Jaxson Dart's new $40 million weapon could be fantasy steal in 2026

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The New York Giants have reasons to be optimistic for the 2026 season.

First of all, they have one of the best coaches of this generation in John Harbaugh. The Super Bowl-winning coach was brought in after almost two decades with the Baltimore Ravens. The team can also be excited about the young offensive trio of Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo, and Malik Nabers.

In free agency, the team brought in several new pass-catchers, but one in particular could end up being a steal in fantasy football leagues.

Isaiah Likely named must-have fantasy player

One of Harbaugh's first moves as head coach was to reunite with one of his former players, tight end Isaiah Likely. Likely received a three-year deal worth $40 million, and he's now one of the highest-paid tight ends in the league.

Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report recently identified 10 must-have fantasy players for 2026, and Likely made the list. Regarding Likely on the Giants, Davenport offered the following:

But there isn't a tight end in fantasy with more fantasy upside relative to cost than Isaiah Likely of the New York Giants—if he hits.

Likely is already building a rapport with Jaxson Dart. Nabers may not be ready for Week 1 and, even if he is, he won't be 100 percent. We've already seen what Likely can do when he's featured in the passing game.

As Davenport mentioned, there may be no tight end with more fantasy upside, given where he's projected to be drafted, than Likely. The veteran is the clear No. 1 tight end in New York, and with Nabers working his way back from injury, it won't be surprising if Likely gets the most targets on the team.

However, we need to see it to believe it. Likely has never had more than 477 yards in a single season, but he's had to split snaps with Mark Andrews his entire career. Now, Likely will get the majority of snaps and can, hopefully, reach his potential.

Can Giants actually have a strong offense in 2026?

If Nabers gets healthy quickly and Likely performs like he's being paid to, it's not a stretch to say this offense can actually be legit. Dart showed plenty of promise as a rookie, despite not having much help, and Skattebo looked like an RB1 before getting hurt.

It will also be interesting to see how much of an upgrade Harbaugh's staff can be. We know that staff was able to turn Lamar Jackson into an elite quarterback, but can they do something similar with Dart?