Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Amari Cooper vs Joshua PalmerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Amari Cooper is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.2 PPG to Joshua Palmer's 6.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Amari Cooper is the better fantasy play this season.

Amari Cooper is the better play on a neutral week. 11.2 PPG with 782 yards gives a reliable baseline. Joshua Palmer at 6.8 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Amari Cooper higher, but do not fade Joshua Palmer entirely.

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

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Amari Cooper and Joshua Palmer in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

WRBuffalo Bills#99PPG LEADER

Amari Cooper

PPG

11.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

782

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 12

WRLos Angeles Chargers#99

Joshua Palmer

PPG

6.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

498

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Amari Cooper

Joshua Palmer

Head to Head

11.2 PPG6.8 PPG

16 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Amari Cooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Joshua Palmer: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Amari Cooper is producing at 51% of elite pace and Joshua Palmer at 31%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Amari Cooper vs Joshua Palmer: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Amari Cooper and Joshua Palmer for your lineup, you are not alone. Amari Cooper finished the 2025 season at 11.2 PPG for the Buffalo Bills (16 games), and Joshua Palmer averaged 6.8 for the Los Angeles Chargers (14 games).

That 4.4-point weekly advantage for Amari Cooper is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Target volume is the story here. Amari Cooper saw 95 targets in 2025, while Joshua Palmer drew 65. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Amari Cooper, 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: Amari Cooper sits Week 12 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

Amari Cooper is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Joshua Palmer is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Amari Cooper (age 27) 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?

•Amari Cooper outscored Joshua Palmer by a projected 75 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Amari Cooper played 16 games in 2025 compared to Joshua Palmer's 14. That durability gap means Amari Cooper contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Amari Cooper scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Amari Cooper saw 95 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Amari Cooper vs Joshua Palmer: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Amari Cooper	Joshua Palmer
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.2	6.8
Games Played	16	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	179	95
Receptions	65	42
Rec/Game	4.1	3.0
Receiving Yards	782	498
Rec Yds/Game	48.9	35.6
Receiving TDs	4	2
Targets	95	65
Target Share/Game	5.9	4.6
Bye Week	Week 12	Week 5

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Amari Cooper at 11.2 PPG, 4.4 points per game above Joshua Palmer's 6.8. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Amari Cooper vs Joshua Palmer

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Amari Cooper vs Joshua Palmer

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Amari Cooper or Joshua Palmer in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Amari Cooper has the edge at 11.2 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 Amari Cooper and Joshua Palmer average in 2025?▾

Amari Cooper averaged 11.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Joshua Palmer averaged 6.8 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 4.4 points per game.

When are Amari Cooper and Joshua Palmer's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Amari Cooper (BUF) has a bye in Week 12, and Joshua Palmer (LAC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Amari Cooper or Joshua Palmer a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Amari Cooper outscored Joshua Palmer by 4.4 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.