Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Colby Parkinson vs Darren WallerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darren Waller is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Colby Parkinson's 7.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Darren Waller is the better fantasy play this season.

Darren Waller is the better play on a neutral week. 9.6 PPG with 287 yards gives a reliable baseline. Colby Parkinson at 7.7 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Darren Waller higher, but do not fade Colby Parkinson entirely.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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TELos Angeles Rams#21

Colby Parkinson

PPG

7.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

408

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

TEMiami Dolphins#8PPG LEADER

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Colby Parkinson

Darren Waller

Head to Head

7.7 PPG9.6 PPG

14 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Colby Parkinson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #21 at the position). Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Colby Parkinson is producing at 35% of elite pace and Darren Waller at 44%. That ranking gap means Darren Waller carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Colby Parkinson vs Darren Waller: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Colby Parkinson and Darren Waller is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Los Angeles Rams tight end put up 7.7 PPG in 2025 over 14 games; Darren Waller of the Miami Dolphins averaged 9.6 in 8. A 1.9-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 1.9 points favors Darren Waller, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one tight end to the other.

Colby Parkinson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 43 receptions for 408 yards, while Darren Waller profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (6 scores on 24 catches). In weeks where Darren Waller finds the end zone he out-scores Colby Parkinson, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Colby Parkinson is off Week 11 and Darren Waller Week 6. 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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Colby Parkinson (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Darren Waller (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Darren Waller outscored Colby Parkinson by a projected 32 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Colby Parkinson played 14 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. 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.
•Colby Parkinson is 6 years younger than Darren Waller (27 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Colby Parkinson vs Darren Waller: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Colby Parkinson	Darren Waller
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.7	9.6
Games Played	14	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	108	77
Receptions	43	24
Rec/Game	3.1	3.0
Receiving Yards	408	283
Rec Yds/Game	29.1	35.4
Receiving TDs	8	6
Targets	56	34
Target Share/Game	4.0	4.3
Age	27	33
Experience	5 yrs	10 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 6

Summary

9.6 PPG for Darren Waller versus 7.7 for Colby Parkinson in 2025. The baseline favors Darren Waller, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Colby Parkinson or Darren Waller in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darren Waller has the edge at 9.6 PPG compared to Colby Parkinson's 7.7 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 Darren Waller average in 2025?▾

Colby Parkinson averaged 7.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 1.9 points per game.

When are Colby Parkinson and Darren Waller's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Colby Parkinson (LAR) has a bye in Week 11, and Darren Waller (MIA) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Colby Parkinson or Darren Waller a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darren Waller outscored Colby Parkinson by 1.9 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.