Palmer is a sneaky sleeper receiver given the other players he'll compete with for targets with the Chargers. When pressed into action in previous seasons, Palmer's been serviceable for Fantasy. And now that the Chargers cleaned house at receiver, Palmer should see regular reps. Consistently solid in terms of catch rate (at least 62% per year) and capable of winning on short and intermediate routes, Palmer could wind up first or second on the Bolts in targets and catches. That's not a bad outlook for someone you'll gravitate toward with a late-round pick, even if he'll play in a run-first offense.
There's a lot of hype around Palmer this season, and he's become a popular sleeper given his expected role in the Chargers' offense with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams gone. For Week 1, Palmer is worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in deeper leagues, and hopefully, he can have success against the Raiders like he has the past three times he's faced them. Over that span, Palmer has 14 catches for 250 yards and a touchdown on 27 targets, and he scored at least 13 PPR points in two of those outings. In Week 15 last year, Palmer had 21.3 PPR points without Allen and Williams on the field, which is a good sign for this week.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Pole position for top targets
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Palmer is in position to be the team's leader in targets this season, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
This statement by Popper underscores the relationship Palmer and Justin Herbert have, whereas the team's other top pass catchers are newcomers. Rookie second-round pick Ladd McConkey is most likely to challenge for a plethora of targets, but Palmer has been Herbert's fourth-most-targeted wideout in his young career -- a stat that matters significantly after the quarterback missed critical time in training camp due to a foot injury.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Likely not playing Saturday
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Palmer is not expected to play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Seahawks, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
The team is likely to keep a number of its clear starters on the sideline to kick off the preseason. Expect to see plenty of Quentin Johnston and Brenden Rice as the young wide receivers look to continue improving in the exhibition contests.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Locked in with starters
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Palmer has been a regular presence on the first-team offense at training camp, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Palmer, Ladd McConkey and DJ Chark reportedly are dominating the wideout reps on the starting offense, leaving Quentin Johnston and others to work with the backups. Palmer averaged a career-high 58.1 receiving yards per game last season, including 70.6 yards per game from Week 3 onward, but a knee injury and concussion led to seven absences. After some hints of limited participation in the offseason program, Palmer seems to be back at 100 percent for training camp and is regularly catching passes from quarterback Justin Herbert. There's opportunity for the 2021 third-round pick to enjoy a fourth-year breakout, although he's probably looking at reduced team passing volume relative to prior years now that head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman are running the show in Los Angeles.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Practicing after knee injury
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Palmer (knee) handled his most reps of the offseason during Tuesday's practice, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Palmer averaged a career-high 58.1 receiving yards per game last season, but he missed Weeks 9 through 14 with a knee sprain and then suffered another knee injury in the season finale. After spending part of the offseason rehabbing, Palmer has resumed practicing with teammates and is the safest bet to start at WR in a new-look Chargers offense under coordinator Greg Roman. The team moved on from Keenan Allen and Mike Williams (knee) this offseason before bringing in second-round pick Ladd McConkey and veteran DJ Chark. There's a breakout opportunity for Palmer in the final season of his rookie contract, if he can combine the volume he saw in 2022 (107 targets) with the big-play ability he flashed last year (15.3 yards per catch, career-high 11.2 aDOT). On the other hand, he's never been targeted on more than 18.1 percent of his routes in a season, even though Williams and Allen combined for only 39 appearances (out of a possible 68) the past two years.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Left atop depth chart
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Palmer (knee) and Quentin Johnston are the top wide receivers left on the Chargers after the team released Mike Williams and traded Keenan Allen.
