Makai Lemon

Philadelphia Eagles
Wide Receiver
FANTASY NEWS STATS INJURY

Makai Lemon News RotoBaller

Makai Lemon Looks Like the Clear WR3 in Philadelphia

Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon's NFL career got off to an underwhelming start in Week 1, as he recorded three catches for -5 yards on four targets in his team's win over the Washington Commanders. Lemon was the clear WR3 in the Eagles offense, as Philadelphia wideouts DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks were both on the field for over 90% of the team's offensive snaps against Washington. A first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Lemon has a chance to eventually work his way into a significant role in his team's passing game. However, the 22-year-old missed time during training camp with a hamstring injury. As a result, the Eagles may be bringing him along slowly to begin the year. Lemon remains an intriguing fantasy wideout for his season-long value, but he profiles as a risky start for fantasy managers heading into Week 2.

Sep 17, 2026 5:59 PM EST

Makai Lemon an Early Fade After Quiet Camp

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon has a bright future in the NFL, but for now, he should be avoided in most redraft leagues. The Eagles spent a first-round pick on Lemon to replace A.J. Brown, and he responded by turning in a very disappointing camp/preseason and also battling a hamstring injury. As a result, he will open the season in the No. 3 spot on the depth chart, rather than the No. 2 role for which he was originally projected when the Eagles drafted him. As Lemon opens the year behind DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, and Dallas Goedert, he faces an uphill battle to play meaningful snaps right away. This isn't uncommon for rookie receivers, especially those who deal with injuries or a slow acclimation period in their first training camp. We're still optimistic that Lemon will be an every-week fantasy contributor in the future, but for now, he can be left on waivers in all redraft leagues with 12 or fewer teams.

Sep 11, 2026 6:19 AM EST

Makai Lemon Listed as Starting WR, Punt Returner

On the Philadelphia Eagles' unofficial depth chart released before Week 1, rookie first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon is listed as a starting WR and as the team's top punt-return option, according to Andrew DiCecco of InsideTheBirds.com. Although Lemon missed valuable development time in training camp this summer with a hamstring injury, he was always a lock to be a starter in three-wide sets to begin his rookie campaign in 2026 after the Eagles traded A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots in the offseason. However, Lemon should be viewed as more of a WR3 than a WR2 because of his quiet summer and Dontayvion Wicks' strong camp. The former USC star certainly has the potential to pass Wicks on the depth chart in 2026 by the end of the season, but early on, fantasy managers may want to temper expectations for Lemon. He is coming off a very productive final season with the Trojans in 2025, in which he caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games played. It is not a bad idea to keep Lemon on the bench in his NFL debut this Sunday night against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. Lemon is rostered in 75% of Yahoo leagues.

Sep 8, 2026 8:08 AM EST

Beat Writer Warns Fantasy Managers to Temper Expectations for Makai Lemon

"Expectations should be tempered early" for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon, according to Tim McManus of ESPN.com. Lemon entered the league with plenty of upside, fueled by his first-round draft capital. However, some of that excitement faded away after he struggled in the preseason, catching just three passes for three yards. He also missed a portion of training camp due to a hamstring injury. The rookie noted that he needs to be more professional about how he conducts himself off the field in regard to proactively avoiding injuries, and the coaching staff followed that up by encouraging him to learn from experienced receiver DeVonta Smith. The rookie's slow summer will likely result in a slow start to the regular season, so he's unlikely to make a big impression right away. Instead, he's more of a developmental option in fantasy leagues, especially after falling to No. 3 on the depth chart behind Smith and Dontayvion Wicks. Currently, he has an ADP of 106.4 in redraft leagues; that corresponds to the ninth round of fantasy drafts, which feels like a bit of a reach given the latest chatter from Philly-based media.

Sep 4, 2026 8:10 PM EST

Makai Lemon Shadowing Eagles' Top Wideout

The Philadelphia Eagles told rookie first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon to mirror the preparation of WR1 DeVonta Smith, who has been noted for his strong preparation in advance of games, according to Zach Berman of The Athletic. "I basically told him, 'Whatever Smitty does, you do.' And he's taken to that a little bit. I know that Smitty's done a good job of going out of his way to help him with some of that stuff," wide receivers coach Aaron Moorehead said. The 22-year-old 20th overall pick from USC had a quiet summer in training camp and missed valuable development time due to a nagging hamstring injury. He caught three of his five targets for five yards in the preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals last week. With Dontayvion Wicks rising to become the clear WR2 for Philly to start the 2026 campaign, Lemon is penciled in as the team's No. 3 wideout to begin his pro career. Lemon caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games in his final collegiate season with the Trojans and could easily leapfrog Wicks at some point this year if he reaches his true potential. Despite his quiet summer, Lemon deserves attention as a late-round WR pick in upcoming drafts for his upside.

