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Colby Parkinson vs Trey McBrideWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Trey McBride is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.9 PPG to Colby Parkinson's 7.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Trey McBride is the better fantasy play this season.

Trey McBride is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 14.9 PPG and 1,239 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Colby Parkinson (7.7 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Trey McBride as the starter and Colby Parkinson as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TELos Angeles Rams#21
Colby Parkinson
PPG
7.7
Games
14
Rec
43
Rec Yds
408
Rec TDs
8
Targets
56
Bye
Week 11
TEArizona Cardinals#1PPG LEADER
Trey McBride
PPG
14.9
Games
17
Rec
126
Rec Yds
1,239
Rec TDs
11
Targets
169
Bye
Week 14

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Colby Parkinson
Trey McBride

Head to Head

7.7 PPG14.9 PPG
14 GP17 GP
Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Colby Parkinson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #21 at the position). Trey McBride: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #1 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Colby Parkinson is producing at 35% of elite pace and Trey McBride at 68%. That ranking gap means Trey McBride carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Colby Parkinson vs Trey McBride: The Full Breakdown

Trey McBride and Colby Parkinson are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Arizona Cardinals tight end averaged 14.9 PPG in 2025, a full 7.2 points per game ahead of Colby Parkinson's 7.7 with the Los Angeles Rams. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

A 7.2-PPG gap gives Trey McBride the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Trey McBride is the volume tight end in this matchup with 126 receptions for 1239 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 Trey McBride, but the floor gap is real.

Colby Parkinson has his bye in Week 11, and Trey McBride rests in Week 14. 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

If you can acquire Trey McBride at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end 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. Trey McBride (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

  • Trey McBride outscored Colby Parkinson by a projected 122 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Trey McBride played 17 games in 2025 compared to Colby Parkinson's 14. That durability gap means Trey McBride contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Trey McBride scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
  • Trey McBride saw 169 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 Trey McBride: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatColby ParkinsonTrey McBride
PPG (Half-PPR)7.714.9
Games Played1417
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)108253
Receptions43126
Rec/Game3.17.4
Receiving Yards4081,239
Rec Yds/Game29.172.9
Receiving TDs811
Targets56169
Target Share/Game4.09.9
Age2726
Experience5 yrs3 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 11Week 14

Summary

Trey McBride outscored Colby Parkinson by 7.2 PPG in 2025 (14.9 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 Trey McBride in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Trey McBride has the edge at 14.9 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 Trey McBride average in 2025?

Colby Parkinson averaged 7.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Trey McBride averaged 14.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 7.2 points per game.

When are Colby Parkinson and Trey McBride's bye weeks in 2026?

Colby Parkinson (LAR) has a bye in Week 11, and Trey McBride (ARI) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Colby Parkinson or Trey McBride a better fantasy tight end in 2026?

Trey McBride outscored Colby Parkinson by 7.2 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.