Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Joshua Palmer vs Michael WilsonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Michael Wilson 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

Michael Wilson is the better fantasy play this season.

Michael Wilson has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.9-PPG advantage is real (10.7 to 6.8), and Michael Wilson'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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WRLos Angeles Chargers#99

Joshua Palmer

PPG

6.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

498

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

WRArizona Cardinals#24PPG LEADER

Michael Wilson

PPG

10.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,006

Rec TDs

Targets

126

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Joshua Palmer

Michael Wilson

Head to Head

6.8 PPG10.7 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Joshua Palmer: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Michael Wilson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #24 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Joshua Palmer is producing at 31% of elite pace and Michael Wilson at 49%. That ranking gap means Michael Wilson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Joshua Palmer vs Michael Wilson: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Joshua Palmer (Los Angeles Chargers) finished the 2025 season averaging 6.8 fantasy points per game in 14 games. Michael Wilson (Arizona Cardinals) came in at 10.7 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Michael Wilson 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. Michael Wilson saw 126 targets in 2025, while Joshua Palmer drew 65. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Michael Wilson, 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 Michael Wilson is off Week 14. 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

If you can acquire Michael Wilson 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: Joshua Palmer (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Michael Wilson (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Michael Wilson outscored Joshua Palmer by a projected 66 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Michael Wilson played 17 games in 2025 compared to Joshua Palmer's 14. That durability gap means Michael Wilson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Michael Wilson scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Michael Wilson saw 126 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 Michael Wilson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Joshua Palmer	Michael Wilson
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.8	10.7
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	95	182
Receptions	42	78
Rec/Game	3.0	4.6
Receiving Yards	498	1,006
Rec Yds/Game	35.6	59.2
Receiving TDs	2	7
Targets	65	126
Target Share/Game	4.6	7.4
Age	-	26
Experience	-	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 14

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Michael Wilson 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 Joshua Palmer or Michael Wilson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Michael Wilson 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 Joshua Palmer and Michael Wilson average in 2025?▾

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

When are Joshua Palmer and Michael Wilson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Joshua Palmer (LAC) has a bye in Week 5, and Michael Wilson (ARI) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Joshua Palmer or Michael Wilson a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Michael Wilson 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.