Joshua Palmer
#4 WR,
Chargers
ACTUAL 2022
169 FPTS
RANK: 36
2023 SEASON
96 FPTS
RANK: 95
AGE
23 yrs
HEIGHT/WEIGHT
6'1'' / 210 lbs
COLLEGE
Tennessee
| SEASON | GP | FPTS | RANK | TARGET | RECPT | REYD | RETD | REAVE |
| 2023 | 16 | 96 | 95th | 50 | 34 | 439 | 3 | 12.9 |
| 2022 | 16 | 169 | 36th | 107 | 72 | 769 | 3 | 10.7 |
Only two targets in opener
Published: 2024-09-08
Palmer caught just two of his four targets for 15 yards in Sunday's 22-10 win over the Raiders.
Palmer at least had the aura of a No. 1 target as the Raiders seemed to deliberately take away the fourth-year wide receiver during the few times Justin Herbert dropped back to pass in the first half. Both Ladd McConkey (seven) and Quentin Johnston (five) drew more targets than Palmer, but both had schemed looks scattered in throughout a game that saw the teams combine for nearly 50 rushing attempts. A Week 2 matchup against a Panthers defense that allowed 47 points in the season opener could reveal more information on the target hierarchy in 2024.
Fantasy Points by Week 2022
Weekly Stats 2022
| Fantasy Points | Betting | Receiving Stats | Routes Run | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WEEK | STADIUM | GAME | RANK | TARGET | SPREAD | O/U | TRGT | REC | YD | TD | AVG | AIR | YAC | DROP | 10+ | 20+ | 50+ | SHARE | SLOT | TIGHT | WIDE | |||
| 1 LV | Outdoor 85° | 3.9 | 87th | 0.98 | -3.5 | 52.5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1.7 | -1 | 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12% | 42% | 2% | 56% | |||
| 2 @KC | Outdoor 82° | 13.0 | 33rd | 3.25 | 4.0 | 52.5 | 8 | 4 | 30 | 1 | 7.5 | 4 | 3 | 20% | 2 | 0 | 0 | 17% | 32% | 0% | 68% | |||
| 3 JAC | Outdoor 81° | 15.9 | 25th | 2.65 | -6.0 | 45.5 | 9 | 6 | 99 | 0 | 16.5 | 8 | 9 | 0% | 4 | 1 | 0 | 22% | 19% | 4% | 77% | |||
| 4 @HOU | Dome 78° | 3.5 | 81st | 3.50 | -5.5 | 45.5 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 0 | 25.0 | 23 | 2 | 0% | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3% | 62% | 0% | 39% | |||
| 5 @CLE | Outdoor 58° | 5.4 | 75th | 1.80 | -1.5 | 47.5 | 6 | 3 | 24 | 0 | 8.0 | 5 | 3 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18% | 29% | 6% | 65% | |||
| 6 DEN | Outdoor 69° | 14.7 | 23rd | 1.63 | -3.5 | 45.5 | 12 | 9 | 57 | 0 | 6.3 | 3 | 3 | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 | 22% | 21% | 0% | 79% | |||
| 9 @ATL | Dome 78° | 18.6 | 8th | 2.33 | -3.0 | 49.5 | 10 | 8 | 106 | 0 | 13.3 | 10 | 3 | 11% | 5 | 3 | 0 | 23% | 22% | 0% | 78% | |||
| 10 @SF | Outdoor 57° | 7.4 | 57th | 2.47 | 7.5 | 45.5 | 8 | 3 | 44 | 0 | 14.7 | 12 | 3 | 25% | 2 | 1 | 0 | 23% | 16% | 0% | 84% | |||
| 11 KC | Outdoor 69° | 30.6 | 3rd | 3.83 | 5.0 | 50.5 | 10 | 8 | 106 | 2 | 13.3 | 9 | 4 | 0% | 4 | 1 | 1 | 35% | 18% | 0% | 82% | |||
| 12 @ARZ | Dome 64° | 10.6 | 44th | 2.12 | -3.0 | 47.5 | 7 | 5 | 56 | 0 | 11.2 | 10 | 2 | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15% | 15% | 0% | 86% | |||
| 13 @LV | Dome 73° | 13.0 | 29th | 1.86 | 3.0 | 49.5 | 11 | 7 | 60 | 0 | 8.6 | 7 | 2 | 0% | 3 | 0 | 0 | 24% | 23% | 0% | 77% | |||
| 14 MIA | Outdoor 57° | 9.3 | 45th | 2.33 | 3.5 | 52.5 | 6 | 4 | 53 | 0 | 13.3 | 13 | 0 | 0% | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13% | 27% | 0% | 73% | |||
| 15 TEN | Outdoor 66° | 9.9 | 43rd | 1.98 | -3.0 | 45.5 | 5 | 5 | 49 | 0 | 9.8 | 6 | 3 | 0% | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13% | 24% | 4% | 72% | |||
| 16 @IND | Dome 22° | 3.6 | 77th | 1.80 | -3.5 | 46.5 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 8.0 | 5 | 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10% | 48% | 0% | 53% | |||
| 17 LA | Outdoor 62° | 0.0 | 127th | 0.00 | -6.5 | 40.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3% | 14% | 0% | 87% | |||
