Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Joshua Palmer vs Ladd McConkeyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Ladd McConkey is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.2 PPG to Joshua Palmer's 6.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Ladd McConkey is the better fantasy play this season.

Ladd McConkey is the better play on a neutral week. 9.2 PPG with 789 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 Ladd McConkey 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 Joshua Palmer and Ladd McConkey in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

WRLos Angeles Chargers#99

Joshua Palmer

PPG

6.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

498

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

WRLos Angeles Chargers#38PPG LEADER

Ladd McConkey

PPG

9.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

789

Rec TDs

Targets

106

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Joshua Palmer

Ladd McConkey

Head to Head

6.8 PPG9.2 PPG

14 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Joshua Palmer: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Ladd McConkey: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #38 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Joshua Palmer is producing at 31% of elite pace and Ladd McConkey at 42%. That ranking gap means Ladd McConkey carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Joshua Palmer vs Ladd McConkey: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Joshua Palmer and Ladd McConkey is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver put up 6.8 PPG in 2025 over 14 games; Ladd McConkey of the Los Angeles Chargers averaged 9.2 in 16. A 2.4-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 2.4 points favors Ladd McConkey, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one wide receiver to the other.

Target volume is the story here. Ladd McConkey saw 106 targets in 2025, while Joshua Palmer drew 65. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Ladd McConkey, 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: Joshua Palmer sits Week 5 while Ladd McConkey is off Week 7. 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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Joshua Palmer (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Ladd McConkey (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Ladd McConkey outscored Joshua Palmer by a projected 41 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Ladd McConkey played 16 games in 2025 compared to Joshua Palmer's 14. That durability gap means Ladd McConkey contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Ladd McConkey scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Ladd McConkey saw 106 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Joshua Palmer vs Ladd McConkey: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Joshua Palmer	Ladd McConkey
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.8	9.2
Games Played	14	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	95	147
Receptions	42	66
Rec/Game	3.0	4.1
Receiving Yards	498	789
Rec Yds/Game	35.6	49.3
Receiving TDs	2	6
Targets	65	106
Target Share/Game	4.6	6.6
Age	-	24
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 7

Summary

9.2 PPG for Ladd McConkey versus 6.8 for Joshua Palmer in 2025. The baseline favors Ladd McConkey, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Joshua Palmer vs Ladd McConkey

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 Joshua Palmer vs Ladd McConkey

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 Joshua Palmer or Ladd McConkey in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Ladd McConkey has the edge at 9.2 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 Joshua Palmer and Ladd McConkey average in 2025?▾

Joshua Palmer averaged 6.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Ladd McConkey averaged 9.2 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 2.4 points per game.

When are Joshua Palmer and Ladd McConkey's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Joshua Palmer (LAC) has a bye in Week 5, and Ladd McConkey (LAC) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Joshua Palmer or Ladd McConkey a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Ladd McConkey outscored Joshua Palmer by 2.4 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.