Isaiah Likely or Parker Washington: Who Should You Start?

Preliminary board

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

Verdicts sharpen as practice reports land.

Start Isaiah Likely for the role-driven edge over Parker Washington

Start Isaiah Likely because his Week 1 usage expanded beyond a normal tight-end role: he took over meaningful slot work and became the Giants' most productive pass catcher (Yahoo Sports (PFF) 2026-09-14). Washington has the sturdier snap foundation and a slightly better team outlook, but Likely's red-zone mismatch profile gives him the more valuable path to difference-making plays. The call is narrow, and Likely's modest playing-time base is the real risk, especially if New York's 8.5-point spread produces a run-heavy finish.

What flips it: A reduced slot role for Likely would shift the call to Washington.

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

AI editor

Isaiah Likely

Isaiah Likely

TE14NYGvs LAR

Projected Points

Start· medium
Parker Washington

Parker Washington

WR34JAXvs DEN

Projected Points

Toss-Up

Isaiah Likely’s market

ATD
Anytime TD
+230
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Parker Washington’s market

ATD
Anytime TD
+180
Anytime Touchdown Props →
NYG@
LARMon, Sep 21, 8:15 PM ETView the game →
JAX@
DENSun, Sep 20, 4:05 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 takeover of the slot role (8/8, two TDs in Week 1) outweigh a tough Rams matchup — TE14 at 11.0 projected is a clear starter.

  • His slot takeover creates receiver-like access to targets, not just seam routes from a traditional TE alignment.
  • Two-touchdown, eight-catch production shows the scoring ceiling behind the model’s start-lean call.

The call

  • Week 1 usage is the story: 8 targets on a 28% target share, all caught for two scores, plus 17 slot snaps inherited from Wan'Dale Robinson — that's a featured role, not a rotational one.
  • Rams rank 7 of 32 in DvP (tough end of the scale), but it's a 1-game sample with 0.00 confidence, so it shouldn't override a locked-in target share.
  • An 8.5-point spread and 20.0 implied total point to chase mode, which funnels volume to the underneath and slot targets Likely is now absorbing.
  • Main risk is the 49% snap share — he's producing on limited snaps, so a game that stays close could cap the ceiling, but the floor at TE14 is still better than replacement.

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

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Parker Washington

Toss-Up

Starting WR and slot-capable target. Compact build, quick separator, also handles punt return duties.

Toss-up — WR34 consensus, projects WR29 this week: DEN is the 6th-toughest matchup vs WRs, 29% target share.

  • Washington’s slot-capable profile and return duties give him multiple ways to stay involved if Denver limits perimeter work.
  • His closer game script supports steadier second-half volume, even if Likely owns the better positional edge.

Latest on Washington

Source: Jaguars, Parker Washington unlikely to agree to deal

The Jaguars and Parker Washington are unlikely to agree to a contract extension before the start of the season, a source told NFL Network.

ESPN · Sep 13, 2026
Which Jaguars WRs will lead in catches, TDs, yards in 2026?

Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers will compete for Trevor Lawrence's targets when the season starts Sunday vs. the Browns.

ESPN · Sep 12, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricIsaiah LikelyParker Washington
Projected points
Consensus rankTE14WR34
Opponent vs positionLAR · 7 of 321-game sampleDEN · 6 of 321-game sample
Receptions9 of 322 of 32
Receiving Yards9 of 321 of 32
Receiving TDs1 of 3213 of 32
Targets15 of 322 of 32
Anytime TD1 of 3213 of 32
Target share28%29%
Reception share35%28%
Implied total · spread20.0+8.520.5+2.5
Depth chartTE1WR2
Snap share49%61%
Start/Sit record1–01–0

Recent form

Isaiah Likely — last 1 week

Week 1vs DAL

Parker Washington — last 1 week

Week 1vs CLE

Signal breakdown

  • 11.0 vs 12.1 projected PPR pointsParker Washington +
  • Rank 14 vs 34Isaiah Likely +
  • Opponent DvP rank 7 vs 6 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 20.0 vs 20.5 team pointsParker Washington +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 49% vs 61% snap shareParker Washington +

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