Josh Palmer or DeAndre Carter: Who to Target for Chargers if Keenan Allen Misses Week 2
By Peter Dewey
Los Angeles Chargers top wide receiver Keenan Allen suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders, and it may be tough for him to return to action on a short week against the Kansas City Chiefs.
#Chargers WR Keenan Allen will have an MRI on his hamstring after being ruled out yesterday, source said. Given the quick turnaround, missing Thursday vs. the #Chiefs makes sense, but tests today will determine the full extent of the injury.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 12, 2022
#Chargers WR Keenan Allen is unlikely to play Thursday night against the #Chiefs, but there is optimism after tests that his hamstring injury isn’t anything long-term, per sources. Next game is Sept. 25 against the #Jaguars, two full weeks after the injury.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 13, 2022
The Chargers could really get their 2022 season off to a rocking start with another division win, but if Allen doesn’t play on Thursday night, who steps up on offense?
Mike Williams and Josh Palmer are the other two starting receivers for the Chargers, but DeAndre Carter really took advantage of an expanded role in Week 1.
Williams would be the unquestioned No. 1 receiver if Allen is out of the lineup, but if you’re betting on any Chargers props, especially anytime touchdown scorer props, who else should you target in the passing game?
Right now, Palmer is +260 at FanDuel Sportsbook to score in Week 2 while Carter is +380 to find the end zone for the second time this season.
Let’s break down how Palmer and Carter played in Week 1, and their respective usage in the offense:
Josh Palmer vs. DeAndre Carter Stat Comparison
Targets (Receptions)
- Palmer: 4 targets (3 catches)
- Carter: 4 targets (3 catches)
Receiving Yards
- Palmer: 5 yards
- Carter: 64 yards
Touchdowns
- Palmer: 0
- Carter: 1
Snap Counts (Percentage)
- Palmer: 50 snaps (75%)
- Carter: 25 snaps (37%)
Even though Palmer played double the number of snaps, his numbers were much worse than Carter, who found himself sneaking open in this offense.
Palmer did get another touch on a run, turning into a four-yard gain. I wouldn’t count out Palmer having a big game if Allen is out, but he didn’t have an expanded role in Week 1 even with the star receiver sidelined.
Carter has longer odds, and he showed that he has a good rapport with Justin Herbert in Week 1. If Carter’s snaps increase, his target share should as well, especially since he was targeted on four of the 25 snaps he played in during Week 1.
The one saving grace for Palmer is that he really came on last season when Allen was out of the lineup, and he could return to that form in Week 2.
Keenan Allen missed one game last year.
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) September 13, 2022
Josh Palmer in that game:
* 62-of-66 snaps
* 35 slot, 23 wide, 4 in-line
* 33 routes on 35 Justin Herbert dropbacks
* Team-high 7 targets for a 22% share
* 5-66-1 resulthttps://t.co/7dHaaViKRx
That game did come without Carter on the roster, so it is possible things change in 2022. For now, I'd back Carter at longer odds to score, but both players should see an uptick in targets in Week 2.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.