Joshua Palmer DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer (foot) has been ruled out for Saturday's playoff game against the Houston Texans. Palmer sat out last weekend with the same injury and will now miss his second-straight game. Palmer could not practice all week, which suggests he may have trouble suiting up next weekend if the Chargers were to defeat the Texans on Saturday afternoon. Over his previous four games, Palmer has seen six targets per game and averaged 42.5 yards per game. Wide receiver Quentin Johnston (thigh/illness) is also listed as questionable, which could leave rookie Ladd McConkey as the lone pass catcher in the wide receiver room available against a struggling Houston secondary that has allowed the 11th-most PPR points to opposing wideouts this season.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer (heel) remained out of the team's practice session on Wednesday. The Chargers kept Palmer out of the Week 18 win over the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders in the season finale, and after two missed practices already this week, it's not looking good for his availability on Saturday in Houston against the Texans for the wild-card playoff round. If the 25-year-old pass-catcher misses a second straight game, look for DJ Chark and Derius Davis to get more snaps on offense behind wideouts Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston. If active against the Texans, Palmer will be a touchdown-dependent, low-upside fantasy flex, at best. In his fourth year in the NFL in 2024, Palmer had only 39 receptions on 65 targets for 584 yards and a career-low one touchdown. Check back for his final injury status on Thursday.

According to Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, wide receiver Joshua Palmer (heel) is not expected to take part in the first practice of the week on Tuesday. Palmer suffered a heel injury in the Week 17 win over the New England Patriots and sat out of the victory of the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders in the Week 18 regular-season finale. If the 25-year-old doesn't return to practice in the next two days, he'll be headed for a second straight absence when the Bolts face the Houston Texans in the wild-card round of the playoffs this Saturday. With the 25-year-old out last weekend, DJ Chark caught his first touchdown pass of the year. Regardless of whether Palmer returns this Saturday, rookie Ladd McConkey should continue to draw most of the aerial targets from quarterback Justin Herbert and will be a popular DFS play this weekend versus Houston on the road.

The Los Angeles Chargers ruled out wide receiver Joshua Palmer (foot) for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday versus the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. The Chargers still have a shot to move up to the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoff picture if the Steelers lose to the Bengals on Saturday, but they will rest Palmer for this one and hope he's ready to go for the wild-card round next weekend. The 25-year-old has been the Chargers' No. 3 receiver in 2024 behind rookie Ladd McConkey and second-year pass-catcher Quentin Johnston. The role hasn't made him much more than a WR4/5 flex play in deeper fantasy formats on a weekly basis. Palmer will finish the regular season with 39 receptions on 65 targets for 584 yards and just one TD. Either DJ Chark or Derius Davis will step into the WR3 role for the Bolts against the Raiders.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receivers Ladd McConkey (toe) and Joshua Palmer (foot) were both listed as non-participants in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. McConkey is dealing with a new injury, but he seemed fine in the Week 17 beatdown of the New England Patriots, when he had eight catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns. The 23-year-old second-rounder has been a must-start in fantasy all year in his first season in the NFL as quarterback Justin Herbert's favorite target. However, the Chargers could rest him and other key starters on offense in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday versus the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. If the Steelers beat the Bengals on Saturday, the Bolts would be locked into the No. 6 seed in the AFC for the playoffs and wouldn't have much incentive to play their starters.