Los Angeles Chargers WR Joshua Palmer has been a fantastic addition off of the waiver wire this season as he’s stepped in to fill Mike Williams’ vacated role after he went down with an ACL injury in Week 3.
However, he now comes into Week 8 listed as questionable with a knee injury. What’s the latest news and information regarding the talented WR, and should fantasy football managers expect him to be available on Sunday Night Football?
Is Joshua Palmer Going to Play Week 8?
At the time of writing, Palmer is listed as questionable with a knee injury and is currently a game-time decision. He’s been dealing with a knee injury that has affected him this week in practice. As late as Friday, he was only taking part in individual drills.
Receiving yards leaders from Week 7 in the #NFL:
1️⃣ Travis Kelce, #Chiefs – 179
2️⃣ Puka Nacua, #Rams – 154
3️⃣ A.J. Brown, #Eagles – 137
4️⃣ Joshua Palmer, #Chargers – 133
5️⃣ Josh Downs, #Colts – 125PFN's Week 7 Winners and Losers: https://t.co/IGgCsHUOG6 pic.twitter.com/gVpXzyC7F4
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 24, 2023
The issue with this news regarding Palmer is that he plays on Sunday night. If it were a 1 p.m. EST kickoff, fantasy managers would receive news regarding his status well ahead of time and easily be able to pivot to another option.
However, because this game happens late on Sunday, your alternatives are going to be much more limited if Palmer tests his knee in pregame warmups and is unable to suit up. Thus, it’s best to make plans right now as if he isn’t playing.
Editor’s note: Palmer is officially active for Sunday Night Football and lands as a mid-range WR3 in rankings.
Analysis last updated at 6:55pm EST on Sunday, October 29.
Potential Fantasy Options if Palmer Is Out Includes Quentin Johnston and Josh Reynolds
If you do choose to wait the situation out with Palmer instead of pivoting to another option that plays earlier on Sunday, there are a few fill-in players that you could look at as decent alternatives.
With the news that Gerald Everett is also a game-time decision for the Chargers, Quentin Johnston could quickly find himself as the No. 3 receiving option in this offense behind only Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler in a great matchup.
Johnston’s done very little to warrant consideration for fantasy football lineups up to this point, but the path would be there for him to return top 40 WR production if Palmer is ruled out ahead of Sunday Night Football.
Additionally, if Johnston is rostered in your league, you could look at one of the Monday Night Football options, such as Detroit Lions WR Josh Reynolds, or even a dart-throw play like Jameson Williams.
They certainly don’t come with as high of a floor as what Palmer had been producing recently, but they’re widely available in fantasy leagues, and they have a great matchup in front of them against the Las Vegas Raiders at Ford Field.
MORE: Kyle Yates’ Last-Minute Week 8 Start/Sit Advice
However, our recommendation would be to pivot to another WR that’s in a similar range of rankings as Palmer in our PFN Consensus Rankings and plays earlier on Sunday to avoid a potential scramble late in the evening.
Even if Palmer does play, there’s no guarantee that he’ll see his usual allotment of snaps, and therefore, he becomes a very risky play.
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