"I want to see Isaiah Likely be an All-Pro," said John Harbaugh this week. Those who have Likely in dynasty leagues agree. Unfortunately, there's a pretty decent-sized obstacle in his way named Mark Andrews.
There has been talk about Andrews possibly being shopped, or at least there was earlier in the offseason. But Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said that he expected the veteran to be on the roster this year, playing out the final year of his deal. Likely is also entering the final year of his rookie contract. But if one guy signs an extension at some point between now and next offseason, a lot more, er, likely it will be the 25-year-old Likely than the 30-year-old (in September) Andrews.
Harbaugh's hopes for Likely wouldn't seem quite so far-fetched if Andrews weren't around. Looking at games his first three seasons that Andrews wasn't available for, Likely has been pretty awesome.
From 2022 through 2024, there have been 10 games that Andrews either missed entirely or left early. Likely in those games has caught 37 passes for 530 yards, with 7 touchdowns.
| LIKELY WITHOUT ANDREWS, 2022-2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Opp | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD |
| 2022 | at T.B. | 7 | 6 | 77 | 1 |
| 2022 | at N.O. | 5 | 1 | 24 | 1 |
| 2022 | at Cin. | 13 | 8 | 103 | 0 |
| 2023 | Hou. | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 2023 | LAC | 6 | 4 | 40 | 0 |
| 2023 | LAR | 7 | 5 | 83 | 1 |
| 2023 | at Jac. | 6 | 5 | 70 | 1 |
| 2023 | at S.F. | 4 | 3 | 56 | 0 |
| 2023 | Mia. | 3 | 2 | 42 | 2 |
| 2023 | Pit. | 2 | 2 | 31 | 1 |
| Average | 5.4 | 3.7 | 53 | 0.7 | |
This does not include Likely's huge game in Week 1 a year ago, which Andrews played throughout. Likely caught 9 balls for 111 yards and a touchdown that day, just a toe from another score at the end of that contest. But that game was very much the exception. In the 39 games Andrew has been available for the last three years (including that one), Likely averages 2.6 targets, 1.8 receptions and 19 yards per game, with 7 touchdowns.
Unless you're counting on Andrews getting hurt or traded this summer, the kind of numbers in the table above won't happen. Likely is going to have to wait his turn.
--Andy Richardson