| 18 @DEN | Outdoor 43° | 9.9 | 40th | 2.48 | 6.5 | 40.5 | 6 | 4 | 39 | 0 | 9.8 | 3 | 7 | 20% | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14% | 11% | 0% | 89% | |||
Performance Splits: 2020 to 2022
| Fantasy Points | Receiving Averages | |||||||||||||||||
| LOCATION | STADIUM | GP | GS | GM | TOUCH | RANK | TRGT | REC | YD | TD | AVE | AIR | YAC | DROP | 10+ | 20+ | 50+ | |
| Home | Outdoor | 16 | 6 | 0.5 | 1.88 | 102nd | 4.4 | 3.3 | 35 | 0.3 | 10.6 | 6.9 | 3.7 | 2% | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | |
| Away | Outdoor | 10 | 4 | 0.5 | 1.23 | 148th | 3.8 | 2.0 | 21 | 0.1 | 10.5 | 6.9 | 3.6 | 20% | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |
| Away | Dome | 2 | 1 | 6.9 | 1.38 | 35th | 10.0 | 5.5 | 53 | 0.5 | 9.5 | 7.8 | 1.7 | 0% | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |
| Away | Retractable Dome | 5 | 5 | 2.1 | 1.91 | 113th | 5.4 | 4.2 | 49 | 0.2 | 11.7 | 8.7 | 3.0 | 5% | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | |
Career Stats by Season: 2021 to 2022
| Fantasy Points | Receiving Stats | Routes Run | |||||||||||||||||||||
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | GP | GS | TOTAL | RANK | TRGT | REC | YD | TD | AVG | AIR | YAC | DROP | 10+ | 20+ | 50+ | SHARE | SLOT | TIGHT | WIDE | ||
| 2021 | 22 | LAC | 17 | 5 | 93 | 74th | 49 | 33 | 353 | 4 | 10.7 | 8 | 3 | 3% | 15 | 3 | 0 | 7% | 37% | 1% | 62% | ||
| 2022 | 23 | LAC | 16 | 11 | 169 | 36th | 107 | 72 | 769 | 3 | 10.7 | 7 | 4 | 8% | 33 | 7 | 1 | 16% | 25% | 1% | 74% | ||
Poll position for top targets
Published: 2024-08-31
Palmer is in position to be the team's leader in targets this season, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports
This isn't a shocking statement by Popper, but it underscores the relationship that Palmer and Justin Herbert have compared to the collection of newcomers on the roster. Rookie second-round pick Ladd McConkey profiles as the wideout most likely to challenge Palmer for a plethora of targets, but the fourth-year wideout has been Herbert's fourth-most targeted wideout in his young career, a stat that matters significantly given the Pro Bowl quarterback missed critical time in training camp due to a foot injury.
Likely not playing Saturday
Published: 2024-08-10
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 kickoff 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.
Locked in with starters
Published: 2024-07-31
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 WR 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 ypg 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 QB 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.
Practicing after knee injury
Published: 2024-06-05
Palmer (knee) got his most reps of the offseason Tuesday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Palmer averaged a career-high 58.1 receiving yards per game last season, but he missed Weeks 9-14 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 might be the safest bet to start in a new-look Chargers offense under coordinator Greg Roman. The team moved on from WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams (knee) this offseason, later bringing in second-round pick Ladd McConkey and veteran DJ Chark. There's a breakout opportunity for Palmer in the fourth and 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 seasons.
Left atop depth chart
Published: 2024-03-15
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.
Season marred by injuries
Published: 2024-01-08
Palmer, who left the 13-12 loss Sunday 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.
Hurts knee in Week 18
Published: 2024-01-07
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.
Cleared to play Week 18
Published: 2024-01-05
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.