Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Colby Parkinson vs Mike GesickiWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Colby Parkinson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.7 PPG to Mike Gesicki's 4.7 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. Mike Gesicki at 4.7 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Colby Parkinson higher, but do not fade Mike Gesicki 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

TECincinnati Bengals#36

Mike Gesicki

PPG

4.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

307

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Colby Parkinson

Mike Gesicki

Head to Head

7.7 PPG4.7 PPG

14 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Colby Parkinson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #21 at the position). Mike Gesicki: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #36 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Colby Parkinson is producing at 35% of elite pace and Mike Gesicki at 21%. That ranking gap means Colby Parkinson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Colby Parkinson vs Mike Gesicki: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Colby Parkinson and Mike Gesicki 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 Mike Gesicki averaged 4.7 for the Cincinnati Bengals (12 games).

That 3.0-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; Mike Gesicki posted 28 for 307. 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 Mike Gesicki rests in Week 6. 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. Mike Gesicki 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. Mike Gesicki (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Colby Parkinson outscored Mike Gesicki by a projected 51 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Colby Parkinson played 14 games in 2025 compared to Mike Gesicki's 12. 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 Mike Gesicki: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Colby Parkinson	Mike Gesicki
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.7	4.7
Games Played	14	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	108	56
Receptions	43	28
Rec/Game	3.1	2.3
Receiving Yards	408	307
Rec Yds/Game	29.1	25.6
Receiving TDs	8	2
Targets	56	42
Target Share/Game	4.0	3.5
Age	27	30
Experience	5 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 6

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Colby Parkinson at 7.7 PPG, 3.0 points per game above Mike Gesicki's 4.7. 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 Mike Gesicki in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Colby Parkinson has the edge at 7.7 PPG compared to Mike Gesicki's 4.7 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 Mike Gesicki average in 2025?▾

Colby Parkinson averaged 7.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Mike Gesicki averaged 4.7 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 3.0 points per game.

When are Colby Parkinson and Mike Gesicki's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Colby Parkinson or Mike Gesicki a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Colby Parkinson outscored Mike Gesicki by 3.0 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.