Joshua Palmer DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer (knee) was added to the team's Week 1 injury report on Thursday with a knee injury but was able to practice in full. Palmer was not listed at all on the first injury report of the year on Wednesday. It's something worth watching, but Palmer's status shouldn't be in question for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday at Sofi Stadium against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. The 24-year-old enters the 2024 campaign in pole position to lead the Bolts in targets after both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams left in the offseason. Not only does he have excellent chemistry with quarterback Justin Herbert, but he's the team's most experienced wideout. Injuries have been an issue for Palmer in the past, though, so that could hold him back from truly breaking out. Fantasy managers should consider him a WR4/flex play with upside in Week 1.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer is set to start as the likely primary pass catcher in a Week 1 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Palmer did well last season after Mike Williams got hurt, putting up an average of 71 receiving yards per game in those contests. He's the only returning pass catcher besides Quentin Johnston, who may not even be in the starting lineup. Palmer's rapport with quarterback Justin Herbert and his spot on the depth chart gives him plenty of upside on a team whose offense should be very much improved. He's a solid WR3/flex play for the first week of the season with room to grow.

The Athletic's Daniel Popper thinks that if all the Los Angeles Chargers wide receivers stay healthy this year, Joshua Palmer will lead the team in targets. Palmer is the returning player with the most targets, receptions, yards and touchdowns from quarterback Justin Herbert. He's also the fourth-most targeted receiver in Herbert's career, behind Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler. Palmer has earned Herbert's trust in his first three years in the NFL, and Popper thinks trust will be especially important in the early going in 2024 after Herbert missed three weeks of training camp with a plantar-fascia injury. In addition, the Bolts have installed a new offense under coordinator Greg Roman. Palmer has upside this year, but he's mainly a WR5/flex because of the fact that he hasn't been able to stay healthy. He missed six games in 2023 with a knee injury and also battled an ankle injury and a concussion in 2022.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer appears in position to be the team's No. 1 target to begin 2024. After that on the depth chart, it appears to be an open competition between former first-rounder Quentin Johnston, rookie second-rounder Ladd McConkey, and veteran deep threat DJ Chark. Palmer is a bit of a WR4/5 sleeper pick in fantasy drafts this summer; he produced a solid 9.5 yards per target over 61 targets and 15.3 yards per reception across 38 catches for the Chargers in 2023. In LA's wide open receiving corps and with the most experience in this offense of the bunch, the 24-year-old former third-round pick out of Tennessee figures to be quarterback Justin Herbert's (foot) favorite target during the early going of the season.

The trio of Los Angeles Chargers wide reeceivers Ladd McConkey, Joshua Palmer, and DJ Chark have emerged to become the main receivers working in 11 personnel for the team through six training camp practices. McConkey has "flashed" in the slot for the Chargers, stringing together multiple quality outings so far in camp. Palmer looks to be the top receiver for the Chargers after ascending to the top of the depth chart following the departures of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. The fantasy buzz hasn't been the greatest at times for the Chargers, as they are expected to run the ball more with the addition of head coach Jim Harbaugh and former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman. However, McConkey and Palmer are the two Chargers' receivers with the highest fantasy draft capital, going in drafts in the middle rounds. With quarterback Justin Herbert throwing the ball, both McConkey and Palmer are WR3 candidates with upside.