Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Joshua Palmer vs Tetairoa McMillanWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Tetairoa McMillan is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.5 PPG to Joshua Palmer's 6.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Tetairoa McMillan is the better fantasy play this season.

Tetairoa McMillan is the better play on a neutral week. 10.5 PPG with 1,014 yards gives a reliable baseline. Joshua Palmer at 6.8 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Tetairoa McMillan higher, but do not fade Joshua Palmer entirely.

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

WRCarolina Panthers#26PPG LEADER

Tetairoa McMillan

PPG

10.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,014

Rec TDs

Targets

122

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Joshua Palmer

Tetairoa McMillan

Head to Head

6.8 PPG10.5 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Joshua Palmer: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Tetairoa McMillan: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #26 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Joshua Palmer is producing at 31% of elite pace and Tetairoa McMillan at 48%. That ranking gap means Tetairoa McMillan carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Joshua Palmer vs Tetairoa McMillan: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Joshua Palmer and Tetairoa McMillan for your lineup, you are not alone. Joshua Palmer finished the 2025 season at 6.8 PPG for the Los Angeles Chargers (14 games), and Tetairoa McMillan averaged 10.5 for the Carolina Panthers (17 games).

That 3.7-point weekly advantage for Tetairoa McMillan is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Target volume is the story here. Tetairoa McMillan saw 122 targets in 2025, while Joshua Palmer drew 65. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Tetairoa McMillan, even in weeks where Joshua Palmer posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Both share a Week 5 bye, which matters for roster construction. If you are stacking wide receivers this deep on your bench, plan your replacement wide receiver early.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Tetairoa McMillan is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Joshua Palmer is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Joshua Palmer (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Tetairoa McMillan (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Tetairoa McMillan outscored Joshua Palmer by a projected 63 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Tetairoa McMillan played 17 games in 2025 compared to Joshua Palmer's 14. That durability gap means Tetairoa McMillan contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Tetairoa McMillan scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Tetairoa McMillan saw 122 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 Tetairoa McMillan: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Joshua Palmer	Tetairoa McMillan
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.8	10.5
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	95	179
Receptions	42	70
Rec/Game	3.0	4.1
Receiving Yards	498	1,014
Rec Yds/Game	35.6	59.6
Receiving TDs	2	7
Targets	65	122
Target Share/Game	4.6	7.2
Age	-	23
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 5

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Tetairoa McMillan at 10.5 PPG, 3.7 points per game above Joshua Palmer's 6.8. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Joshua Palmer or Tetairoa McMillan in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Tetairoa McMillan has the edge at 10.5 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 Tetairoa McMillan average in 2025?▾

Joshua Palmer averaged 6.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Tetairoa McMillan averaged 10.5 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.7 points per game.

Do Joshua Palmer and Tetairoa McMillan share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Joshua Palmer and Tetairoa McMillan 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 Tetairoa McMillan a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Tetairoa McMillan outscored Joshua Palmer by 3.7 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.