Isaiah

Likely

DeCosta also said the team would “figure out all the roster machinations” when talking about Andrews. The veteran tight end has a $16.9 million cap hit this year, $11 million of which can be saved via his release. While EDC didn’t make any definitive statements, it certainly didn’t sound like he was talking about a cut candidate. Andrews shockingly played a part-time role for much of the regular season before finally being upgraded to a full complement of snaps late in the year. He ended the season with a disastrous postseason showing versus the Bills that featured a fumble and a heinous drop on the final play. Despite the sour note, the Ravens seem more than happy to have Andrews back in 2025.

Andrews, headed into his age-30 season, is set to make $11 million in 2025, with a $4 million roster bonus due on March 17. “His salary cap number is $16.9 million, and because his salary is not guaranteed, the Ravens could save $11 million on this year’s cap if they cut him before the roster bonus is due,” Graziano said. This isn’t the first time Andrews’ future with Baltimore has been in question. The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec said in January that the team could trade or extend Andrews this offseason, depending on their commitment to one of Lamar Jackson’s most reliable targets. The presence of productive TE Isaiah Likely — who has thrived in games Andrews has missed over the past two seasons — could make Andrews expendable for the Ravens. Andrews single-handedly cost the Ravens an appearance in the AFC title game last month with brutal late-game drops.

Likely delivered jarringly volatile results in his third NFL season, finishing as the PPR TE16 (123.7 points). He holds the agonizing distinction of producing five weekly TE1 finishes, bookended by six weekly finishes outside the position’s top 30. Likely caught 42-of-56 targets for 477 yards and six touchdowns on the year. Likely notably improved his yards per route run average by more than one-third of a yard, closing the season with a 1.71 average. Perhaps most importantly, Likely (nine) finished second only to Mark Andrews (10) for the team-high in playoff targets while leading the team in receiving yards (126) during that span. Andrews’ waning season-long efficiency coupled with Likely’s late-season productivity could give Likely the inside track for the team’s No. 1 tight end role in 2025. Fantasy managers should strongly consider drafting Likely accordingly.

Flowers was spotted doing some light work before Friday’s practice but did not participate in the session itself, presumably marking his third and final DNP of the week. As Harbaugh previously noted, Flowers does not need to practice to suit up on Sunday, but it’s still a bad sign for the young wideout. It looks like he won’t play, though the Ravens are taking it down to the wire to be sure. The impending questionable tag also forces the Bills to consider the possibility of Baltimore having their top receiver for this game. If Flowers is ruled out, Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews will split the No. 1 target duties in his absence. Isaiah Likely will also be used as a de facto second receiver, giving him plenty of fantasy value for the upcoming DFS slate.

Though Likely’s modest stat line doesn’t show it, the No. 2 tight end was heavily involved in the passing attack with Zay Flowers out for this game. He led the Ravens in yards and tied Justice Hill for a team-high in targets. Had the Steelers played a more competitive game, Likely could have made a much larger dent in the box score to open the playoffs. His role in the Divisional Round will depend on Flowers’ health. The young wideout missed this game with a knee issue and isn’t guaranteed to return next week. If he remains out, Likely could be a favorite target of Lamar Jackson’s as Baltimore attempts to make it back to the AFC Championship.

Likely came into the contest having scored in consecutive games but took a significant backseat to fellow tight end Mark Andrews, the latter of whom scored for the 11th time in his last 12 games in the win. The Ravens await their Wildcard Round opponent after clinching the No. 3 seed.

Likely scored on a short touchdown that saw Lamar Jackson buy well over five seconds with his legs. The backup tight end worked his way into an open pocket in the end zone for an easy score, at least from his perspective. It was Likely’s sixth score of the season. He remains a touchdown-or-bust TE2 for Week 18 versus the Browns.

Likely go the scoring started for the Ravens on a leak to the flat in the first quarter but managed just two more targets the rest of the way in a game quarterback Lamar Jackson attempted only 23 passes. The touchdown was his second in three games after going six weeks in the middle of the season without one. Charlie Kolar’s absence has led to increased opportunities for the talented tight end, although it has yet to lead to consistent production.

It was another down day for Likely, who ran a pass route on 17 of the Ravens’ 29 drop backs while Mark Andrews logged 24 routes. Likely’s playing time and production has been spotty at best for the better part of two months in the run-first Baltimore offense. He won’t be fantasy relevant in Week 16 against the Steelers.

Likely wasn’t overly involved until the game was nearly out of hand. He reeled in three grabs for 24 yards and a touchdown on Baltimore’s final drive. The game wasn’t technically over, but the Eagles were clearly comfortable letting the Ravens move the ball as long as the clock bled out in the process. Still, Likely led the Ravens in targets and trailed only Mark Andrews in receptions. Likely remains stuck near the top of the TE2 ranks heading into Baltimore’s Week 14 bye.