Who Should I Start? George Kittle or Colby Parkinson

Tuesday, January 20, 12:48 PM

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) said on Monday that he expects to return from his torn Achilles "well before November" while also saying he could play close to the 2026 regular-season opener, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. Kittle tore his Achilles tendon in the Wild-Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 11 and had successful surgery last week. Kittle's Achilles tear was a best-case scenario because he suffered a "clean tear." "They didn't have to drill into my heel," Kittle said. "And where the repair was, there's more blood flow. And so it takes some time off the recovery time." The 32-year-old only played in 11 regular-season games due to injuries in 2025, although he was the TE3 in half-PPR fantasy points per game (12.1), catching 57 passes for 628 yards and seven TDs. While Kittle is optimistic about his recovery, fantasy managers should expect him to miss potentially half the 2026 season.

Saturday, January 24, 3:32 PM

Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson has seen the team's third-highest target share through two playoff games, trailing only All-Pro receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. His 90 receiving yards through those two contests also rank third, but with rookie Terrance Ferguson returning for the Rams' Divisional Round victory over the Bears, and Los Angeles regularly employing two or even three tight end sets, Parkinson's fantasy ceiling is capped and largely touchdown-dependent. Given his season-long usage in the red zone, he still profiles as the safest option in a crowded tight end room, and with few elite options remaining in the playoffs, he is RotoBaller's TE2 in fantasy playoff leagues. That said, he should not be relied on for a week-winning performance against a stingy Seattle defense.