Isaiah Likely is the tight end one if Mark Andrews is cut or traded, as the Baltimore Ravens would save about $11 million. Andrews has $16.9 million hit against the salary cap this year. If they move on from him in two days, March 17 according to Spotrac, Baltimore would not have to give him his $4 million roster bonus. To me and many Ravens fans, for all the good Andrews-Lamar Jackson duo has done in the regular season, this is a no brainer.
The 29-year-old coming off an injury started off the year slow (due to a car accident in August) and while he heated up to finish off 2024, the playoff stats are and have been a concern. But not because he dropped the potential game winner in Buffalo against the Bills. It is time for a changing of the old guard. But for fantasy, how would that impact the landscape of the tight end position?
Isaiah Likely is Just a Baller
Entering his fourth NFL season, the Likely hype train will be all systems go once or if Andrews is moved, sad to say. If not, the young tight end will likely be involved like last season, but hopes are, he can contribute even more like in the back half of 2023. While the Ravens did add veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the only other player with contest catch and jump ball ability was Likely on the roster with the bigger frame. Zay Flowers is the short to intermediate guy, getting manufactured touches while Rashod Bateman was Jackson’s deep ball player in 2024 and has his career best season.
This was at the 2024, but coming off a red hot finish to the 2023 season when Andrews went down with an ankle injury that impacted him when he came back in the playoffs. Somehow, after finishing 6th ranked tight end in PPR and averaging 11.1 fantasy points a week with 11 touchdowns, which was the league’s best, he failed to show up again in the playoffs in 2024. How he started the season, it was an amazing ride to where he led fantasy managers deep in the postseason. This is especially compared to Trey McBride, who had just 2 touchdowns all year despite being top 3 at his position, according to Fantasy Pros.
Likely, without Andrews in his way for 9 games, has 31 catches for 453 yards and has scored 6 touchdowns, according to Statmuse. That is about the same as his career high in a single season as a backup tight end, as 2024 was his best, with 477 yards on 42 catches, with the same amount of touchdowns with 6. But that was with Andrews in the lineup the whole season, despite being hobbled somewhat to start of the season.
In 2024, Likely finished as the 23rd ranked tight end, so stashing him as your backup tight end didn’t pay off like the season before. However, his stock is rising and will be sky-high if he becomes the starting tight end in Baltimore. He is being drafted in the fourth tier of tight ends in the back end of drafts and is still a value.
Likely’s 2023 Dominant Fantasy Stretch
After Andrews’ went down in Week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals, from Week 12-18, Likely was top 5 at the position. The connection and upside is there between him and Jackson, as we have seen big plays from the 24-year-old tight end from Coastal Carolina. The former 4th round pick from 2022 could be general manager Eric DeCosta’s biggest steals of the draft in recent memory (in terms of value).
In that span, Likely had the fewest catches and targets out of the top group, yet was hyper efficient on his yards per reception (15.3) and had 5 touchdowns. He also had five 20+ catches and averaged 13.9 fantasy points with Andrews out of the lineup. While Andrews had a golden connection with Jackson before and a little bit after his brutal injury, Likely is just so dynamic with what he brings to the table as a ball carrier with his elusiveness and YAC ability.
His name belongs up there with McBride, Evan Engram, Sam LaPorta, and David Njoku in terms of fantasy tight ends. The Ravens’ potential breakout star could beat his ADP just outside the Top 10 ranked tight ends if a move does happen. If not and Andrews come back on a discount or a restructured contract, while it does hurt Likely’s stock, it is a worthy dice roll. Contract talks are coming for Likely and for him, it is best he is maximized in his 4th season. An extension should be a priority for him to stay in Baltimore for the coming years as their future at TE.
2025 could be a change in the times, as the Ravens should make the move now rather than regret it later during the season (especially in the playoffs). Even though Baltimore uses two or three tight ends quite often (with Charlie Kolar in the mix) to block, it is a fun thought to see Likely in a way more expanded role. He hasn’t surpassed 500 yards or 50 catches in a single season yet, but this coming year could be the season to do so.