Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Colby Parkinson vs Travis KelceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Travis Kelce is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.1 PPG to Colby Parkinson's 7.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Travis Kelce is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Travis Kelce and Colby Parkinson are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 1.4-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

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

TEKansas City Chiefs#10PPG LEADER

Travis Kelce

PPG

9.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

851

Rec TDs

Targets

108

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Colby Parkinson

Travis Kelce

Head to Head

7.7 PPG9.1 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Colby Parkinson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #21 at the position). Travis Kelce: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #10 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Colby Parkinson is producing at 35% of elite pace and Travis Kelce at 41%. That ranking gap means Travis Kelce carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Colby Parkinson vs Travis Kelce: The Full Breakdown

Colby Parkinson (7.7 PPG) and Travis Kelce (9.1 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two tight ends are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Colby Parkinson played 14 games for the Los Angeles Rams; Travis Kelce suited up 17 times for the Kansas City Chiefs.

A 1.4-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.

Travis Kelce is the volume tight end in this matchup with 76 receptions for 851 yards, while Colby Parkinson profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (8 scores on 43 catches). In weeks where Colby Parkinson finds the end zone he out-scores Travis Kelce, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Colby Parkinson sits Week 11 while Travis Kelce is off Week 5. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

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. Travis Kelce (age 36) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Travis Kelce outscored Colby Parkinson by a projected 24 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Travis Kelce played 17 games in 2025 compared to Colby Parkinson's 14. That durability gap means Travis Kelce 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.
•Travis Kelce saw 108 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Colby Parkinson is 9 years younger than Travis Kelce (27 vs 36), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Colby Parkinson vs Travis Kelce: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Colby Parkinson	Travis Kelce
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.7	9.1
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	108	155
Receptions	43	76
Rec/Game	3.1	4.5
Receiving Yards	408	851
Rec Yds/Game	29.1	50.1
Receiving TDs	8	5
Targets	56	108
Target Share/Game	4.0	6.4
Age	27	36
Experience	5 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 5

Summary

9.1 PPG for Travis Kelce versus 7.7 for Colby Parkinson in 2025. The baseline favors Travis Kelce, 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 Travis Kelce in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Travis Kelce has the edge at 9.1 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 Travis Kelce average in 2025?▾

Colby Parkinson averaged 7.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 1.4 points per game.

When are Colby Parkinson and Travis Kelce's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Colby Parkinson (LAR) has a bye in Week 11, and Travis Kelce (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Colby Parkinson or Travis Kelce a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Travis Kelce outscored Colby Parkinson by 1.4 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.