Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Colby Parkinson vs Kenneth GainwellWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Kenneth Gainwell is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.9 PPG to Colby Parkinson's 7.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Kenneth Gainwell is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Kenneth Gainwell (10.9 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Colby Parkinson (7.7 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

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

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TELos Angeles Rams#21

Colby Parkinson

PPG

7.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

408

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

RBPittsburgh Steelers#26PPG LEADER

Kenneth Gainwell

PPG

10.9

Games

Rush Yds

537

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

486

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Colby Parkinson

Kenneth Gainwell

Head to Head

7.7 PPG10.9 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Colby Parkinson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #21 at the position). Kenneth Gainwell: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #26 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB in most league formats.

Colby Parkinson vs Kenneth Gainwell: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Colby Parkinson (TE, Los Angeles Rams) against Kenneth Gainwell (RB, Pittsburgh Steelers) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Colby Parkinson averaged 7.7 PPG in 2025 over 14 games, while Kenneth Gainwell posted 10.9 PPG across 17 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Colby Parkinson has his bye in Week 11, Kenneth Gainwell in Week 9. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Kenneth Gainwell at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Colby Parkinson 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. Kenneth Gainwell (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Kenneth Gainwell outscored Colby Parkinson by a projected 54 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kenneth Gainwell played 17 games in 2025 compared to Colby Parkinson's 14. That durability gap means Kenneth Gainwell 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.
•Kenneth Gainwell saw 85 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 Kenneth Gainwell: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Colby Parkinson	Kenneth Gainwell
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.7	10.9
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	108	185
Rushing Yards	0	537
Rush Yds/Game	0.0	31.6
Rushing TDs	0	5
Receptions	43	73
Receiving Yards	408	486
Targets	56	85
Total TDs	8	8
Age	27	27
Experience	5 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 9

Summary

Kenneth Gainwell outscored Colby Parkinson by 3.2 PPG in 2025 (10.9 to 7.7). 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Colby Parkinson or Kenneth Gainwell in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kenneth Gainwell has the edge at 10.9 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 Kenneth Gainwell average in 2025?▾

Colby Parkinson averaged 7.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Kenneth Gainwell averaged 10.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.2 points per game.

When are Colby Parkinson and Kenneth Gainwell's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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