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Head to Head

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Colby Parkinson vs Darnell WashingtonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Colby Parkinson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.7 PPG to Darnell Washington's 4.5 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 3.2-PPG advantage is real (7.7 to 4.5), and Colby Parkinson's 8 touchdowns show scoring upside. Darnell Washington 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.

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TELos Angeles Rams#21PPG LEADER
Colby Parkinson
PPG
7.7
Games
14
Rec
43
Rec Yds
408
Rec TDs
8
Targets
56
Bye
Week 11
TEPittsburgh Steelers#38
Darnell Washington
PPG
4.5
Games
13
Rec
31
Rec Yds
364
Rec TDs
1
Targets
43
Bye
Week 9

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Colby Parkinson
Darnell Washington

Head to Head

7.7 PPG4.5 PPG
14 GP13 GP
Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Colby Parkinson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #21 at the position). Darnell Washington: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #38 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Colby Parkinson is producing at 35% of elite pace and Darnell Washington at 20%. That ranking gap means Colby Parkinson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Colby Parkinson vs Darnell Washington: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Colby Parkinson (Los Angeles Rams) finished the 2025 season averaging 7.7 fantasy points per game in 14 games. Darnell Washington (Pittsburgh Steelers) came in at 4.5 PPG over 13 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Colby Parkinson carries a 3.2-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Colby Parkinson had 43 catches for 408 yards; Darnell Washington posted 31 for 364. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

Colby Parkinson has his bye in Week 11, and Darnell Washington rests in Week 9. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Colby Parkinson at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Darnell Washington is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Colby Parkinson (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Darnell Washington (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

  • Colby Parkinson outscored Darnell Washington by a projected 54 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Colby Parkinson played 14 games in 2025 compared to Darnell Washington's 13. That durability gap means Colby Parkinson 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

Colby Parkinson vs Darnell Washington: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatColby ParkinsonDarnell Washington
PPG (Half-PPR)7.74.5
Games Played1413
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)10859
Receptions4331
Rec/Game3.12.4
Receiving Yards408364
Rec Yds/Game29.128.0
Receiving TDs81
Targets5643
Target Share/Game4.03.3
Age2724
Experience5 yrs2 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 11Week 9

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Colby Parkinson holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 7.7 points per game. Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Colby Parkinson or Darnell Washington in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Colby Parkinson has the edge at 7.7 PPG compared to Darnell Washington's 4.5 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 Colby Parkinson and Darnell Washington average in 2025?

Colby Parkinson averaged 7.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 3.2 points per game.

When are Colby Parkinson and Darnell Washington's bye weeks in 2026?

Colby Parkinson (LAR) has a bye in Week 11, and Darnell Washington (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Colby Parkinson or Darnell Washington a better fantasy tight end in 2026?

Colby Parkinson outscored Darnell Washington by 3.2 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.

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