Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cade Stover vs Colby ParkinsonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Colby Parkinson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.7 PPG to Cade Stover's 3.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Colby Parkinson is the better fantasy play this season.

Colby Parkinson has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.2-PPG advantage is real (7.7 to 3.5), and Colby Parkinson's 8 touchdowns show scoring upside. Cade Stover is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Cade Stover and Colby Parkinson in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

TEHouston Texans#99

Cade Stover

PPG

3.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

215

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

TELos Angeles Rams#21PPG LEADER

Colby Parkinson

PPG

7.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

408

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Cade Stover

Colby Parkinson

Head to Head

3.5 PPG7.7 PPG

15 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Cade Stover: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Colby Parkinson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #21 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Cade Stover is producing at 16% of elite pace and Colby Parkinson at 35%. That ranking gap means Colby Parkinson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Cade Stover vs Colby Parkinson: The Full Breakdown

Cade Stover and Colby Parkinson are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Cade Stover averaged 3.5 PPG across 15 games with the Houston Texans, while Colby Parkinson posted 7.7 PPG in 14 appearances for the Los Angeles Rams.

A 4.2-PPG gap gives Colby Parkinson the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Colby Parkinson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 43 receptions for 408 yards, while Cade Stover profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 22 catches). In weeks where Cade Stover finds the end zone he out-scores Colby Parkinson, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Cade Stover is off Week 14 and Colby Parkinson Week 11. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Colby Parkinson at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Cade Stover is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Cade Stover (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Colby Parkinson (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Colby Parkinson outscored Cade Stover by a projected 71 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Cade Stover played 15 games in 2025 compared to Colby Parkinson's 14. That durability gap means Cade Stover contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Colby Parkinson scored 8 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Colby Parkinson saw 56 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cade Stover vs Colby Parkinson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cade Stover	Colby Parkinson
PPG (Half-PPR)	3.5	7.7
Games Played	15	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	53	108
Receptions	22	43
Rec/Game	1.5	3.1
Receiving Yards	215	408
Rec Yds/Game	14.3	29.1
Receiving TDs	1	8
Targets	32	56
Target Share/Game	2.1	4.0
Age	-	27
Experience	-	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 11

Summary

Colby Parkinson outscored Cade Stover by 4.2 PPG in 2025 (7.7 to 3.5). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Cade Stover vs Colby Parkinson

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Cade Stover vs Colby Parkinson

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Cade Stover or Colby Parkinson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Colby Parkinson has the edge at 7.7 PPG compared to Cade Stover's 3.5 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Cade Stover and Colby Parkinson average in 2025?▾

Cade Stover averaged 3.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Colby Parkinson averaged 7.7 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 4.2 points per game.

When are Cade Stover and Colby Parkinson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cade Stover (HOU) has a bye in Week 14, and Colby Parkinson (LAR) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cade Stover or Colby Parkinson a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Colby Parkinson outscored Cade Stover by 4.2 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.