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Head to Head

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Davante Adams vs Joshua PalmerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Davante Adams is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 13.8 PPG to Joshua Palmer's 6.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Davante Adams is the better fantasy play this season.

Davante Adams is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 13.8 PPG and 789 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 Davante Adams 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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WRLos Angeles Rams#8PPG LEADER
Davante Adams
PPG
13.8
Games
14
Rec
60
Rec Yds
789
Rec TDs
14
Targets
114
Bye
Week 11
WRLos Angeles Chargers#99
Joshua Palmer
PPG
6.8
Games
14
Rec
42
Rec Yds
498
Rec TDs
2
Targets
65
Bye
Week 5

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Davante Adams
Joshua Palmer

Head to Head

13.8 PPG6.8 PPG
14 GP14 GP
Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Davante Adams: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #8 at the position). Joshua Palmer: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Davante Adams is producing at 63% of elite pace and Joshua Palmer at 31%. That ranking gap means Davante Adams carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Davante Adams vs Joshua Palmer: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two wide receivers. Davante Adams (Los Angeles Rams) averaged 13.8 PPG over 14 games in 2025, outscoring Joshua Palmer (Los Angeles Chargers, 6.8 PPG) by 7.0 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

Davante Adams carries a 7.0-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. Davante Adams saw 114 targets in 2025, while Joshua Palmer drew 65. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Davante Adams, 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: Davante Adams is off Week 11 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 Davante Adams 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: Davante Adams (age 33) 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?

  • Davante Adams outscored Joshua Palmer by a projected 119 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Davante Adams scored 14 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.0 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
  • Davante Adams saw 114 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Davante Adams vs Joshua Palmer: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatDavante AdamsJoshua Palmer
PPG (Half-PPR)13.86.8
Games Played1414
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)19395
Receptions6042
Rec/Game4.33.0
Receiving Yards789498
Rec Yds/Game56.435.6
Receiving TDs142
Targets11465
Target Share/Game8.14.6
Age33-
Experience11 yrs-
Bye WeekWeek 11Week 5

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Davante Adams holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 13.8 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 Davante Adams or Joshua Palmer in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Davante Adams has the edge at 13.8 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 Davante Adams and Joshua Palmer average in 2025?

Davante Adams averaged 13.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Joshua Palmer averaged 6.8 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 7.0 points per game.

When are Davante Adams and Joshua Palmer's bye weeks in 2026?

Davante Adams (LAR) has a bye in Week 11, and Joshua Palmer (LAC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Davante Adams or Joshua Palmer a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?

Davante Adams outscored Joshua Palmer by 7.0 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.