The other part of the equation is that the Chargers own the fifth overall pick in a draft with three elite WR prospects. That doesn't necessarily mean they'll end up with Marvin Harrison, Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze, but it'll certainly be a common prediction in mock drafts over the next six weeks. Palmer averaged a career-high 58.1 receiving yards per game in 2023, his third NFL season, albeit while missing six games with a knee injury and a seventh with a concussion. He then hurt his knee in the regular-season finale, but there hasn't been any follow up suggesting it was a serious injury. Palmer now enters the final year of his rookie contract under a new head coach (Jim Harbaugh) and offensive coordinator (Greg Roman), with those hirings and the team's offseason moves hinting at a more run-oriented offense in 2023. That could still work out well for Palmer in fantasy terms given the likelihood of reduced competition for targets relative to his first three seasons.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Season marred by injuries
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Palmer, who left Sunday's 13-12 loss to the Chiefs early with a knee injury, tallied 38 receptions for 581 receiving yards and two touchdowns across 10 games during the 2023 season.
When Palmer was healthy, the third-year receiver seamlessly stepped up in the absence of Mike Williams (knee) and established himself quickly as a reliable target opposite Keenan Allen for quarterback Justin Herbert. The 24-year-old had at least seven targets in four straight games prior to leaving the Week 8 contest against the Bears due to a knee sprain that drew an injured-reserve stint. With cap woes possibly impacting the return of both Allen and Williams, Palmer could see a significant role in 2024 alongside first-round pick Quentin Johnston in an offense that figures to see major changes from a coaching perspective.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Hurts knee in Week 18
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Palmer exited Sunday's season finale against the Chiefs with a knee injury.
Prior to his departure from the contest, Palmer caught six of his 10 targets for 44 yards. With Keenan Allen (heel) already out, the Chargers' available wide receivers in Palmer's absence are Quentin Johnston, Alex Erickson, Keelan Doss and Derius Davis.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Cleared to play Week 18
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Palmer has cleared concussion protocol and will play Sunday against the Chiefs, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.
Palmer's absence due to a concussion was limited to one game. He was a limited participant in all three of the Chargers' practices during the week, but that was enough to gain clearance for the season finale. With Keenan Allen (heel) ruled out, Palmer will be one of the top targets for Easton Stick against a Kansas City secondary that could be resting some of its top players.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Won't play against Broncos
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Palmer (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Broncos, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
With both Palmer and Keenan Allen (heel) unavailable, rookie Quentin Johnston, Jalen Guyton and Alex Erickson are expected to work as the top wideouts for quarterback Easton Stick in the Chargers' depleted passing attack. If Palmer's able to clear concussion protocol, he'll have one more chance to play Week 18 against the Chiefs before Los Angeles' season comes to an end.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Not practicing Thursday
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Palmer (concussion) didn't participate in Thursday's practice, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Palmer also missed Wednesday's session and now has one more chance to practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Broncos. The same goes for fellow wideout Keenan Allen (heel), who along with Palmer was spotted doing some agility work and running off to the side with trainers Thursday. If neither receiver is cleared to play Week 17, the Chargers would be left with Quentin Johnston, Alex Erickson and Jalen Guyton as their presumptive top three wideouts.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: In concussion protocol
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Palmer didn't practice Wednesday due to a concussion.
Palmer played 61 offensive snaps and logged five catches on eight targets for 47 yards in this past Saturday's 24-22 loss to the Bills, but he was placed in the NFL's concussion protocol at some point after the game, according to Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times. The Chargers were also without Keenan Allen (heel) at Wednesday's practice, so for the time being, Quentin Johnston, Alex Erickson and Jalen Guyton are the Chargers' top healthy receivers as Sunday's game in Denver approaches.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Leading receiver on eight targets
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Palmer had five receptions on eight targets for 47 yards in Saturday's 24-22 loss to the Bills.
Palmer continued to serve as the Chargers' No. 1 wideout after Keenan Allen (heel) was forced to miss his second week of action in a row. The former finished as his team's leading receiver, but he failed to recreate last week's long touchdown grab. Palmer's eight targets tied tight end Gerald Everett (7-42-0) for the team lead in that category as well. The end result was a solid receiving line from Palmer, who has a chance to close out the year as the Chargers' top outside option if Allen is unable to return against either the Broncos next Sunday or the Chiefs in Week 18.
