Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Colby Parkinson vs Puka Nacua

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Puka Nacua is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Puka Nacua (19.4 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Colby Parkinson (7.7 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TELos Angeles Rams#21

Colby Parkinson

PPG

7.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

408

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

WRLos Angeles Rams#1PPG LEADER

Puka Nacua

PPG

19.4

Games

Rec

129

Rec Yds

1,715

Rec TDs

Targets

166

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Colby Parkinson

Puka Nacua

Head to Head

7.7 PPG19.4 PPG

14 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Colby Parkinson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #21 at the position). Puka Nacua: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #1 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 1 (Elite) WR in most league formats.

Colby Parkinson vs Puka Nacua: Who Should You Start?

Comparing Colby Parkinson (TE, Los Angeles Rams) against Puka Nacua (WR, Los Angeles Rams) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Colby Parkinson averaged 7.7 PPG in 2025 over 14 games, while Puka Nacua posted 19.4 PPG across 16 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Puka Nacua is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Colby Parkinson is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Colby Parkinson (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Puka Nacua (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Puka Nacua outscored Colby Parkinson by a projected 199 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Puka Nacua played 16 games in 2025 compared to Colby Parkinson's 14. That durability gap means Puka Nacua contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Puka Nacua scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.7 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Puka Nacua saw 166 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Both players share a Week 8 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatParkinsonNacua

PPG (Half-PPR)7.719.4

Games Played1416

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)108310

Receptions43129

Rec/Game3.18.1

Receiving Yards4081,715

Rec Yds/Game29.1107.2

Receiving TDs810

Targets56166

Target Share/Game4.010.4

Age2724

Experience5 yrs2 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 8Week 8

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Puka Nacua at 19.4 PPG, 11.7 points per game above Colby Parkinson's 7.7. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Colby Parkinson or Puka Nacua in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Puka Nacua has the edge at 19.4 PPG compared to Colby Parkinson's 7.7 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Colby Parkinson and Puka Nacua average in 2025?▾

Colby Parkinson averaged 7.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Puka Nacua averaged 19.4 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 11.7 points per game.

Do Colby Parkinson and Puka Nacua share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Colby Parkinson and Puka Nacua share a Week 8 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at tight end for that week.