Isaiah Likely or Quinshon Judkins: Who Should You Start?

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

Likely’s slot takeover meets Judkins’ feature-back floor

Likely’s takeover of the slot gives him the more explosive path after he caught every target for two touchdowns last week (Yahoo Sports (PFF) 2026-09-14). That role creates the better ceiling and an apparent matchup edge, but the matchup signal comes from a one-game sample with no confidence, while his limited snap rate remains a real risk. Judkins brings the stronger workload and goal-line path, though limited receiving involvement makes him vulnerable if Cleveland falls behind. Their near-identical projections reflect opposing strengths: Likely is more explosive, Judkins steadier, making this even.

What flips it: A confirmed reduction in Likely’s slot role.

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

AI editor

Isaiah Likely

Isaiah Likely

TE14NYGvs LAR

Projected Points

Start· medium
Quinshon Judkins

Quinshon Judkins

RB19CLEvs TB

Projected Points

Toss-Up

Isaiah Likely’s market

REC
O/U 4.5
-119 / -107
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 45.5
-113 / -111
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+260
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Quinshon Judkins’s market

ATD
Anytime TD
+155
Anytime Touchdown Props →
NYG@
LARMon, Sep 21, 8:15 PM ETView the game →
CLE@
TBSun, 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 an 8-for-8, two-TD Week 1 in the slot make Likely a TE14 with real upside; the 8.5-point dog script only adds volume.

  • Slot work gives Likely a receiver-like ceiling rather than a typical tight-end target profile.
  • His case is fragile if the Giants’ expected lead reduces the need for heavy passing volume.

The call

  • Usage is the case: a 28% target share plus 17 slot snaps — work previously held by Wan'Dale Robinson — means Likely is a primary target in this passing game, not a rotational TE.
  • Week 1 was emphatic: all eight targets caught for two touchdowns and an 82.8 PFF grade, the best mark among Giants pass-catchers.
  • The Rams grade as a top-10 defense vs. tight ends, but that composite is a one-game sample with 0.00 confidence — not enough to bench a 28%-target TE.
  • Risk is the 20.0 implied total and a 49% snap share; the 8.5-point spread cuts the other way, since trailing means more dropbacks and more Likely targets.

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 Quinshon Judkins

Toss-Up

RB1 and feature back. Powerful one-cut runner with heavy volume and goal-line role.

Toss-up — RB19 consensus, projects RB25 this week: 18.5 implied team total caps the ceiling, 9% target share.

  • Judkins’ feature-back and goal-line role supplies a rushing-touchdown path in a modest-scoring game.
  • Limited receiving involvement leaves him little PPR rescue if Cleveland falls behind.

Head-to-head stats

MetricIsaiah LikelyQuinshon Judkins
Projected points
Consensus rankTE14RB19
Opponent vs positionLAR · 7 of 321-game sampleTB · 19 of 321-game sample
Receptions9 of 3229 of 32
Receiving Yards9 of 3228 of 32
Receiving TDs1 of 32—
Targets15 of 32—
Anytime TD1 of 3213 of 32
Rushing Yards—12 of 32
Rushing TDs—15 of 32
Rushing Attempts—16 of 32
Target share28%9%
Reception share35%13%
Implied total · spread20.0+8.518.5+5.5
Depth chartTE1RB1
Snap share49%65%
Start/Sit record1–00–1

Recent form

Isaiah Likely — last 1 week

Week 1vs DAL

Quinshon Judkins — last 1 week

Week 1vs JAX

Signal breakdown

  • 11.6 vs 12.0 projected PPR pointsQuinshon Judkins +
  • Rank 14 vs 19Isaiah Likely +
  • Opponent DvP rank 7 vs 19 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 20.0 vs 18.5 team pointsIsaiah Likely +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 49% vs 65% snap shareQuinshon Judkins +

Compare different players

Week 2224 players
Player A
vs
Player B

Every fantasy-relevant player this week — search or filter by position.

More Likely comparisons

More Judkins comparisons

This week’s toughest calls

Start/Sit Board•Weekly Rankings•Streamers•Sleepers & Busts•Waiver Wire•My Team•MLB NRFI Board•Free Tools•NFL Props•NFL Games

Get a Start/Sit call on your whole roster →

Save your team once and see a Start, Sit, or Toss-Up verdict on every player, every week — with the matchup, usage and game-script evidence behind each call.

Add to My Team — free

Or browse this week’s NFL games or NFL player props.