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Head to Head

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Joshua Palmer vs Tee HigginsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Tee Higgins is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.1 PPG to Joshua Palmer's 6.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Tee Higgins is the better fantasy play this season.

Tee Higgins is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 12.1 PPG and 846 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 Tee Higgins 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.

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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
WRCincinnati Bengals#13PPG LEADER
Tee Higgins
PPG
12.1
Games
15
Rec
59
Rec Yds
846
Rec TDs
11
Targets
98
Bye
Week 6

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Joshua Palmer
Tee Higgins

Head to Head

6.8 PPG12.1 PPG
14 GP15 GP
Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Joshua Palmer: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Tee Higgins: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #13 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Joshua Palmer is producing at 31% of elite pace and Tee Higgins at 55%. That ranking gap means Tee Higgins carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Joshua Palmer vs Tee Higgins: The Full Breakdown

Joshua Palmer and Tee Higgins 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 Tee Higgins posted 12.1 PPG in 15 appearances for the Cincinnati Bengals.

A 5.3-PPG gap gives Tee Higgins 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. Tee Higgins saw 98 targets in 2025, while Joshua Palmer drew 65. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Tee Higgins, even in weeks where Joshua Palmer posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Joshua Palmer has his bye in Week 5, and Tee Higgins rests in Week 6. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at wide receiver for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Tee Higgins 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. Tee Higgins (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

  • Tee Higgins outscored Joshua Palmer by a projected 90 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Tee Higgins played 15 games in 2025 compared to Joshua Palmer's 14. That durability gap means Tee Higgins contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Tee Higgins scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.7 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
  • Tee Higgins saw 98 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 Tee Higgins: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatJoshua PalmerTee Higgins
PPG (Half-PPR)6.812.1
Games Played1415
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)95182
Receptions4259
Rec/Game3.03.9
Receiving Yards498846
Rec Yds/Game35.656.4
Receiving TDs211
Targets6598
Target Share/Game4.66.5
Age-27
Experience-5 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 5Week 6

Summary

Tee Higgins outscored Joshua Palmer by 5.3 PPG in 2025 (12.1 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 Tee Higgins in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Tee Higgins has the edge at 12.1 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 Tee Higgins average in 2025?

Joshua Palmer averaged 6.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Tee Higgins averaged 12.1 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 5.3 points per game.

When are Joshua Palmer and Tee Higgins's bye weeks in 2026?

Joshua Palmer (LAC) has a bye in Week 5, and Tee Higgins (CIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Joshua Palmer or Tee Higgins a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?

Tee Higgins outscored Joshua Palmer by 5.3 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.