The LA Chargers head into the most important game of the 2024 season thus far on short rest against the Denver Broncos. With playoff implications for both sides, this divisional matchup is going to have more juice than recent Chargers-Broncos matchups.
This game also kicks off the second most important fantasy football week of the season. Week 16 is the fantasy football semi-final in most leagues as the final four look to dwindle down to the final two.
Even those who have made it this far can find themselves in precarious situations where they have to decide between players who normally wouldn't start in the fantasy season. Chargers wideout Joshua Palmer could be one of those players.
Palmer is a familiar name that many recognize on the waiver wire. With a superstar quarterback, there are some fantasy football players who may be calling Palmer's number hoping for a big week. Here is everything you need to know if you find yourself in this situation.
Joshua Palmer 2024 stats:
Targets | Receptions | Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|
53 | 32 | 502 | 1 |
Palmer has appeared in 13 of the Chargers' 14 games this season in what has been a relatively healthy year for the former Tennessee volunteer. Those games have been rather up-and-down, which makes his performance in Week 16 hard to predict.
Palmer averages just over four targets per game, which isn't a great number for fantasy football owners in a pinch. What makes it worse is how volatile Palmer has been with his targets; Palmer has finished with three or fewer targets in five games, four targets in five games and more than four targets in three games.
Palmer ranks fourth in the team in total targets with one of the lowest catch rates (60.4%). Quentin Johnston is the only player with at least 50 targets who has a worse catch rate.
The former third-round pick was targeted nine times against the Kansas City Chiefs, hauling in six catches for 78 yards. That was without Ladd McConkey, though. This past week, Palmer made just two catches on three targets for 10 yards.
Palmer has eclipsed just 50 yards four times this season, has eclipsed five receptions just once and has only found the endzone once. In addition to all this, Palmer has played just 68% of the Chargers' offensive snaps this season, which is the lowest mark since his rookie season despite missing just one game.
Should Chargers' Joshua Palmer start in fantasy football in Week 16?
There is simply too much variance involved to trust in Joshua Palmer in Week 16. Granted, if you are considering starting Palmer then you are probably in a pickle anyway, but if there is a comparable option that is the route you should go.
If you are choosing between Chargers not named Ladd McConkey then Johnston is the way to go. Johnston has caught eight touchdown passes this season and has been targeted more consistently in the passing game, especially recently.
Johnston has been targeted five or more times in four of the Chargers' last five games with 17 combined targets over the last two weeks. The low catch rate is a concern with Johnston's drop problems but there is far more boom in his game than Palmer.