The Baltimore Ravens will travel to take on the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, specifically regarding TE Isaiah Likely.
Is Isaiah Likely Playing in Week 1?
Likely (foot) has been ruled out for Sunday night’s season opener against the Bills. He will not play this week. We’ll continue to monitor the Baltimore Ravens’ injury report leading up to kickoff for any changes to the roster. You can also visit and bookmark our Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Isaiah Likely’s Fantasy Outlook
Isaiah Likely underwent surgery in July on a broken foot bone, resulting in no real ramping-up period for the season. At this moment, his status for Week 1 is unclear, but with all 32 teams in action this week, why would you roll the dice on a player whose role isn’t 100% clear even when 100% healthy?
A player like Likely is the difference between shallow and deep leagues. I have no patience for an injured asset entering the season unless you have access to an IR slot for him. If that’s the case, you have nothing to lose. If not, what do you have to gain?
In deep leagues, however, Likely is close to a must-stash. He posted a 39.5% snap share in 2022, earned a promotion to 43.9% in 2023, and saw it spike to 60.3% in Year 3. He’s an impactful talent in an explosive offense, and that’s a profile that I don’t mind stashing over a WR7 type that I see so many deeper league rosters sit on.
If your WR7 is hitting your lineup, your ship has already sunk. At the tight end position, a player like Likely can bust into the TE1 conversation without outlier production, and that is why I want exposure to him.
That said, he’s reached double-digit PPR points just twice in his career when not playing at least half of the offensive snaps. There’s more risk than reward for a profile like that on a team that has an eye on the big picture at all times (68 wins since the beginning of 2019, the third most in the league), but there is also long-term appeal to a young player whose talent is obvious.
Stash if you have the room, and if you don’t have the space right now, don’t be shy about pouncing when we see signs of full health.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 1 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em article.
