Isaiah Likely or RJ Harvey: Who Should You Start?

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

Start Isaiah Likely over RJ Harvey as the safer volume bet

Start Isaiah Likely: the projection gap is modest, but his clear edge in positional standing and steadier role matters more at tight end. New York’s projected receiver shortage could push Likely into a “big slot receiver” deployment, adding target paths beyond his normal seam and red-zone work (Sports Illustrated (Giants On SI) 2026-09-02). Harvey’s receiving ability is a real asset, but his RB2, passing-down assignment leaves him dependent on receptions rather than dependable early-down volume (Sports Illustrated (onsi) 2026-09-09; ESPN 2026-09-04; Yahoo Sports 2026-08-30).

What flips it: Malik Nabers is fully ready, shrinking Likely’s big-slot workload.

Sources: Sports Illustrated (Giants On SI) · Sep 2, 2026 · Sports Illustrated (onsi) · Sep 9, 2026 · ESPN · Sep 4, 2026 · Yahoo Sports · Aug 30, 2026

AI editor

Isaiah Likely

Isaiah Likely

TE14NYGvs DAL

Projected Points

Start· medium
RJ Harvey

RJ Harvey

RB38DENvs KC

Projected Points

Sit

Isaiah Likely’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
-101 / -126
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 37.5
-110 / -114
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+360
Anytime Touchdown Props →

RJ Harvey’s market

RUSH YDS
O/U 18.5
-113 / -111
Rushing Yards Props →
REC
O/U 2.5
-102 / -125
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 16.5
-109 / -115
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+310
Anytime Touchdown Props →
DAL@
NYGSun, Sep 13, 8:20 PM ETView the game →
DEN@
KCMon, Sep 14, 8:15 PM ETView the game →

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.

  • Big-slot usage gives Likely a second route to relevance if New York’s receiver depth stays thin.
  • His red-zone mismatch profile gives the better-ranked tight end multiple ways to beat a modest projection.

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

Why RJ Harvey

Sit

RB2 and passing-down complement. Explosive change-of-pace back with strong receiving production and red-zone scoring.

Sit — RB38 consensus, projects RB40 this week: 10% target share in 2025, 8.5 PPR projected vs KC.

  • Harvey’s receiving specialty can produce efficiently without an every-down role.
  • A passing-down assignment is valuable if Denver falls behind and must lean on short throws.

Latest on Harvey

Role

Denver's Week 1 depth chart lists RJ Harvey as RB2 behind Dobbins, with Harvey projected as the Broncos' third-down back who will see more passing opportunities rather than a bigger early-down role.

Sports Illustrated (onsi) · Sep 9, 2026
Role

Coach Sean Payton said last week that Harvey's receiving ability is 'certainly a strength,' framing him for a pass-game-heavy role in 2026 rather than an every-down rushing role.

ESPN, CBS Sports · Sep 4, 2026
Role

Harvey is expected to stay in a passing-down/satellite role rather than an every-down one, because Dobbins is not a receiving threat (70 catches on 652 career touches). Harvey's rookie usage was reception-driven, with 47 catches on 58 targets and five receiving touchdowns.

Yahoo Sports · Aug 30, 2026

Head-to-head stats

MetricIsaiah LikelyRJ Harvey
Projected points
Consensus rankTE14RB38
Opponent vs positionDALno ranking yetKCno ranking yet
Target share14%(2025)10%(2025)
Reception share15%(2025)12%(2025)
Implied total · spread23.5+1.520.0+2.5
Depth chartTE1RB2
Snap share59%(2025)42%(2025)

Signal breakdown

  • 9.5 vs 8.5 projected PPR pointsIsaiah Likely +
  • Rank 14 vs 38Isaiah Likely +
  • Matchup (DvP composite)even
  • Implied 23.5 vs 20.0 team pointsIsaiah Likely +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 59% vs 42% snap shareIsaiah Likely +

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