Palmer took a major step forward in 2022, more than doubling his target, catch, and yardage totals from his rookie year. We were expecting he would take another step forward in Year 3, but then the Chargers drafted Quentin Johnston in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft. As the roster is currently constructed, Palmer looks locked in as WR4, and no better than sixth on the team in target share. That means you can leave Palmer on the redraft waiver wire until an injury or two opens up an opportunity. He's a solid hold in Dynasty leagues as he's still just 24 years old and both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams have an extensive injury history. It's quite possible Palmer replaces one of them in the starting lineup in 2024.
Palmer will slot in as the No. 2 wide receiver for Justin Herbert this week and makes a fine option as a No. 3 receiver with upside. He scored double digit Fantasy points in all three games he played last year with Keenan Allen and without Mike Williams, including a monster 30-point outing against the Chiefs.
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Chargers' Josh Palmer: Week 4 Waiver Priority List
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The Chargers lost Mike Williams for the season to a torn ACL in Week 3 at Minnesota, and now we should get to see more of first-round rookie Quentin Johnston. But I would add Josh Palmer first if you're looking for immediate help. He's been the No. 3 receiver all season ahead of Johnston, and Justin Herbert already has a built in rapport with Palmer. He has 12 targets in his past two outings against the Titans and Vikings, and Palmer had four catches for 66 yards and a touchdown on seven targets at Minnesota. Johnston has five catches for 26 yards on eight targets for the season, but he should have the higher ceiling of the two. He's played less than 28 percent of the snaps in three games (Palmer has been at 54 percent or higher over that span), but now the Chargers need Johnston to step up with Williams out. Keep in mind Keenan Allen, Gerald Everett and Austin Ekeler (ankle), when healthy, will all command targets as well. But this is a big opportunity for Palmer and Johnston to step up with Williams out. Palmer is worth at least 10 percent of your FAB, and I would spend at least 15 percent on Johnston since he should be the better Fantasy option by the end of the season.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Could get pronounced role
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Palmer is expected to see more targets moving forward after Mike Williams was diagnosed Monday with a season-ending ACL tear, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Both Palmer and 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston are expected to take on increased volume in the Chargers' passing game in Williams' absence, though Keenan Allen should continue to work as the top target for quarterback Justin Herbert. Through three games, Palmer has 13 targets -- exactly one third of Allen's total and half of Williams' -- while Johnston has been targeted only eight times.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: May be stepping into increased role
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Palmer recorded four receptions on seven targets for 66 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 28-24 win over the Vikings.
Palmer saw four targets in the first half, but his involvement was overshadowed by a lost fumble that set up a field goal for the Vikings. That changed with eight minutes left in the game when he caught a ball tipped off the hands of Vikings corner Akayleb Evans for a game-winning 30-yard touchdown catch. Earlier in the game, Mike Williams suffered a knee injury that could keep him sidelined for further game action, which would in turn shift Palmer up the depth chart along with rookie pass catcher Quentin Johnston.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Not involved in loss
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Palmer caught three of his five targets for 13 yards in the 27-24 overtime loss to the Titans on Sunday.
Palmer once again saw a heavy snap share, tallying 37 offensive snaps compared to Derius Davis' 11 and 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston's 10. Despite a lackluster ground attack, Justin Herbert and the passing unit primarily fed Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, essentially relegating Palmer to an afterthought. It's possible the third-year receiver could be involved more in what figures to be an offensive onslaught Week 3 against the Vikings.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Logs 55 offensive snaps in loss
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Palmer caught his only target for four yards in the 36-34 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.
If you look at only the box score, it would appear as if 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston has already supplanted Palmer in the pecking order, as the rookie had three targets. But on closer inspection, Palmer far outpaced Johnston in playing time, registering 55 offensive snaps compared to Johnston's 22. Palmer has been a trusted target for quarterback Justin Herbert when the team has been without Keenan Allen or Mike Williams, and it's clear at least based off Week 1 playing time that Palmer could serve that same function this season.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Should maintain role behind top duo
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As the coming season approaches, Daniel Popperof the Athletic predicts that Palmer will log a majority of the Chargers' No. 3 wide receiver snaps out of the gate.
During the 2022 campaign, Palmer recorded 72 catches (on 107 targets) for 769 yards and three TDs in 16 games, with part of his statistical productivity attributable to top WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams each missing a chunk of time due to injuries. Given the team's top duo is back and healthy and 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston has been added to the mix, it appeared likely Palmer was trending toward a decreased role. However, for the moment, it at least it appears as though he has yet to be overtaken by the promising rookie. That's something that could well happen once Johnston gains more pro experience, but early on, Palmer could see enough volume in the Chargers offense to merit deep league consideration.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Back at practice
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Palmer (undisclosed) was present for Monday's practice, Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Palmer left practice early Thursday but is back on the field Monday, suggesting that his unspecified issue was a minor one. He's coming off a 2022 season in which he caught 72 passes (on 107 targets) for 769 yards and three TDs in 16 games, but with fellow returning WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams healthy as the coming season approaches and 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston also in the mix, Palmer could be hard-pressed to garner the sort of volume he drew last year.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Goes down with injury
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Palmer (undisclosed) left practice early Thursday after suffering an injury during seven-on-seven drills, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Palmer went straight to the medical tent after the play that caused the injury and seemingly did so under his own power. According to Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times, head coach Brandon Staley had no concrete update on the Tennessee products injury after practice, so for now consider Palmer day-to-day.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Sliding down depth chart?
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Palmer is part of a WR room that now includes 21st overall pick Quentin Johnston in addition to veterans Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.
