Is Joshua Palmer Injured or Playing In Week 9? Should I Start Quentin Johnston For Fantasy Football?

The Los Angeles Chargers always seem to have a ton of injury woes as the season moves along. The 2023 season is no different. Mike Williams (knee) suffered a torn ACL in Week 3,  and Joshua Palmer is dealing with an injury of his own heading into Week 9.

Palmer has been productive opposite Keenan Allen since Williams was sidelined, but his status for Monday Night Football against the New York Jets is up in the air.

Is Palmer playing in Week 9? Should you start Johnston if Palmer can't go? Let's dive in.

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Is Joshua Palmer Playing In Week 9?

The Chargers placed wide receiver Palmer (knee) on Injured Reserve on Sunday and activated receiver Jalen Guyton (knee) from the Physically Unable to Perform list in a corresponding move. Palmer was injured in last Sunday night's win over the Chicago Bears and will now be forced to miss the next four games.

Keenan Allen will remain a target hog in LA's offense with Palmer out, but rookie first-rounder Quentin Johnston will now have a sizable role boost moving forward, beginning on Monday night.  Palmer won't be eligible to return from IR until Week 13 against the New England Patriots on Dec. 3

Should I Start Quentin Johnston for Fantasy Football Week 9?

Through the first seven games of his rookie season, Johnston has hauled in just 12 passes on 21 targets for 114 yards and no touchdowns. Needless to say, the No. 21 overall pick has failed to make an impact early on.

Now, he's set to face the New York Jets, who have allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to wideout this season. Entering Week 9, Stefon Diggs, A.J. Brown, and CeeDee Lamb are the only three wide receivers to post more than 8.0 half-PPR fantasy points against New York.

Despite Johnston being elevated to a more significant role, he is worth fading in all fantasy leagues, DFS tournaments, and more. The Jets secondary headlined by Sauce Gardner is truly elite. Even Keenan Allen could fail in this matchup.

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