Colby

Parkinson

Parkinson’s touchdown — one of three for Matthew Stafford on the day — was his fourth score in five games. He’s operated as the Rams’ TE1 since Tyler Higbee was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Parkinson in Week 14 ran a pass route on 22 of Stafford’s 31 drop backs and was targeted on 23 percent of his routes, a solid rate for a tight end. Parkinson will be a solid streaming option in Week 15 against the Lions.

Parkinson continues to benefit from Tyler Higbee’s absence. The veteran tight end led his position group with five targets on the day and turned those looks into a 4-27-0 line. Parkinson has now seen five-plus targets in back-to-back games with Higbee sidelined and saw two targets in the Panthers’ red zone. Despite a somewhat encouraging workload, Parkinson will be hard to trust as anything more than a TE2 in Week 14 against the Cardinals.

It was the first game after fellow tight end Tyler Higbee was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury, making the standout performance from Parkinson notable. He’ll continue to cede primary aerial usage to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams but brings a history of success in the red zone to an offense leading the league in passing touchdowns in 2025. Fantasy managers in a bind at the position could do worse than taking a flier on that profile.

Higbee’s sidelining still leaves the Rams with three capable tight ends, Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and Terrace Ferguson. Although the rookie, Ferguson, intrigues, Parkinson has finished as a TE1 in consecutive weeks, buoyed by touchdowns. The latter player can be started as a touchdown-dependent TE1, if needed, though stashing Ferguson could return value down the line. Higbee will be eligible to return in Week 16.

Parkinson saw a bump in playing time and usage with Tyler Higbee sidelined with an ankle issue that could keep him sidelined in the coming weeks. Parkinson’s touchdown came on a short throw in the red zone; he broke a couple tackles to get the ball over the goal line. It was his second straight game with a touchdown. He was targeted on two of his nine pass routes against Seattle. Parkinson, with 11 receptions over his past four games, could be a decent streamer in Week 12 against the Bucs if Higbee is sidelined.

Higbee was banged up in the second half and did not return. He had one catch for 23 yards before his exit. Terrance Ferguson and Colby Parkinson split the tight end route running with Higbee sidelined. Ferguson was not targeted while Parkinson caught both of his looks for 13 yards. Neither would be fantasy relevant if Higbee were sidelined in Week 12 since Puka Nacua and Davante Adams so thoroughly dominate targets in the LA offense.

The Rams have created an incredible situation where none of their tight ends are actually fantasy-reliable, but all of them are threats to score off play-action in jumbo packages. Parkinson (39 snaps), Tyler Higbee (3/33, 36 snaps), Davis Allen (2/8/1, 35 snaps) and Terrance Ferguson (1/32, 22 snaps) are all potential TE2 plays right now given the situation. It’s impossible to figure out which of them will blow up every week given the playing time split.

Although the Rams secured the win, Allen had a rough day. The young tight end scored on a play-action catch-and-run sequence on the Rams’ fifth drive, but the touchdown was called back after referees viewed the replay, which clearly showed Allen stiff-arming his way down the field by pushing his would-be tackler’s facemask back and forth as the two strode together through the red zone. Rams K Joshua Klarty missed the ensuing field goal attempt wide right by a significant margin. Allen later helped fellow TE Tyler Higbee score a touchdown from one yard out by catching the defense’s attention going in motion pre-snap. Rams TE Colby Parkinson caught 2-of-2 targets for 10 yards as well.

Parkinson nearly found the end zone for the first time this year, but the touchdown was overturned after replay showed his knee hitting the ground before he broke the plane. Davante Adams scored two plays later. Parkinson quietly led the Rams in receiving yards, though he trailed Tyler Higbee in targets by three. Parkinson’s role should return to near zero with Puka Nacua expected to be back after the team’s Week 8 bye.

Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters that Parkinson has cleared the concussion protocol and will continue to be monitored by team in the lead up to kickoff. As long as he remains setback-free, he should be good to go. Parkinson will only warrant streaming consideration if starting TE Tyler Higbee (hip) is unable to play.