Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Alec Pierce vs Joshua PalmerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Alec Pierce is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.7 PPG to Joshua Palmer's 6.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Alec Pierce is the better fantasy play this season.

Alec Pierce has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.9-PPG advantage is real (10.7 to 6.8), and Alec Pierce's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. Joshua Palmer is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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WRIndianapolis Colts#22PPG LEADER

Alec Pierce

PPG

10.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,003

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 13

WRLos Angeles Chargers#99

Joshua Palmer

PPG

6.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

498

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Alec Pierce

Joshua Palmer

Head to Head

10.7 PPG6.8 PPG

15 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Alec Pierce: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #22 at the position). Joshua Palmer: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Alec Pierce is producing at 49% of elite pace and Joshua Palmer at 31%. That ranking gap means Alec Pierce carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Alec Pierce vs Joshua Palmer: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Alec Pierce (Indianapolis Colts) finished the 2025 season averaging 10.7 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.

Alec Pierce carries a 3.9-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.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Alec Pierce turned 84 targets into 1003 yards and 6 touchdowns, while Joshua Palmer converted 65 looks into 498 yards and 2 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

Alec Pierce has his bye in Week 13, and Joshua Palmer rests in Week 5. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at wide receiver for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Alec Pierce 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: Alec Pierce (age 26) 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?

•Alec Pierce outscored Joshua Palmer by a projected 66 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Alec Pierce played 15 games in 2025 compared to Joshua Palmer's 14. That durability gap means Alec Pierce contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Alec Pierce scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Alec Pierce saw 84 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Alec Pierce vs Joshua Palmer: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Alec Pierce	Joshua Palmer
PPG (Half-PPR)	10.7	6.8
Games Played	15	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	161	95
Receptions	47	42
Rec/Game	3.1	3.0
Receiving Yards	1,003	498
Rec Yds/Game	66.9	35.6
Receiving TDs	6	2
Targets	84	65
Target Share/Game	5.6	4.6
Age	26	-
Experience	3 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 5

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Alec Pierce holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 10.7 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 Alec Pierce or Joshua Palmer in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Alec Pierce has the edge at 10.7 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 Alec Pierce and Joshua Palmer average in 2025?▾

Alec Pierce averaged 10.7 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 3.9 points per game.

When are Alec Pierce and Joshua Palmer's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Alec Pierce (IND) has a bye in Week 13, and Joshua Palmer (LAC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Alec Pierce or Joshua Palmer a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Alec Pierce outscored Joshua Palmer by 3.9 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.