Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Joshua Palmer vs Stefon DiggsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Stefon Diggs is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.9 PPG to Joshua Palmer's 6.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Stefon Diggs is the better fantasy play this season.

Stefon Diggs has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.1-PPG advantage is real (9.9 to 6.8), and Stefon Diggs's 4 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

WRNew England Patriots#30PPG LEADER

Stefon Diggs

PPG

9.9

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,013

Rec TDs

Targets

102

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Joshua Palmer

Stefon Diggs

Head to Head

6.8 PPG9.9 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Joshua Palmer: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Stefon Diggs: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #30 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Joshua Palmer is producing at 31% of elite pace and Stefon Diggs at 45%. That ranking gap means Stefon Diggs carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Joshua Palmer vs Stefon Diggs: The Full Breakdown

Joshua Palmer and Stefon Diggs 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 Stefon Diggs posted 9.9 PPG in 17 appearances for the New England Patriots.

A 3.1-PPG gap gives Stefon Diggs 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. Stefon Diggs saw 102 targets in 2025, while Joshua Palmer drew 65. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Stefon Diggs, 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 Stefon Diggs is off Week 11. 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 Stefon Diggs 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. Stefon Diggs (age 32) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Stefon Diggs outscored Joshua Palmer by a projected 53 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Stefon Diggs played 17 games in 2025 compared to Joshua Palmer's 14. That durability gap means Stefon Diggs contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Stefon Diggs scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Stefon Diggs saw 102 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 Stefon Diggs: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Joshua Palmer	Stefon Diggs
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.8	9.9
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	95	168
Receptions	42	85
Rec/Game	3.0	5.0
Receiving Yards	498	1,013
Rec Yds/Game	35.6	59.6
Receiving TDs	2	4
Targets	65	102
Target Share/Game	4.6	6.0
Age	-	32
Experience	-	10 yrs
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 11

Summary

Stefon Diggs outscored Joshua Palmer by 3.1 PPG in 2025 (9.9 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 Stefon Diggs in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Stefon Diggs has the edge at 9.9 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 Stefon Diggs average in 2025?▾

Joshua Palmer averaged 6.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Stefon Diggs averaged 9.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.1 points per game.

When are Joshua Palmer and Stefon Diggs's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Joshua Palmer (LAC) has a bye in Week 5, and Stefon Diggs (NE) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Joshua Palmer or Stefon Diggs a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Stefon Diggs outscored Joshua Palmer by 3.1 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.