Who Should I Start? Colby Parkinson or Michael Mayer


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
5.4 0.0 0.0 2.1 20.6 0.2

Colby Parkinson News

Colby Parkinson Expected to Lead Rams TE Room in 2026

Saturday, August 1, 10:00 AM

According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson is expected to lead the team's deep tight end room once again in 2026. While the Rams have several emerging options behind Parkinson, including second-year pass-catcher Terrance Ferguson, veteran Tyler Higbee, and second-round rookie Max Klare, Parkinson is currently penciled in to lead the room. The 27-year-old emerged as Matthew Stafford's go-to option in this room during the 2025 campaign, finding the back of the end zone eight times and bringing in 43 of his 56 targets. He tallied 408 yards, which also marked a season-best. While Parkinson may see his opportunities limited given the depth of this room as the season progresses, for the time being, he projects to hold high-end TE2 upside in a potent Los Angeles passing attack.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
5.0 0.0 0.0 2.2 21.3 0.1

Michael Mayer News

Michael Mayer Returns to Practice Following Nose Injury

Thursday, August 6, 10:16 AM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (nose) returned to training camp practice on Thursday, according to Sam Warren of The Athletic. Mayer missed a few practices after busting his nose during practice on Monday. The 25-year-old will return to working as the No. 2 tight end in Vegas behind Brock Bowers. The former second-rounder in 2023 from Notre Dame has yet to really make an impact for fantasy managers in his first three seasons in the NFL, and that will likely continue as long as Bowers stays healthy. Bowers dealt with a knee injury last year, which allowed Mayer to have career highs in catches (35), targets (50), and receiving yards (328) while scoring just once in 13 games played. The Raiders figure to use more two-tight-end sets in 2026 under new head coach Klint Kubiak, but that's unlikely to be enough to make Mayer a weekly starting option, even in two-TE fantasy leagues. Mayer opens his fourth NFL season ranked as RotoBaller's No. 35 fantasy TE. If Bowers misses time with an injury again, Mayer would become a priority waiver-wire addition.


Colby Parkinson vs. Michael Mayer

Still trying to decide between Parkinson and Mayer? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Colby Parkinson is projected to score 5.4 points this week while Michael Mayer is projected to score 5.0 points.