Will Fantasy managers dare trust Palmer after the case was made for a breakout season last year? That's even more doubtful now that he's in Buffalo, where he'll tangle for targets with plenty of competition including Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman. Palmer's touchdown production has dropped each of his four years in the NFL in large part because he's struggled to see meaningful playing time. Fantasy managers are likely to not bother drafting Palmer this season, instead opting for him off waivers if he does the unthinkable and earns regular targets in the Bills offense.
Palmer had one reception for two yards in Sunday's 38-0 preseason loss to the Bears.
The Josh Allen-less Bills failed to generate any traction in this forgettable exhibition. All three of Palmer's preseason receptions have come from the arm of backup Mitchell Trubisky while the team protects its franchise quarterback. Palmer has been able to show a good rapport with Allen in camp, as the wideout aims to carve out a significant role on offense with his new club this year.
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Bills' Joshua Palmer: Two grabs in preseason opener
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Palmer caught two of three targets for 21 yards in Saturday's 34-25 preseason loss to the Giants.
All three targets came with Mitchell Trubisky under center, as Josh Allen sat out Buffalo's first exhibition contest. Palmer has been getting some buzz in training camp as a receiver who can provide Allen with a deep threat to complement Khalil Shakir and Dalton Kincaid underneath, but the former Charger may not get much of a chance to show chemistry with his new starting QB in the preseason. Palmer's best campaign while catching passes from Justin Herbert came in 2022, when he turned 107 targets into 72 catches for 769 yards and three TDs over 16 regular-season games.
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Bills' Joshua Palmer: Back at practice Monday
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Palmer (groin) was present for practice Monday, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.
Palmer didn't practice Sunday, but the fact that he suited up for Monday's session and was able to take part in individual drills, per Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News, suggests that his groin injury isn't anything major. It remains to be seen, however, if the wideout will see any action in Saturday's preseason opener against the Giants.
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Bills' Joshua Palmer: Working through groin injury
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Palmer isn't practicing Sunday due to a groin injury, Sal Capaccio of WGR Sports Radio 550 Buffalo reports.
Palmer has had a promising start to training camp after signing a three-year contract with Buffalo in the offseason, but he's hit at least a minor roadblock with the groin issue. The Bills also announced Sunday that No. 1 wideout Khalil Shakir is week-to-week due to a high-ankle sprain, per Sal Capaccio of WGR Sports Radio 550 Buffalo, so Keon Coleman and Elijah Moore are the team's top receivers who are currently healthy. It's not yet clear how many practices Palmer might miss as he works through the groin injury.
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Bills' Joshua Palmer: Agrees to three-year deal in Buffalo
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Palmer agreed Monday to a three-year contract with the Bills, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The initial report has it as a three-year, $36 million deal with half the money guaranteed. A 2021 third-round pick, Palmer never had more than 769 receiving yards or four TDs in a season for the Chargers, but he capably handled different roles under three offensive coordinators. In 2022, he had a 72-769-3 line on 107 targets at an 8.7 aDOT. In 2024, he had a 39-584-1 line on 65 targets at a 15.2 aDOT. The Bills need a downfield presence more so than another possession receiver, but it's nonetheless tough to predict exactly how they'll use Palmer, apart from the size of his contract suggesting he's expected to be a starter and play a lot of snaps. Then again, the same thing was said when they signed Curtis Samuel to a three-year, $24 million deal last offseason. Palmer at least is much younger than Samuel, turning 26 in September, and there's been no indication that Palmer's foot injury from late in the 2024 campaign will be an issue for 2025.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Unable to live up to expectations
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Palmer (foot) logged 39 catches (on 65 targets) for 584 yards and one touchdown across 15 regular-season appearances with the Chargers in 2024.
Palmer entered the 2024 campaign seemingly staring down tremendous opportunity with the Chargers having moved on from wideouts Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but he ultimately took a backseat to both 2024 second-rounder Ladd McConkey and 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston. Despite suiting up for five more games in 2024, Palmer's production remained similar to the 38-581-2 receiving line he put up across 10 appearances in 2023. After missing Los Angeles' regular-season finale and wild-card round loss to the Texans, Palmer will now work to fully recover from his foot injury in time for the start of free agency.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Still not practicing
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Palmer (foot) wasn't spotted at practice Wednesday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Palmer was listed as a non-participant Tuesday as well, so what the wideout is able to do Thursday will be critical in determining his chances of playing in Saturday's playoff opener against the Texans. If Palmer -- who was inactive for the Chargers' Week 18 win over the Raiders -- remains out this weekend, DJ Chark and Derius Davis would be in line to see added snaps alongside fellow wideouts Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston (thigh/illness).
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Set to miss practice
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Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said Palmer (foot) isn't in line to practice Tuesday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
After exiting the Chargers' Week 17 win over the Patriots with a foot injury, Palmer didn't practice in any fashion last week before sitting out a 34-20 win over the Raiders in the regular-season finale, and he's yet to take any tangible steps forward in his recovery as the Chargers begin prepping for Saturday's wild-card game in Houston. In Palmer's absence in Week 18, DJ Chark stepped in as the Chargers' No. 3 wideout and finished with a six-yard touchdown reception across three targets.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Ruled out for Sunday
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Palmer (foot) has been ruled out for Sunday's regular season finale against the Raiders.
