Conference Championship NFL DFS Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Colby Parkinson vs. AJ Barner

With tight end options at a premium on a four-team Conference Championship DFS slate, fantasy players must decide whether AJ Barner’s steady role or Colby Parkinson’s matchup-driven upside is the better play.

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) runs with the ball against Los Angeles Rams cornerback Josh Wallace (30) during the second half at SoFi Stadium. | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

With the Conference Championship weekend of the NFL Playoffs just a few days away, fantasy owners are going to have to get their DFS lineups set. Only four teams are playing this week, so options are limited this week. No position is more limited this week than the tight ends. Two of the top options this week are AJ Barner of the Seattle Seahawks and Colby Parkinson of the Los Angeles Rams. While they aren't great options, they are two of the best options this week. Which one should you plug into your DFS lineups this week?

TE AJ Barner, Seattle Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) reacts after catching a seventeen-yard touchdown pass thrown by quarterback Sam Darnold (not pictured) against the Carolina Panthers during the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The Case For AJ Barner

If nothing else, Barner is the clear top option at tight end for the Seahawks. We know he's going to be out there getting the snaps, running the routes, and getting the targets at the position. He has also played great against the Rams this season. In Week 16, he caught four passes for 49 yards and a touchdown, and in Week 11, he caught 10 passes for 70 yards. Barner will almost certainly see more volume than Parkinson. 

The Case Against AJ Barner

Barner has a slightly tougher matchup with the Rams, being listed by DraftKings as the 17th-toughest defense against tight ends, and he also costs a bit more at $4,000. He is also coming off a week in which he put up a goose egg, even if it was due to the Seahawks not needing to throw as much as usual in a blowout. While Barner has been solid this year, he can still give you a stinker on any given week, and last week was a big reminder. 

TE Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams

Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson (84) reacts after the game against the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Wild Card Round game at Bank of America Stadium. | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The Case For Colby Parkinson

Parkinson had a solid game last week, catching three of seven targets for 56 yards. Not only is he cheaper at $3,500 on DraftKings and has the better matchup against the ninth-easiest team against tight ends, but he also has the much better quarterback in Matthew Stafford and a more potent offense run by a Super Bowl-winning head coach in Sean McVay. That gives him the most upside of these two tight ends. 

The Case Against Colby Parkinson

Parkinson is now splitting his snaps, routes, and targets with a healthy Tyler Higbee and emerging rookie Terrance Ferguson. Davis Allen also finds himself in the mix at tight end at times. While he does have the better matchup this week, in his two games against the Seahawks this season, he totaled just four catches for 36 yards and one touchdown in both games combined. There may be more upside with Parkinson, but also expect the floor to lower in this game as well. 

Colby Parkinson-AJ Barner DFS Verdict

We are going with Barner here. He has less target competition and is the more consistent player. He may be a bit more expensive, but there is also a reason he is more expensive.