Who Should I Start? Stephen Carlson or Colby Parkinson

Saturday, September 28, 9:17 PM

The Chicago Bears placed tight end Stephen Carlson (collarbone) on injured reserve Saturday ahead of their Week 4 home matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Carlson, who was just signed from the team's practice squad this past Tuesday, suffered a serious collarbone injury during Thursday's practice and will now miss at least the next four contests. The earliest he is eligible to return will be Nov. 3 -- Chicago's Week 9 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. It's a crushing blow for the 27-year-old who was slated for his first NFL action since his time back in 2020 with the Cleveland Browns. The Bears will roll out their usual three-man tight-end rotation, with Cole Kmet set to take the majority of the snaps and Gerald Everett and Marcedes Lewis working in behind him.

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.