Colby

Parkinson

Most teams that have changed their lead receiving tight end are opting for experienced players. Examples include Zach Ertz with the Commanders, Mike Gesicki with the Cincinnati Bengals, Jonnu Smith with the Miami Dolphins, and Hayden Hurst and Will Dissly with the Los Angeles Chargers. All of these players have had some level of fantasy success before, and while there is a chance they can replicate it, only Ertz has a realistic shot at an elite season.

While Parkinson has shown flashes of potential in specific situations, there's little evidence to suggest he's ready for fantasy stardom outside of his contract. Unlike other tight ends with clear talent and potential, Parkinson's value is more a product of his contract, with his actual talent level still largely unknown.

Given his new role, it might be wiser to draft Parkinson over players who have been around the league for years without consistently breaking into the top 12 fantasy tight ends. The fact that Parkinson has been the only Rams tight end to sit out throughout the preseason—while the team rested two running backs and four wide receivers—signals that he's the starter as long as Higbee is out. The key question now is whether he'll see enough targets to make a significant fantasy impact.