Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Joshua Palmer vs Rashee RiceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.5 PPG to Joshua Palmer's 6.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy play this season.

Rashee Rice is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 15.5 PPG and 591 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 Rashee Rice 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.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Joshua Palmer and Rashee Rice 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

WRKansas City Chiefs#5PPG LEADER

Rashee Rice

PPG

15.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

571

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Joshua Palmer

Rashee Rice

Head to Head

6.8 PPG15.5 PPG

14 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Joshua Palmer: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Rashee Rice: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #5 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Joshua Palmer is producing at 31% of elite pace and Rashee Rice at 70%. That ranking gap means Rashee Rice carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Joshua Palmer vs Rashee Rice: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. Rashee Rice put up 15.5 fantasy points per game for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025, while Joshua Palmer managed 6.8 across 14 games with the Los Angeles Chargers. A 8.7-point weekly edge is substantial at the wide receiver position.

A 8.7-PPG gap gives Rashee Rice 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 Rashee Rice converted 78 looks into 571 yards and 5 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 5 bye. That means you need a backup plan at wide receiver for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Rashee Rice 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. Rashee Rice (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Rashee Rice outscored Joshua Palmer by a projected 148 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Joshua Palmer played 14 games in 2025 compared to Rashee Rice's 8. That durability gap means Joshua Palmer contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Rashee Rice scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Rashee Rice saw 78 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Both players share a Week 5 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Joshua Palmer vs Rashee Rice: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Joshua Palmer	Rashee Rice
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.8	15.5
Games Played	14	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	95	124
Receptions	42	53
Rec/Game	3.0	6.6
Receiving Yards	498	571
Rec Yds/Game	35.6	71.4
Receiving TDs	2	5
Targets	65	78
Target Share/Game	4.6	9.8
Age	-	26
Experience	-	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 5

Summary

Rashee Rice outscored Joshua Palmer by 8.7 PPG in 2025 (15.5 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Joshua Palmer vs Rashee Rice

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 Rashee Rice

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 Rashee Rice in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Rashee Rice has the edge at 15.5 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 Rashee Rice average in 2025?▾

Joshua Palmer averaged 6.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Rashee Rice averaged 15.5 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 8.7 points per game.

Do Joshua Palmer and Rashee Rice share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Joshua Palmer and Rashee Rice share a Week 5 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at wide receiver for that week.

Is Joshua Palmer or Rashee Rice a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Rashee Rice outscored Joshua Palmer by 8.7 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.