Palmer didn't practice this week and will target a potential return to action in next weekend's playoff opener against an opponent to be determined. In his absence Sunday, DJ Chark and Derius Davis are candidates to log added snaps behind top wideout options Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Sidelined for practice again
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Palmer (foot) was a non-participant in Thursday's practice.
Palmer has been a spectator for both of the Chargers' first two Week 18 practices, so he'll likely need to take part in Friday's session in some fashion in order to avoid a designation for Sunday's regular-season finale in Las Vegas. If Palmer is sidelined for Week 18, DJ Chark and Derius Davis could both be in store for expanded roles at receiver.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Not practicing
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Palmer (heel) didn't practice Wednesday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Palmer left Saturday's 40-7 win over New England in the third quarter and was spotted in a walking boot after the game. It's not yet clear how aggressive the Chargers will or won't be this Sunday against the Raiders; they know they'll be either the fifth or sixth seed in the AFC, with hope for moving up to fifth if Pittsburgh loses to Cincinnati on Saturday. It's unclear, in any case, if Palmer will be healthy enough to play this weekend.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Minimal production in loss
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Palmer caught two of three targets for 10 yards in Sunday's 40-17 loss to the Buccaneers.
After serving as the Chargers' top target in Week 14, Palmer reverted back to his smaller role with the return of rookie receiver Ladd McConkey. The veteran played 75 percent of the Chargers' offensive snaps, but he was unable to produce much with his few opportunities. Despite a solid share in playing time, Palmer is unlikely to be a trustworthy option for fantasy purposes in the fantasy playoffs. Los Angeles will host the Broncos in Week 16.
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Chargers' Josh Palmer: Sleeper WRs
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Palmer is worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues if Ladd McConkey (knee) is out in Week 15. McConkey missed Week 14 at Kansas City, and Palmer had six catches for 78 yards on nine targets. This week, the Chargers are facing a Tampa Bay defense that is No. 8 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers. Seven receivers in the past five games have scored at least 12.4 PPR points, and Palmer and Quentin Johnston would both benefit if McConkey remains out in Week 15.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Emerges as top target
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Palmer caught six of his nine targets for 78 yards in the 19-17 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday.
With Ladd McConkey (knee/shoulder) out, Palmer took over as the team's top option, although quarterback Justin Herbert did spread the ball around to eight separate targets in the contest. Palmer had been held to just 11 receptions for 243 yards in the last six games combined, so the evidence seems pretty clear the fourth-year wideout's significant bump ties directly to McConkey's status. That will be something to monitor next week given the Chargers take on the porous Buccaneers defense in what could be an offensive explosion.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: One catch against Atlanta
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Palmer caught his lone target for 11 yards in Sunday's 17-13 win over the Falcons.
Palmer had a quiet day against the Falcons, as his 11 receiving yards accounted for his lowest total in a contest this season. The veteran wideout played 63 percent of the Chargers offensive snaps Sunday, his lowest snap since Week 10. Through 11 games, Palmer has recorded just 24 catches for 414 yards and one touchdown in what has been an underwhelming 2024 campaign for the fourth-year receiver. The 25-year-old will be remain difficult to trust for fantasy purposes as the Chargers head into a Week 14 matchup against the Raiders.
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Chargers' Josh Palmer: Week 14 Waiver Priority List
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Palmer had some sleeper appeal coming into the season, but he's been outplayed by Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnson. Palmer only has two games all season with at least 10.3 PPR points and one touchdown, but now McConkey is banged up heading into Week 14 at the Chiefs. If McConkey is out then that could benefit Palmer, and he's worth adding in deeper leagues for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Struggles with eight targets
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Palmer finished with three receptions (on eight targets) for 38 yards in Monday's 30-23 loss to Baltimore.
Palmer led the Chargers in targets, but the wideout finished just third in receptions and yardage Monday. It was actually the 24-year-old's best output since Week 9, highlighting the underwhelming nature of his performance in 2024. Palmer should only be considered a deep-league option Week 13 in a road matchup against Atlanta.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Only one catch
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Palmer tallied 36 yards on his one reception (two targets) in the 27-17 win over the Titans on Sunday.
The Chargers once again finished with more rushing attempts (39) than pass attempts (18), limiting any sort of volume Palmer might have been able to compile. It's a feast or famine fantasy system in Los Angeles dependent on wide receivers scoring touchdowns. It's possible there will be more passing volume against the porous Bengals defense next week.
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Chargers' Joshua Palmer: Strong production on two catches
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Palmer brought in two of four targets for 63 yards and a touchdown in the Chargers' 27-10 win over the Browns on Sunday.
Palmer made good use of his pair of grabs, recording a 28-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter and adding a 26-yard catch on the final drive of the first half. Palmer was also credited with an additional nine receiving yards on an end-of-half lateral, leading to his third straight game with 60-plus receiving yards. Palmer has yet to see more than five targets in any game this season, however, so he remains a somewhat risky option dependent on big plays heading into a Week 10 home matchup against the Titans.
Palmer caught two of four targets for 72 yards in Sunday's 26-8 win over the Saints.
Palmer didn't see significant volume but made the most of his limited touches with catches of 27 and 45 yards. He has increased his receiving yardage total in all six of his appearances this season, with a jump from 38 yards in Week 6 to 63 in Week 7 preceding Sunday's season-best effort, but Palmer has yet to score a touchdown this season. Palmer will look to snap that touchdown drought in Week 9 against the Browns.
