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

Isaiah Likely vs Kyle Pitts: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Isaiah Likely	Kyle Pitts
PPG (Half-PPR)	3.4	9.8
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	48	167
Receptions	27	88
Rec/Game	1.9	5.2
Receiving Yards	307	928
Rec Yds/Game	21.9	54.6
Receiving TDs	1	5
Targets	36	118
Target Share/Game	2.6	6.9
Age	26	25
Experience	4 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 11

Summary

Kyle Pitts outscored Isaiah Likely by 6.4 PPG in 2025 (9.8 to 3.4). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Isaiah Likely vs Kyle Pitts

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Isaiah Likely vs Kyle Pitts

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Isaiah Likely or Kyle Pitts in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kyle Pitts has the edge at 9.8 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 Isaiah Likely and Kyle Pitts average in 2025?▾

Isaiah Likely averaged 3.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Kyle Pitts averaged 9.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 6.4 points per game.

Do Isaiah Likely and Kyle Pitts share a bye week?▾

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

Is Isaiah Likely or Kyle Pitts a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Kyle Pitts outscored Isaiah Likely by 6.4 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.