Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Colby Parkinson vs Gunnar HelmWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Colby Parkinson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.7 PPG to Gunnar Helm's 4.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Colby Parkinson is the better fantasy play this season.

Colby Parkinson is the better play on a neutral week. 7.7 PPG with 408 yards gives a reliable baseline. Gunnar Helm at 4.4 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Colby Parkinson higher, but do not fade Gunnar Helm entirely.

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

Rec

Rec Yds

408

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

TETennessee Titans#40

Gunnar Helm

PPG

4.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

357

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Colby Parkinson

Gunnar Helm

Head to Head

7.7 PPG4.4 PPG

14 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Colby Parkinson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #21 at the position). Gunnar Helm: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #40 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Colby Parkinson is producing at 35% of elite pace and Gunnar Helm at 20%. That ranking gap means Colby Parkinson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Colby Parkinson vs Gunnar Helm: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Colby Parkinson and Gunnar Helm for your lineup, you are not alone. Colby Parkinson finished the 2025 season at 7.7 PPG for the Los Angeles Rams (14 games), and Gunnar Helm averaged 4.4 for the Tennessee Titans (16 games).

That 3.3-point weekly advantage for Colby Parkinson is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Colby Parkinson had 43 catches for 408 yards; Gunnar Helm posted 44 for 357. 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 Gunnar Helm 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

Colby Parkinson is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Gunnar Helm is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Colby Parkinson (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Gunnar Helm (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Colby Parkinson outscored Gunnar Helm by a projected 56 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Gunnar Helm played 16 games in 2025 compared to Colby Parkinson's 14. That durability gap means Gunnar Helm 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.
•Gunnar Helm is 4 years younger than Colby Parkinson (23 vs 27), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Colby Parkinson vs Gunnar Helm: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Colby Parkinson	Gunnar Helm
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.7	4.4
Games Played	14	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	108	70
Receptions	43	44
Rec/Game	3.1	2.8
Receiving Yards	408	357
Rec Yds/Game	29.1	22.3
Receiving TDs	8	2
Targets	56	55
Target Share/Game	4.0	3.4
Age	27	23
Experience	5 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 9

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Colby Parkinson at 7.7 PPG, 3.3 points per game above Gunnar Helm's 4.4. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Colby Parkinson or Gunnar Helm in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Colby Parkinson has the edge at 7.7 PPG compared to Gunnar Helm's 4.4 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 Gunnar Helm average in 2025?▾

Colby Parkinson averaged 7.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Gunnar Helm averaged 4.4 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 3.3 points per game.

When are Colby Parkinson and Gunnar Helm's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Colby Parkinson or Gunnar Helm a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Colby Parkinson outscored Gunnar Helm by 3.3 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.