Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

A.J. Brown vs Joshua PalmerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

A.J. Brown is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.1 PPG to Joshua Palmer's 6.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

A.J. Brown is the better fantasy play this season.

A.J. Brown is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 12.1 PPG and 1,003 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Joshua Palmer (6.8 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster A.J. Brown as the starter and Joshua Palmer as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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WRPhiladelphia Eagles#12PPG LEADER

A.J. Brown

PPG

12.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,003

Rec TDs

Targets

121

Bye

Week 10

WRLos Angeles Chargers#99

Joshua Palmer

PPG

6.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

498

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

A.J. Brown

Joshua Palmer

Head to Head

12.1 PPG6.8 PPG

15 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

A.J. Brown: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #12 at the position). Joshua Palmer: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, A.J. Brown is producing at 55% of elite pace and Joshua Palmer at 31%. That ranking gap means A.J. Brown carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

A.J. Brown vs Joshua Palmer: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. A.J. Brown (Philadelphia Eagles) finished the 2025 season averaging 12.1 fantasy points per game in 15 games. Joshua Palmer (Los Angeles Chargers) came in at 6.8 PPG over 14 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

A.J. Brown carries a 5.3-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Target volume is the story here. A.J. Brown saw 121 targets in 2025, while Joshua Palmer drew 65. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for A.J. Brown, even in weeks where Joshua Palmer posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: A.J. Brown sits Week 10 while Joshua Palmer is off Week 5. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire A.J. Brown at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Joshua Palmer is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: A.J. Brown (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Joshua Palmer (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•A.J. Brown outscored Joshua Palmer by a projected 90 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•A.J. Brown played 15 games in 2025 compared to Joshua Palmer's 14. That durability gap means A.J. Brown contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•A.J. Brown scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•A.J. Brown saw 121 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

A.J. Brown vs Joshua Palmer: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	A.J. Brown	Joshua Palmer
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.1	6.8
Games Played	15	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	182	95
Receptions	78	42
Rec/Game	5.2	3.0
Receiving Yards	1,003	498
Rec Yds/Game	66.9	35.6
Receiving TDs	7	2
Targets	121	65
Target Share/Game	8.1	4.6
Age	28	-
Experience	6 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 5

Summary

Based on 2025 production, A.J. Brown holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.1 points per game. Joshua Palmer averaged 6.8 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start A.J. Brown or Joshua Palmer in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, A.J. Brown has the edge at 12.1 PPG compared to Joshua Palmer's 6.8 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did A.J. Brown and Joshua Palmer average in 2025?▾

A.J. Brown averaged 12.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Joshua Palmer averaged 6.8 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 5.3 points per game.

When are A.J. Brown and Joshua Palmer's bye weeks in 2026?▾

A.J. Brown (PHI) has a bye in Week 10, and Joshua Palmer (LAC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is A.J. Brown or Joshua Palmer a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

A.J. Brown outscored Joshua Palmer by 5.3 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.