Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Joshua Palmer vs Quentin JohnstonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Quentin Johnston is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.2 PPG to Joshua Palmer's 6.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Quentin Johnston is the better fantasy play this season.

Quentin Johnston has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.4-PPG advantage is real (11.2 to 6.8), and Quentin Johnston's 8 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

WRLos Angeles Chargers#18PPG LEADER

Quentin Johnston

PPG

11.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

735

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Joshua Palmer

Quentin Johnston

Head to Head

6.8 PPG11.2 PPG

14 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Joshua Palmer: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Quentin Johnston: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #18 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Joshua Palmer is producing at 31% of elite pace and Quentin Johnston at 51%. That ranking gap means Quentin Johnston carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Joshua Palmer vs Quentin Johnston: The Full Breakdown

Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston 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 Quentin Johnston posted 11.2 PPG in 13 appearances for the Los Angeles Chargers.

A 4.4-PPG gap gives Quentin Johnston 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.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Joshua Palmer turned 65 targets into 498 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Quentin Johnston converted 84 looks into 735 yards and 8 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Joshua Palmer sits Week 5 while Quentin Johnston 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 Quentin Johnston 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. Quentin Johnston (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Quentin Johnston outscored Joshua Palmer by a projected 75 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Joshua Palmer played 14 games in 2025 compared to Quentin Johnston's 13. That durability gap means Joshua Palmer contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Quentin Johnston scored 8 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Quentin Johnston saw 84 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 Quentin Johnston: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Joshua Palmer	Quentin Johnston
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.8	11.2
Games Played	14	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	95	146
Receptions	42	51
Rec/Game	3.0	3.9
Receiving Yards	498	735
Rec Yds/Game	35.6	56.5
Receiving TDs	2	8
Targets	65	84
Target Share/Game	4.6	6.5
Age	-	24
Experience	-	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 7

Summary

Quentin Johnston outscored Joshua Palmer by 4.4 PPG in 2025 (11.2 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 Quentin Johnston in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Quentin Johnston has the edge at 11.2 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 Quentin Johnston average in 2025?▾

Joshua Palmer averaged 6.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Quentin Johnston averaged 11.2 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 4.4 points per game.

When are Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Joshua Palmer or Quentin Johnston a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Quentin Johnston outscored Joshua Palmer by 4.4 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.