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Head to Head

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Joshua Palmer vs Troy FranklinWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Troy Franklin is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.5 PPG to Joshua Palmer's 6.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Troy Franklin is the better fantasy play this season.

Troy Franklin has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.7-PPG advantage is real (8.5 to 6.8), and Troy Franklin's 6 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.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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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
WRDenver Broncos#44PPG LEADER
Troy Franklin
PPG
8.5
Games
17
Rec
65
Rec Yds
709
Rec TDs
6
Targets
104
Bye
Week 10

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Joshua Palmer
Troy Franklin

Head to Head

6.8 PPG8.5 PPG
14 GP17 GP
Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Joshua Palmer: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Troy Franklin: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #44 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Joshua Palmer is producing at 31% of elite pace and Troy Franklin at 39%. That ranking gap means Troy Franklin carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Joshua Palmer vs Troy Franklin: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Joshua Palmer (Los Angeles Chargers) finished the 2025 season averaging 6.8 fantasy points per game in 14 games. Troy Franklin (Denver Broncos) came in at 8.5 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Troy Franklin carries a 1.7-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Target volume is the story here. Troy Franklin saw 104 targets in 2025, while Joshua Palmer drew 65. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Troy Franklin, 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 Troy Franklin rests in Week 10. 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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Joshua Palmer (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Troy Franklin (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

  • Troy Franklin outscored Joshua Palmer by a projected 29 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Troy Franklin played 17 games in 2025 compared to Joshua Palmer's 14. That durability gap means Troy Franklin contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Troy Franklin scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
  • Troy Franklin saw 104 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 Troy Franklin: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatJoshua PalmerTroy Franklin
PPG (Half-PPR)6.88.5
Games Played1417
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)95145
Receptions4265
Rec/Game3.03.8
Receiving Yards498709
Rec Yds/Game35.641.7
Receiving TDs26
Targets65104
Target Share/Game4.66.1
Age-23
Experience-1 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 5Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Troy Franklin holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 8.5 points per game. Joshua Palmer averaged 6.8 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Joshua Palmer or Troy Franklin in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Troy Franklin has the edge at 8.5 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 Troy Franklin average in 2025?

Joshua Palmer averaged 6.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Troy Franklin averaged 8.5 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 1.7 points per game.

When are Joshua Palmer and Troy Franklin's bye weeks in 2026?

Joshua Palmer (LAC) has a bye in Week 5, and Troy Franklin (DEN) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Joshua Palmer or Troy Franklin a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?

Troy Franklin outscored Joshua Palmer by 1.7 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.