Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Isaiah Likely vs Jonnu SmithWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jonnu Smith is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.2 PPG to Isaiah Likely's 3.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jonnu Smith is the better fantasy play this season.

Jonnu Smith has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.8-PPG advantage is real (8.2 to 3.4), and Jonnu Smith's 4 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.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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TENew York Giants#99

Isaiah Likely

PPG

3.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

307

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

TEMiami Dolphins#99PPG LEADER

Jonnu Smith

PPG

8.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

562

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Isaiah Likely

Jonnu Smith

Head to Head

3.4 PPG8.2 PPG

14 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Isaiah Likely: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Jonnu Smith: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Isaiah Likely is producing at 15% of elite pace and Jonnu Smith at 37%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Isaiah Likely vs Jonnu Smith: The Full Breakdown

Isaiah Likely and Jonnu Smith 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 Jonnu Smith posted 8.2 PPG in 15 appearances for the Miami Dolphins.

A 4.8-PPG gap gives Jonnu Smith 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.

Jonnu Smith is the volume tight end in this matchup with 52 receptions for 562 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 Jonnu Smith, but the floor gap is real.

Isaiah Likely has his bye in Week 11, and Jonnu Smith rests in Week 6. 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

If you can acquire Jonnu Smith 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. Jonnu Smith (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Jonnu Smith outscored Isaiah Likely by a projected 82 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jonnu Smith played 15 games in 2025 compared to Isaiah Likely's 14. That durability gap means Jonnu Smith contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jonnu Smith scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Jonnu Smith saw 68 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Isaiah Likely vs Jonnu Smith: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Isaiah Likely	Jonnu Smith
PPG (Half-PPR)	3.4	8.2
Games Played	14	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	48	123
Receptions	27	52
Rec/Game	1.9	3.5
Receiving Yards	307	562
Rec Yds/Game	21.9	37.5
Receiving TDs	1	4
Targets	36	68
Target Share/Game	2.6	4.5
Age	26	-
Experience	4 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 6

Summary

Jonnu Smith outscored Isaiah Likely by 4.8 PPG in 2025 (8.2 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 Jonnu Smith in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jonnu Smith has the edge at 8.2 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 Jonnu Smith average in 2025?▾

Isaiah Likely averaged 3.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Jonnu Smith averaged 8.2 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 4.8 points per game.

When are Isaiah Likely and Jonnu Smith's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Isaiah Likely (NYG) has a bye in Week 11, and Jonnu Smith (MIA) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Isaiah Likely or Jonnu Smith a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Jonnu Smith outscored Isaiah Likely by 4.8 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.