Brenton Strange or Isaiah Likely: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 1 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Likely's slot path outweighs Strange's steadier snap floor

Start Isaiah Likely: his modest projection edge matters more at tight end, where a small scoring gap can separate a usable starter from a bench option. Brenton Strange has the safer workload signal, with a 75% snap rate, a higher implied team total and a favorable spread, but that volume has not overcome his lower consensus standing and projection. Likely's upside is tied to a role change: Sports Illustrated (Giants On SI) 2026-09-02 reports the Giants may use him as a big slot receiver if Malik Nabers is limited, while his 59% snap rate remains the call's clear risk.

What flips it: A confirmed full-go for Malik Nabers that removes Likely's projected big-slot work.

Sources: Sports Illustrated (Giants On SI) · Sep 2, 2026

AI editor

Brenton Strange

Brenton Strange

TE19JAXvs CLE

Projected Points

Sit
Isaiah Likely

Isaiah Likely

TE14NYGvs DAL

Projected Points

Start· medium

Brenton Strange’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
+108 / -138
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 37.5
-115 / -115
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+270
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Isaiah Likely’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
-113 / -113
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 37.5
-113 / -118
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+310
Anytime Touchdown Props →
CLE@
JAXSun, Sep 13, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
DAL@
NYGSun, Sep 13, 8:20 PM ETView the game →

Why Brenton Strange

Sit

Starting TE and ascending pass-catcher. Athletic seam target with adequate in-line blocking.

Sit — bench-tier TE at consensus TE19: 24.0 implied team total, 16% target share in 2025.

  • Strange's heavier snap role gives him the steadier floor if Jacksonville controls the game.
  • A seven-point favorite, Jacksonville could create late scoring chances even without expanding Strange's route role.

Why Isaiah Likely

Start· medium

Starting TE and pass-catching mismatch. Athletic seam-stretcher with red-zone flex ability.

TE14 with a 9.5-point projection, 59% snaps and a 14% target share in a near-pick'em game — startable volume at a thin position.

  • Likely can gain receiver-like work if Nabers is limited, giving his thinner TE usage more upside.
  • His main risk is playing time: the big-slot plan matters only if it actually lifts him beyond his usual rotation.

The call

  • 9.5 projected PPR points is a real TE1-fringe number; at a position where the back half of starting lineups routinely lives on 6-7 points, TE14 with this projection clears the replacement bar.
  • Role is stable and healthy: 59% snap share and a 14% target share over 11 games, no injury designation, and he sits atop the TE depth slot.
  • Game script cooperates — a 1.5-point spread and a 23.5 implied team total point to a competitive, two-way passing game rather than a run-out-the-clock blowout in either direction.
  • The one sourced line describes a Giants 'big slot' plan and doesn't square with this matchup, so it's unverified noise — the call rests on the snap/target profile, not that report.

Latest on Likely

Scheme

With only five wide receivers on the projected depth chart, the Giants plan to deploy tight end Isaiah Likely as a 'big slot receiver' to offset a possible shortage if Malik Nabers isn't fully ready for Week 1.

Sports Illustrated (Giants On SI) · Sep 2, 2026

Head-to-head stats

MetricBrenton StrangeIsaiah Likely
Projected points
Consensus rankTE19TE14
Opponent vs positionCLEno ranking yetDALno ranking yet
Target share16%(2025)14%(2025)
Reception share19%(2025)15%(2025)
Implied total · spread24.0-7.523.5+1.5
Depth chartTE1TE1
Snap share75%(2025)59%(2025)

Signal breakdown

  • 8.1 vs 9.5 projected PPR pointsIsaiah Likely +
  • Rank 19 vs 14Isaiah Likely +
  • Matchup (DvP composite)even
  • Implied 24.0 vs 23.5 team pointsBrenton Strange +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 75% vs 59% snap shareBrenton Strange +

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