In other words, Palmer may slide down to fourth or fifth on the depth chart, after starting 11 games last season and drawing 107 targets. His volume was aided by both Allen and Williams missing significant chunks of time, and Palmer averaged only 10.7 yards per catch and 7.2 per target -- identical to his marks on 49 targets as a rookie the year before. The 2021 third-round pick could still be given a chance to compete with Johnston for the No. 3 job, and even if Palmer loses that battle he'd likely be one injury away from rejoining the top three.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Struggles in playoff defeat
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Palmer recorded two receptions on six targets for 31 yards in Saturday's 31-30 wild-card round loss to the Jaguars.
Palmer entered the game as the Chargers' second receiver with Mike Williams (back) sidelined, and his opportunity only further increased when DeAndre Carter suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter. In contrast to the regular season, Palmer struggled with the extra looks, as he failed to get on the same page with Justin Herbert. Despite the poor ending to his season, Palmer took a significant step forward in his second campaign as a pro. However, with Keenan Allen and Williams back in the mix in 2023, Palmer is likely to remain the Chargers' third wide receiver.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Will be No. 2 WR sans Williams
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Palmer could be in store for a prominent role in Saturday's playoff game against the Jaguars, as fellow wide receiver Mike Williams (back) has been ruled out.
Palmer's expected to operate as the No. 2 wide receiver behind Keenan Allen in Williams' absence. With star quarterback Justin Herbert throwing him the ball, Palmer produced 769 yards and three touchdowns in the regular season, including a Week 11 outburst of 106 yards and two touchdowns against the Chiefs in a game Williams left early after aggravating an ankle injury.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Four catches in Week 18
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Palmer secured four of six targets for 39 yards in the Chargers' 31-28 loss to the Broncos on Sunday.
Palmer's modest performance was underwhelming within a Week 18 context, but it doesn't sully what was a career-best regular season that saw the second-year wideout post a 72-769-3 line across 16 games. Additionally, Palmer could be primed for a substantial role in Saturday's wild-card road matchup versus the Jaguars, considering Mike Williams exited Sunday's game with a back injury and could therefore be sidelined or limited against Jacksonville.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Absent from box score
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Palmer did not catch his only target in the 31-10 win over the Rams on Sunday.
While Palmer did play a healthy amount of snaps (36), the nature of Sunday's blowout meant the third wideout took a relative back seat with most of the Chargers' regulars sitting by the fourth quarter. The second-year wideout has seen his production dip dramatically with the return of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, to the point he's not at all a lock for fantasy lineups next week despite the Chargers having plenty to play for in terms of playoff seeding.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Next to nothing in win
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Palmer caught two of his three targets for 16 yards in the 20-3 win Monday over the Colts.
The Colts struggled to muster any sort of offense, which allowed a lethargic Chargers offense to putter through a game that was hardly in any doubt. Monday marked the third straight game in which Palmer drew seven or less targets after recording 58 from Weeks 6-13. The return of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams from their respective injuries has essentially relegated Palmer to fourth in the target chain, with running back Austin Ekeler also a featured member of the passing attack.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Five catches Sunday
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Palmer caught all five of his targets for 49 yards in Sunday's 17-14 win over the Titans.
The second-year wideout has seen his volume shrink the last two weeks with both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams healthy, but Palmer has stayed fairly productive with a 9-102 line on 11 targets. He could post big numbers in Week 16 even on limited looks from Justin Herbert against a reeling Colts defense that just got lit up by Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Low mark in targets
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Palmer caught four of his six targets for 53 yards in Sunday's 23-17 win over the Dolphins.
Despite the fact Justin Herbert attempted 51 passes, the second-year wideout saw his lowest target total since Week 5. The return of Mike Williams alongside a healthy Keenan Allen may finally bump Palmer out of must-start fantasy territory, but he still appears to have a solid floor in PPR formats given the Chargers' reliance on the passing attack.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Bevy of targets once more
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Palmer caught seven of his 11 targets for 60 yards in the 27-20 loss to the Raiders on Sunday.
Palmer now has 46 targets over the past five weeks, with 28 coinciding with the return of Keenan Allen (hamstring). The second-year receiver has quietly continued to build on what was a promising end to his rookie season and could be on pace to scratch 800 receiving yards despite entering the season as the clear fourth priority in the passing game. Even with Mike Williams' (ankle) return on the horizon, Palmer should still be a factor most weeks moving forward.
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Chargers' Josh Palmer: WRs to Start
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We'll continue to monitor the status of Mike Williams (ankle), but I like Palmer as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver even if Williams is active. If Williams is out then consider Palmer a top-20 receiver in the majority of leagues. While he only had five catches for 56 yards at Arizona in Week 12, he did that on seven targets. We need Justin Herbert to get Palmer eight targets or more. He has six games this season with at least eight targets, and he's scored at least 13 PPR points in five of them. This should be a high-scoring affair for the Chargers and Raiders, and five receivers have scored at least 13 PPR points against Las Vegas in the past four games. Look for Palmer and Keenan Allen to have big stat lines, and DeAndre Carter can even be used as a sleeper if Williams is out again.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Five catches in win
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Palmer recorded five receptions on seven targets for 56 yards in Sunday's 25-24 win over the Cardinals.
Palmer was expected to serve as the Chargers' second receiver behind Keenan Allen, though he was ultimately overshadowed by DeAndre Carter. Even so, Palmer managed a pair of 18-yard receptions to turn in a decent performance. So long as Mike Williams (ankle) remains out, Palmer should keep a significant role in the offense. Entering Sunday, he had topped 100 receiving yards in two of his last three games -- the latter of which came with Allen on the field -- so Palmer has proven capable of providing spike performances when provided with the opportunity.
