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Head to Head

Updated from live stats

Joshua Palmer vs Parker WashingtonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Parker Washington is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.4 PPG to Joshua Palmer's 6.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Parker Washington is the better fantasy play this season.

Parker Washington has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.6-PPG advantage is real (10.4 to 6.8), and Parker Washington's 5 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
14
Rec
42
Rec Yds
498
Rec TDs
2
Targets
65
Bye
Week 5
WRJacksonville Jaguars#27PPG LEADER
Parker Washington
PPG
10.4
Games
15
Rec
58
Rec Yds
847
Rec TDs
5
Targets
95
Bye
Week 7

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Joshua Palmer
Parker Washington

Head to Head

6.8 PPG10.4 PPG
14 GP15 GP
Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Joshua Palmer: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Parker Washington: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #27 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Joshua Palmer is producing at 31% of elite pace and Parker Washington at 47%. That ranking gap means Parker Washington carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Joshua Palmer vs Parker Washington: The Full Breakdown

Joshua Palmer and Parker Washington are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Joshua Palmer averaged 6.8 PPG across 14 games with the Los Angeles Chargers, while Parker Washington posted 10.4 PPG in 15 appearances for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

A 3.6-PPG gap gives Parker Washington the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Target volume is the story here. Parker Washington saw 95 targets in 2025, while Joshua Palmer drew 65. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Parker Washington, 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 Parker Washington 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

If you can acquire Parker Washington 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. Parker Washington (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

  • Parker Washington outscored Joshua Palmer by a projected 61 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Parker Washington played 15 games in 2025 compared to Joshua Palmer's 14. That durability gap means Parker Washington contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Parker Washington scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
  • Parker Washington saw 95 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 Parker Washington: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatJoshua PalmerParker Washington
PPG (Half-PPR)6.810.4
Games Played1415
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)95156
Receptions4258
Rec/Game3.03.9
Receiving Yards498847
Rec Yds/Game35.656.5
Receiving TDs25
Targets6595
Target Share/Game4.66.3
Age-24
Experience-2 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 5Week 7

Summary

Parker Washington outscored Joshua Palmer by 3.6 PPG in 2025 (10.4 to 6.8). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Joshua Palmer or Parker Washington in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Parker Washington has the edge at 10.4 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 Parker Washington average in 2025?

Joshua Palmer averaged 6.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Parker Washington averaged 10.4 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 3.6 points per game.

When are Joshua Palmer and Parker Washington's bye weeks in 2026?

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

Is Joshua Palmer or Parker Washington a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?

Parker Washington outscored Joshua Palmer by 3.6 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.