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Chargers' Josh Palmer: WRs to Sit
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Palmer did well in his return from a six-game absence with a knee injury in Week 15 at Las Vegas with 21.3 PPR points, but you don't want to chase points with him in Week 16 against Buffalo. He scored on a 79-yard touchdown pass from Easton Stick, but otherwise he had three catches for 34 yards on three targets. Even if Keenan Allen (heel) remains out again in Week 16, Palmer didn't see a spike in targets against the Raiders. And Stick should struggle against the Bills, even at home. At best use Palmer as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in deeper leagues.
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Chargers' Josh Palmer: Week 16 Waiver Priority List
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Keep an eye on Keenan Allen (heel), who missed Week 15 at Las Vegas, but Palmer is worth adding whether Allen plays or not moving forward. Palmer returned against the Raiders after missing the previous six games with a knee injury and caught four passes for 113 yards and a touchdown on four targets. Easton Stick is the new quarterback for the Chargers with Justin Herbert (finger) out, but Stick should lean on Palmer, especially since the Chargers will likely be trailing in Week 16 against the Bills. Palmer can be used as a No. 3 receiver in all leagues, with his value higher if Allen remains out.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Catches long touchdown in loss
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Palmer brought in all four targets for 113 yards and a touchdown in the Chargers' 63-21 loss to the Raiders on Thursday night.
Palmer provided the highlight of the game for the Chargers on an otherwise mostly miserable night, finally putting Los Angeles on the board with a 79-yard touchdown grab in the third quarter. The third-year pro who'd just been activated from injured reserve Tuesday after a six-game absence due to a knee sprain was serving as the team's top receiver with Keenan Allen (heel) sidelined for the contest. Palmer is expected to reprise that role in a Week 16 home matchup against the Bills on Saturday, Dec. 23.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Returns from IR
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The Chargers activated Palmer (knee) from injured reserve Tuesday.
Palmer has missed the Chargers' last six games, but after turning in three limited practices last week and then being estimated as a full participant on Monday's practice report, he looks set to return to the lineup Thursday against the Raiders. In his last five appearances before landing on IR with a right knee sprain, Palmer made a fantasy splash with 19 catches for 360 yards and a touchdown, but he could struggle to replicate that production down the stretch. The Chargers placed franchise signal-caller Justin Herbert (finger) on injured reserve Tuesday, so Palmer will instead be on the receiving end of passes from Easton Stick, who will make his first career start Thursday.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Full participant on estimate
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Palmer (knee) was listed as a full participant on Monday's practice estimate.
The Chargers didn't actually take the practice field Monday, but if they had, Palmer would have been in line for his first uncapped practice since having his 21-day practice window opened this past Wednesday. Palmer will need to be activated from injured reserve in order to play Thursday against the Raiders, but he seems to be trending in the right direction for a banged-up Chargers offense that's likely to be without quarterback Justin Herbert (finger) for at least Thursday's game and listed wide receiver Keenan Allen (foot) as a non-participant Monday.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Won't be activated Week 14
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Palmer (knee) is listed as out for Sunday's game against the Broncos.
Palmer had his 21-day window to return from injured reserve opened Wednesday, but he won't be activated prior to Sunday's clash with Denver. The 24-year-old wide receiver is eligible to continue practicing with his teammates for at least two more weeks, so he could be a candidate for activation from IR ahead of the Chargers' Week 15 game versus the Raiders next Thursday.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Limited after return designation
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Palmer (knee) was a limited participant Wednesday in his return to practice.
After the Chargers designated Palmer for return from IR on Wednesday, the team will now have a three-week window to evaluate him in practice before potentiall adding him back to the 53-man roster. The Chargers haven't ruled Palmer out from making his return to the lineup Sunday against the Broncos, but he'll likely need to upgrade to full practice participation Thursday or Friday in order to get the green light to play.
