Isaiah Likely, New York Giants
I started the offseason more skeptical of Isaiah Likely, but after training camp kicked off, I've been slowly buying back in. All pre-season indicators point to Likely being one of Jaxson Dart's favorite targets in New York. And while Malik Nabers projects to be on the field for Week 1, the receiving corps is shallow behind him (rookie Malachi Fields is projected as the WR2 in this offense). Likely has never lacked for talent; he's just been sharing the field with Mark Andrews in Baltimore the last 4 years. As the clear TE1 and potential #2 in this offense, I'm more than willing to buy in at a cost of TE12.
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
I had a lingering feeling that Juwan Johnson was being graded too low in drafts BEFORE Jordyn Tyson got injured, but now I'm positive he's being slept on. Johnson finished as the TE10 last year on 102 targets and projects to be the #2 option in this improving Saints offense until Tyson is back on the field. That doesn't match the TE17 cost at all. If you're in a shallow league, you might have better options at the position, but if you choose to punt on the position completely, Johnson is a free pick and a guy who could get off to a scorching hot start to 2026.
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
It's not the sexiest pick in the world, but if you're not spending up on Brock Bowers or Trey McBride, Mark Andrews is a legitimate option as your TE1. After ceding some work to Isaiah Likely last year, he re-establishes himself as the clear TE1 in Baltimore and already has chemistry with Lamar Jackson, who loves to look for him in the redzone. He's just 2 years removed from a TE5 finish where he caught 11 touchdowns, and it's hard to read to into 2025 when his QB was dealing with injuries the whole year. Will Andrews be a league winner? Probably not. But as a dependable TE at the end of your draft, he's 100% worth rostering in deeper leagues.
