Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Isaiah Likely vs Mason TaylorWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Mason Taylor is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 5.1 PPG to Isaiah Likely's 3.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Mason Taylor is the better fantasy play this season.

Mason Taylor has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.7-PPG advantage is real (5.1 to 3.4), and Mason Taylor's 1 touchdowns show scoring upside. Isaiah Likely is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

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TENew York Giants#99

Isaiah Likely

PPG

3.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

307

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

TENew York Jets#34PPG LEADER

Mason Taylor

PPG

5.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

369

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Isaiah Likely

Mason Taylor

Head to Head

3.4 PPG5.1 PPG

14 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Isaiah Likely: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Mason Taylor: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #34 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Isaiah Likely is producing at 15% of elite pace and Mason Taylor at 23%. That ranking gap means Mason Taylor carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Isaiah Likely vs Mason Taylor: The Full Breakdown

Isaiah Likely and Mason Taylor are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Isaiah Likely averaged 3.4 PPG across 14 games with the New York Giants, while Mason Taylor posted 5.1 PPG in 13 appearances for the New York Jets.

A 1.7-PPG gap gives Mason Taylor 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.

Mason Taylor is the volume tight end in this matchup with 44 receptions for 369 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 Mason Taylor, but the floor gap is real.

Isaiah Likely has his bye in Week 11, and Mason Taylor rests in Week 13. 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: Isaiah Likely (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Mason Taylor (age 22) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Mason Taylor outscored Isaiah Likely by a projected 29 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Isaiah Likely played 14 games in 2025 compared to Mason Taylor's 13. That durability gap means Isaiah Likely contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Isaiah Likely scored 1 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Mason Taylor saw 65 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Mason Taylor is 4 years younger than Isaiah Likely (22 vs 26), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Isaiah Likely vs Mason Taylor: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Isaiah Likely	Mason Taylor
PPG (Half-PPR)	3.4	5.1
Games Played	14	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	48	66
Receptions	27	44
Rec/Game	1.9	3.4
Receiving Yards	307	369
Rec Yds/Game	21.9	28.4
Receiving TDs	1	1
Targets	36	65
Target Share/Game	2.6	5.0
Age	26	22
Experience	4 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 13

Summary

Mason Taylor outscored Isaiah Likely by 1.7 PPG in 2025 (5.1 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Isaiah Likely or Mason Taylor in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Mason Taylor has the edge at 5.1 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 Mason Taylor average in 2025?▾

Isaiah Likely averaged 3.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Mason Taylor averaged 5.1 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 1.7 points per game.

When are Isaiah Likely and Mason Taylor's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Isaiah Likely (NYG) has a bye in Week 11, and Mason Taylor (NYJ) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Isaiah Likely or Mason Taylor a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Mason Taylor outscored Isaiah Likely by 1.7 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.