Isaiah Likely

Likely has done a lot with the opportunity. He had four catches for 44 yards in the team's first preseason game and starred on Sunday with eight catches for 100 ...

[a really good player](https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/isaiah-likely-national-television-ravens-rookie-tight-end-arizona-preseason),” Harbaugh said, via the team’s website. Head coach John Harbaugh made it clear that they are pleased with everything they’ve seen from Likely to this point. Likely has done a lot with the opportunity.

Rookie tight end Isaiah Likely is emerging as a threat in the Baltimore passing game. Mark Schofield dives into how.

With the departure of Hollywood Brown to, well, Arizona, one of the biggest questions about the Ravens this season has been how they will generate explosive plays in the passing game. On Sunday night, one of Likely’s eight receptions was this simple sit route, squatting over the ball between two defenders. These change-of-direction skills in the open field are essential for turning shorter throws into explosive plays. Likely has been dynamic with the football in his hands through two preseason games, and his ability to turn short completions into big gains could be a critical weapon for the Ravens in the regular season. Again, it is likely due to his background as a receiver but Likely is the most comfortable player at the catch point in this class. Watch as Likely threatens the linebacker to the outside, before crossing his face and working himself open on the slant: When the pass is thrown in his direction, he goes up over the coverage defender — safety Deionte Thompson — and makes the catch. As he looks back to pick up quarterback Tyler Huntley, he sees that his QB has spun away from pressure and broken the pocket. [best tight ends in the game](https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/gallery/nfl-best-tight-ends-travis-kelce-george-kittle-mark-andrews/) in Mark Andrews, Baltimore has a few different ways they can get Likely on the field at the same time. That season, Likely caught 59 passes for 917 yards and 11 touchdowns. Over the course of these two games, Likely has demonstrated a few different ways where he can be a true threat for the Ravens in the passing game. Drafted in the fourth round by the Ravens, Likely has caught 12 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown over two preseason games.

Likely has now strung together two gaudy preseason performances (144 total yards and a touchdown) in just four quarters of action. The fourth-round pick from ...

Likely has now strung together two gaudy preseason performances (144 total yards and a touchdown) in just four quarters of action. While it is generally not advised to monitor a team's third-string tight end before the regular season starts, Baltimore runs a very unorthodox offense around superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson that routinely uses multiple tight-end sets, so Likely's name might pop up even this season even if Andrews stays healthy all year. [Likely](/fantasy/football/players/2961906/isaiah-likely/) hauled in all eight of his targets for 100 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 24-17 win over the Cardinals.

Isaiah Likely caught all eight of his targets for 100 yards and a touchdown in a 24-17 preseason win over the Cardinals on Sunday. Fantasy Impact:.

[Draft Intel: Your Secret Weapon for Winning Your Fantasy Draft](https://blog.fantasypros.com/8-09-2022-draft-intel/) [1](https://blog.fantasypros.com/8-09-2022-draft-intel/) [Cheat Sheet Creator Update: Draft Wizard Mobile Apps](https://blog.fantasypros.com/7-27-2022-cheat-sheet-draft-wizard-app-update/) [2](https://blog.fantasypros.com/7-27-2022-cheat-sheet-draft-wizard-app-update/) [Fantasy Rankings & Stats iOS: Your Cheat Sheets App is Now Bigger and Better](https://blog.fantasypros.com/6-22-2022-rankings-app-update/) [3](https://blog.fantasypros.com/6-22-2022-rankings-app-update/) [Who Should I...? [Game Recaps](/nfl/game-recaps.php) - NFL The fourth-round rookie out of Coastal Carolina has now tallied 144 receiving yards through two preseason contests. [Matthew Terelle](/news/correspondents/matthew-terelle.php) [Ravens Correspondent](/nfl/team-news.php?team=BAL)

Ravens rookie tight end Isaiah Likely torched the Cardinals, continuing his dominant preseason, while left tackle Ja'Wuan James' struggles are becoming a ...

The rookie showed a full and balanced skillset before, during and after the catch for the second straight week.

With Nick Boyle and Pat Ricard filling more block-heavy archetypes, the Ravens have a plethora of tight-end types to take advantage of matchups accordingly. As defenses shift to lighter boxes and more split safety usage, the Ravens brought in bigger bodies that can bully nickel and dime packages on the ground, or take advantage of linebackers in coverage. Likely has the potential to fill the role that was vacated when Hayden Hurst left, and the early returns look even more promising than what Hurst produced. With Rashod Bateman slated to turn his 67 targets into something more along the line of Brown’s 146, there will still be plenty of opportunity for players like Likely, Devin Duvernay and James Proche II to shine. The former Chanticleer made contested catches, he broke tackles, forced missed tackles after the catch and showed an understanding for where defenses wouldn’t be in order to create throwing windows. Likely’s body type and skillset have the potential to round out Baltimore’s young receiving corps nicely, as they haven’t had a capable larger target aside from All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews since they traded away Hayden Hurst following the 2019 season. With his combination of suddenness, physicality at the stem and catch point, concentration and big play potential after the catch, it will be difficult for the Ravens to temper their expectations of the rookie fourth-round pick. Most importantly, Likely played with a sense of urgency and understanding for how each play would unfold. Likely worked the scramble drill to make himself available as Huntley evaded pressure, reeling in a contested catch. In only 15 snaps, Likely showed the complete skillset that has had reporters, teammates and coaches alike raving about the Coastal Carolina alumni all summer long. [Baltimore Ravens](https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/) won an exhibition game against the [Arizona Cardinals](https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/) on Sunday night. The Ravens rookie fourth-round draft selection, Isaiah Likely, who stole the show as the