Isaiah Likely or Jordan Addison: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 2 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Likely's slot takeover gives him the steadier edge over Addison

Start Isaiah Likely: the model's margin is narrow, but the position-specific edge matters more than the nearly even projections. His Week 1 slot deployment created a high-value receiving role, and Yahoo Sports (PFF) 2026-09-14 confirms he led the Giants in targets while scoring twice. Addison has the safer snap foundation and a slightly better team outlook, but his limited involvement and scoreless opener make his big-play path less reliable; Likely's risk is that last week's red-zone usage does not carry over.

What flips it: A clear shift back to Wan'Dale Robinson's former slot role for Likely.

Sources: Yahoo Sports (PFF) · Sep 14, 2026

AI editor

Isaiah Likely

Isaiah Likely

TE14NYGvs LAR

Projected Points

Start· medium
Jordan Addison

Jordan Addison

WR46MINvs CHI

Projected Points

Toss-Up

Isaiah Likely’s market

REC
O/U 4.5
-115 / -111
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 44.5
-114 / -114
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+270
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Jordan Addison’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
+135 / -173
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 39.5
-114 / -110
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+255
Anytime Touchdown Props →
NYG@
LARMon, Sep 21, 8:15 PM ETView the game →
MIN@
CHISun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Isaiah Likely

Start· medium

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

28% target share and a Week 1 line of 8-for-8 with two TDs make Likely a clear TE1 play at TE14, even in a tough on-paper matchup.

  • His slot role gives a starting tight end unusual access to receiver-quality routes.
  • The matchup concern is mostly theoretical: the one-game DvP sample carries no confidence.

The call

  • Usage is the sell: a 28% target share and an 8-target, 8-catch, two-touchdown Week 1 in which he absorbed slot snaps (17) previously held by Wan'Dale Robinson — that's a featured role, not a rotational one.
  • The DvP composite of 7 of 32 looks scary but it's a one-game sample with 0.00 confidence; there's not enough signal there to bench a 28%-target tight end.
  • Game script helps: an 8.5-point spread and a 20.0 implied total point to negative-script passing volume, which funnels targets to the underneath and slot area Likely now works.
  • Risk is the 49% snap share — he's still splitting time, so the floor depends on efficiency and red-zone looks rather than raw volume.

Latest on Likely

Role

Likely led the Giants' Week 1 pass-catchers with an 82.8 PFF grade, catching all eight targets for two touchdowns and taking over much of the slot receiver role (17 slot snaps) previously held by Wan'Dale Robinson.

Yahoo Sports (PFF) · Sep 14, 2026
Isaiah Likely's Week 2 preview
VideoESPN · Sep 16, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Jordan Addison

Toss-Up

WR2 and vertical field-stretcher. Slight-framed separator with deep-ball tracking and red-zone production.

Toss-up — WR46 consensus, projects WR43 this week: CHI is the 7th-softest matchup vs WRs, 9% target share.

  • An 83% snap role keeps Addison on the field for a breakout play despite modest involvement.
  • His vertical skill set can beat a soft receiver matchup without requiring steady target volume.

Head-to-head stats

MetricIsaiah LikelyJordan Addison
Projected points
Consensus rankTE14WR46
Opponent vs positionLAR · 7 of 321-game sampleCHI · 26 of 321-game sample
Receptions9 of 3224 of 32
Receiving Yards9 of 3229 of 32
Receiving TDs1 of 3225 of 32
Targets15 of 3225 of 32
Anytime TD1 of 3225 of 32
Target share28%9%
Reception share35%0%
Implied total · spread20.0+8.521.0+3.5
Depth chartTE1WR2
Snap share49%83%
Start/Sit record1–00–0+1 toss-up

Recent form

Isaiah Likely — last 1 week

Week 1vs DAL

Jordan Addison — last 1 week

Week 1vs GB

Signal breakdown

  • 11.0 vs 10.0 projected PPR pointsIsaiah Likely +
  • Rank 14 vs 46Isaiah Likely +
  • Opponent DvP rank 7 vs 26 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 20.0 vs 21.0 team pointsJordan Addison +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 49% vs 83% snap shareJordan Addison +

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