Colby

Parkinson

Parkinson drew a short target in the third quarter, but Seahawks corner Tariq Woolen committed an illegal contact penalty, negating the play entirely. Fellow LA tight ends Hunter Long and Davis Allen each caught one pass. With Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp mostly healthy, Parkinson’s role in the Rams’ offense has vanished. Fantasy managers can cut ties with him ahead of Week 10.

Parkinson has now caught two passes on only two looks in back-to-back games. The difference this time? Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp were both back in the lineup. That means Parkinson’s cellar-dwelling floor now has no plausible ceiling. He will be a tough sell as a top-24 tight end in Week 9 against the Seahawks.

Parkinson experienced double-digit declines in both offensive snaps (62-to-35) and targets (13-to-2) this week, as Sean McVay incorporated No. 3 tight end Davis Allen at an increased rate. Allen played just 2.5 percent of the offensive snaps in Weeks 1-5 while earning just two targets. Allen was on-field for 19.1 percent snap share in Week 7, though he remained uninvolved as a pass catcher. Parkinson is just a TE1/2 against the Vikings in Week 8.

Parkinson, functioning as Matthew Stafford’s primary check down option, led the Rams with a hefty 29 percent target share. Parkinson now has 20 targets over his past two games in a Rams offense that has been run heavy in recent weeks, but was pass-first in Week 5 against Green Bay. Parkinson should be a top-12 fantasy play unless and until Cooper Kupp or Puka Nacua return to the LA lineup following the team’s Week 6 bye.

Parkinson saw the second-most targets on the team, though that conveyed into just 33 total yards on the day. He is the definitive No. 1 TE on the team and will be a top-three option in the passing game with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua out. However, it will be a frustrating journey through the depleted Rams offense. Parkinson is a touchdown-dependent TE2 play against the Packers in Week 5.

Parkinson technically finished with a team-high six targets though one was ultimately negated. The usage is encouraging but Parkinson remains a frustrating, touchdown-dependent option. He is a TE2 against the Bears in Week 4.

Parkinson was once again the primary tight end for the Rams offense, though that did not amount to much in a blowout loss. Parkinson saw a target he dropped in the red zone and caught his other one for a gain of 12 yards. Expect better days ahead for Parkinson, who can be fired up as a TE2 for Week 3 against the 49ers.

Parkinson played most of the game for the Rams, filling in admirably as the primary all-purpose tight end for Sean McVay’s 11-personnel-heavy offense. Backup tight end Davis Allen played sparingly and saw just one target, meaning Parkinson can likely be started with confidence on a weekly basis in deep leagues and scooped off the wire for consistent floor.

Rodrigue has steadily beat the drum for the Rams’ tight end room this offseason, though it remains to be seen how much of a personnel shift Sean McVay will employ, having led the league in 11 personnel usage in five-of-seven seasons as the Rams head coach. Tight ends coach Nick Caley, who coached the Patriots’ tight ends from 2017-to-2022, reportedly turned down an offer for the Patriots’ open offensive coordinator role this offseason, “in part because of the group of players he coaches in L.A.” Fantasy managers should continue monitoring second-year TE Davis Allen and free-agent signee TE Colby Parkinson’s training camp development while starter Tyler Higbee rehabilitates a pair of Grade 3 ACL and MCL tears that occurred on January 14th.

The update comes passively from team reporter Stu Jackson, who mentions that Higbee’s return-to-play date remains unknown. Isolated ACL tears typically require at least nine months of rehabilitation and Higbee’s combination ACL/MCL injury occurred on January 14th. The PUP list’s minimum four-game stay makes sense. GM Les Snead signed free agent TE Colby Parkinson to a three-year, $22.5 million deal this offseason, ostensibly giving him the first crack at replacing Higbee as the team’s Week 1 starter. Parkinson never earned a full-time role with the Seahawks but tallied 15 explosive pass plays (15-plus yards) as a backup over the last two years.