Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Courtland Sutton vs Joshua PalmerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Courtland Sutton 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

Courtland Sutton is the better fantasy play this season.

Courtland Sutton has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.9-PPG advantage is real (10.7 to 6.8), and Courtland Sutton's 7 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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WRDenver Broncos#21PPG LEADER

Courtland Sutton

PPG

10.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,017

Rec TDs

Targets

124

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

Courtland Sutton

Joshua Palmer

Head to Head

10.7 PPG6.8 PPG

17 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Courtland Sutton: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #21 at the position). Joshua Palmer: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Courtland Sutton is producing at 49% of elite pace and Joshua Palmer at 31%. That ranking gap means Courtland Sutton carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Courtland Sutton vs Joshua Palmer: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Courtland Sutton (Denver Broncos) finished the 2025 season averaging 10.7 fantasy points per game in 17 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.

Courtland Sutton 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.

Target volume is the story here. Courtland Sutton saw 124 targets in 2025, while Joshua Palmer drew 65. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Courtland Sutton, even in weeks where Joshua Palmer posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

One scheduling note: Courtland Sutton is off Week 10 and Joshua Palmer Week 5. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in wide receiver for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Courtland Sutton 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: Courtland Sutton (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Joshua Palmer (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Courtland Sutton outscored Joshua Palmer by a projected 66 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Courtland Sutton played 17 games in 2025 compared to Joshua Palmer's 14. That durability gap means Courtland Sutton contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Courtland Sutton scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Courtland Sutton saw 124 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Courtland Sutton vs Joshua Palmer: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Courtland Sutton	Joshua Palmer
PPG (Half-PPR)	10.7	6.8
Games Played	17	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	182	95
Receptions	74	42
Rec/Game	4.4	3.0
Receiving Yards	1,017	498
Rec Yds/Game	59.8	35.6
Receiving TDs	7	2
Targets	124	65
Target Share/Game	7.3	4.6
Age	30	-
Experience	7 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 5

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Courtland Sutton 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 Courtland Sutton or Joshua Palmer in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Courtland Sutton 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 Courtland Sutton and Joshua Palmer average in 2025?▾

Courtland Sutton averaged 10.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Joshua Palmer averaged 6.8 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 3.9 points per game.

When are Courtland Sutton and Joshua Palmer's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Courtland Sutton (DEN) 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 Courtland Sutton or Joshua Palmer a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Courtland Sutton 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.