Jalen Guyton vs. Josh Palmer: Who Steps Up With Mike Williams, Keenan Allen on COVID-19 List?

The Los Angeles Chargers may be short-handed when they take on the New York Giants in Week 14 of the NFL season. 

WynnBET Sportsbook has the Chargers as 10-point favorites at home, but receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are both on the COVID-19 list and could miss Sunday’s game. 

This is certainly going to mean more work for Austin Ekeler, Donald Parham and Jared Cook in the passing game, but what about the team’s replacements at receiver?

Jalen Guyton and Josh Palmer are the Chargers’ two top wideouts behind Allen and Williams, and both players could be in for a major role in Week 14. 

Had just Allen been out, Palmer looked to be the primary beneficiary as most of his work comes from in the slot. However, Guyton, who is one of the team’s better deep threats, could fill Williams’ big-play role down the field. 

This season, Guyton has more catches than Palmer (18 to 15) for more yards (289 vs. 168), but he has also seen 11 more targets than Palmer. Both players have caught one touchdown as well. 

While Palmer may be the trendy player to back in props because of Allen’s high-volume role, Guyton is coming off his best game of the season in Week 13. 

The deep threat caught all four of his targets against the Cincinnati Bengals for 90 yards and a touchdown. He also played 34 snaps (53 percent) and has played over 50 percent of Los Angeles’ plays in 10 games this season. 

Palmer, on the other hand, saw just one target against Cincy and played only 22 snaps (34 percent). He has played over 50 percent of the snaps in just one game for Los Angeles. 

I’d keep an eye on which of Allen and Williams is ruled out, but if both players fail to suit up, then I’m inclined to back Guyton in fantasy and as a prop target against the Giants. He has seen the field more and has a better rapport with Justin Herbert entering this game than Palmer. 

However, the biggest beneficiaries will likely be Ekeler and the two tight ends that were mentioned earlier. Those three players have been key cogs in the offense all year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Chargers build the game plan around them as they look to beat a Giants team that may be starting Jake Fromm at quarterback.