Joshua Palmer

Joshua Palmer

24-Year-Old Wide ReceiverWR
Los Angeles Chargers
Questionable
Injury Knee
Est. Return 4/1/2024
2023 Fantasy Outlook
With Keenan Allen and Mike Williams each missing a chunk of the 2022 campaign due to injuries, Palmer thrived as an intermediate target, accumulating 54 receptions and 607 yards Weeks 2-13. Despite the healthy workload, Palmer averaged just 3.5 yards after the catch, which was only exacerbated by a lower average depth of target (9.0). The return of Allen and Williams eventually relegated the 23-year-old to an afterthought as Palmer tallied just 21 targets over the five remaining weeks. 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston is almost guaranteed a starting spot in three wide-receiver sets to begin the season, making it likely that Palmer will be hard-pressed to garner a workload similar to what he drew in 2022. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a four-year, $5.03 million contract with the Chargers in July of 2021.
Left atop depth chart
WRLos Angeles Chargers
Knee
March 15, 2024
Palmer (knee) and Quentin Johnston are the top wide receivers left on the Chargers after the team released Mike Williams and traded Keenan Allen.
ANALYSIS
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.
Read More News
NFL Stats
Loading NFL Stats...
Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
Loading Fantasy/Red Zone Stats...
Advanced NFL Stats
How do Joshua Palmer's 2023 advanced stats compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Air Yards Per Game
68.3
 
Air Yards Per Snap
1.38
 
% Team Air Yards
14.6%
 
% Team Targets
9.9%
 
Avg Depth of Target
11.2 Yds
 
Catch Rate
62.3%
 
Drop Rate
3.3%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
5.2
 
% Targeted On Route
18.1%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
1.72
 
Loading Advanced NFL Stats...
2023
2022
2021
2023 NFL Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
Standard
PPR
Half PPR
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Loading Game Log...
2022 NFL Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
Standard
PPR
Half PPR
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Loading Game Log...
2021 NFL Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
Standard
PPR
Half PPR
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Loading Game Log...
Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Los Angeles ChargersChargers 2023 WR Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

74667%
71665%
49445%
31929%
24822%
16014%
14113%
938%
232%
10%
Loading Weekly Snap Counts...
Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Joshua Palmer lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
Detailed
Grouped
Side
Loading Alignment Breakdown...
Loading Alignment Breakdown...
Loading Alignment Breakdown...
Loading Team Alignment Breakdown...
2023 Joshua Palmer Split Stats
Loading NFL Split Stats...
Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do Joshua Palmer's measurables compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
* All metrics are from his Pro Day (not the combine).
Height
6' 1"
 
Weight
210 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.51 sec
 
Shuttle Time
4.25 sec
 
Cone Drill
6.98 sec
 
Vertical Jump
34.0 in
 
Broad Jump
124 in
 
Bench Press
0 reps
 
Hand Length
9.63 in
 
Arm Length
32.88 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Joshua Palmer See More
Dynasty Watch: Value Rising After Free Agency
7 days ago
Josh Jacobs and Caleb Williams have the buzz, but free agency also produced some quiet winners like Chuba Hubbard and Christian Kirk.
NFL Free Agency: Thursday Trade-athon
14 days ago
A pair of QB trades were overshadowed by the Chargers' decision to ship WR Keenan Allen to the Bears.
NFL Free Agency: Wide Receiver Wednesday
15 days ago
Jerry Donabedian breaks down the fantasy winners and losers from Tennessee signing WR Calvin Ridley and the Chargers releasing WR Mike Williams.
NFL Free Agency: Assessing Potential Cap Casualties
35 days ago
Tyler Lockett is one of the many big-name WRs with no guaranteed money remaining on a sizable contract, potentially setting up a trade or release in the next few weeks.
Best Ball Strategy: Middle-Round Values & Stacks for 2024 NFL Best Ball
40 days ago
Cardinals teammates Kyler Murray and James Conner are two of Jerry Donabedian's favorite 2024 picks based on early ADP.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
The Chargers raised some eyebrows taking Palmer at 77th overall last spring after three consecutive seasons at Tennessee in the range of 450-500 receiving yards, but his rookie year included some signs that he could be well worth the selection. He worked as the Chargers' No. 4 receiver most of the year, playing sparsely, before finishing strong in the final five weeks with 18 catches for 185 yards and three touchdowns (on 28 targets, 5.6 per game). It helped to have Keenan Allen and then Mike Williams miss a game in that stretch, but Palmer also ran ahead of Jalen Guyton, who was the Chargers' No. 3 for most of 2021 and much of 2022. It looks like the role will come down to those same two again, as the Chargers didn't draft any receivers or add any notable free agents (besides return man DeAndre Carter) at the position.
It was a surprise to some when the Chargers selected Palmer in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, but the Tennessee product quietly emerged as a capable prospect throughout the lead up. A mundane 4.51 40-yard dash and 4.25 shuttle time don't scream impressive deep threat, and true enough, the four-year starter recorded just one game over 100 receiving yards throughout his collegiate career. However, Palmer is a fluid route runner, who uses his 6-1 frame well enough to make contested catches and create wide target spaces. The 21-year-old apparently made a strong impression on the Chargers this summer, winning the No. 3 receiver job while deep threat Tyron Johnson was waived. The Chargers still have Jalen Guyton as a fallback option for the No. 3 spot, but Guyton did next to nothing with regular snaps last season. The job appears to be Palmer's to lose.
More Fantasy News
Season marred by injuries
WRLos Angeles Chargers
Knee
January 8, 2024
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.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Hurts knee in Week 18
WRLos Angeles Chargers
Knee
January 7, 2024
Palmer exited Sunday's season finale against the Chiefs with a knee injury.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Cleared to play Week 18
WRLos Angeles Chargers
January 5, 2024
Palmer has cleared concussion protocol and will play Sunday against the Chiefs, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Limited Wednesday
WRLos Angeles Chargers
Concussion
January 3, 2024
Palmer (concussion) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Won't play against Broncos
WRLos Angeles Chargers
Concussion
December 29, 2023
Palmer (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Broncos, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.