Sep 4, 2026 10:14 AM EST

Makai Lemon's Rough Summer Has Cooled His Draft Appeal

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon came into the summer with a real shot to seize a major role right away, but things never quite got rolling. The No. 20 overall pick injured his hamstring on Aug. 3 and did not return to full participation until Aug. 24, costing him nearly three weeks of camp while Dontayvion Wicks made a push for work opposite DeVonta Smith. Lemon finally got on the field in the preseason finale against Cincinnati and looked rusty. He caught three of five targets for three yards, muffed a punt and had a drop that was intercepted. None of that changes why Philadelphia traded up for him after a 79-catch, 1,156-yard, 11-touchdown season at USC, and the Eagles say he is now fully healthy. It does make him harder to count on early. RotoBaller ranks Lemon WR48 in its September half-PPR rankings, which feels about right after a choppy August. There is still upside here, especially as the season goes on, but Lemon is better drafted as bench depth than as an immediate weekly option.

Sep 3, 2026 11:21 AM EST

Makai Lemon Struggles to Shake Off the Rust in Preseason Debut

Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon missed the team's first two preseason games while dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for much of training camp, and in Friday night's loss to the Bengals, he struggled to shake off the rust despite a concerted effort to get him involved early. Lemon was targeted five times in his first professional game, ending his night with three yards on three receptions, but he also muffed a punt and had a drop that led to an interception. "I'm glad it happened in the preseason, so come around September, those things won't happen," he said after the game. Expectations were high after the team traded up to select Lemon with the 20th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but his prolonged absence allowed Dontayvion Wicks to emerge as the team's second receiver alongside DeVonta Smith, and the rookie will need to spend the early weeks of the season playing catch-up as he looks to carve out a primary slot role. At RotoBaller's WR46, he is still a player to take a swing on in 2026 drafts with the understanding that his best production is likely to come later in the year.

Aug 29, 2026 5:38 AM EST

Makai Lemon Back With First-Team Offense

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon was back to full participation Monday and took first-team reps, according to Dave Zangaro. That's a notable step after the rookie missed most of August with a hamstring injury suffered on Aug. 3. Lemon only returned to practice Thursday and was limited to individual work, so this is the first time he has been back in team drills since the setback. The first-team work itself isn't new. Philadelphia had Lemon running with the starters during OTAs and again when training camp opened before the injury interrupted his summer. The 20th overall pick is coming off a 79-catch, 1,156-yard, 11-touchdown season at USC. He still has some catching up to do after losing nearly three weeks of practice, but Monday puts him back in the mix for the role the Eagles were already giving him before he went down.

Aug 24, 2026 9:12 AM EST

Makai Lemon Still Expected to Have a Major Role in Eagles Passing Game

Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring) is expected to have a major role in the team's passing game, according to Zach Berman of The Athletic. The 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Lemon has missed a large portion of training camp with a hamstring injury and just recently returned to practice in a limited capacity. Still, Berman writes that Lemon is expected to be one of Philly's top three wide receivers alongside DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks, and that the team believes the rookie can stay up to speed even without on-field work. Following their offseason trade of wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots, the Eagles have a significant level of pass-catching production to backfill in 2026. As long as he can stay healthy from here on out, Lemon could be a major part of that effort. In leagues where his value may be dropping due to injury concerns, Lemon could be a solid buy-low target for fantasy managers.

Aug 21, 2026 12:25 PM EST

Makai Lemon Back at Practice

Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring) returned to practice on Thursday, seen warming up alongside his teammates without a red non-contact jersey. The Eagles are participating in their second day of joint practices with the New England Patriots, so after being sidelined for more than two weeks with a hamstring injury, Lemon will get his first taste of NFL competition against a different team. The 20th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Lemon was expected to be a major piece in replacing the production of three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown, with whom he will share the field on Thursday, but his absence has allowed Dontayvion Wicks to step in as the team's second wide receiver option behind DeVonta Smith. Lemon has fallen to RotoBaller's WR47, but a few positive reports could see his stock rise in the final weeks of draft season.

Aug 20, 2026 7:01 AM EST

Makai Lemon Could Be Nearing a Return

Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring) has missed valuable training camp time with a hamstring injury, but after taking part in on-field rehab work during Monday's practice, Eagles beat reporter EJ Smith believes he is closing in on a return to full participation. Lemon has been sidelined since early August, and Smith cautions that because his role within Sean Mannion's offense appears to be so specific, he could still need significant time to work through the details before cracking the starting lineup. Lemon was the 20th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and his selection was part of a plan to replace the production of three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown, but his absence has created an opportunity for Dontayvion Wicks to claim the second spot alongside DeVonta Smith in two-receiver sets. While he could still find fantasy relevance late in the year, Lemon has fallen to RotoBaller's WR47 for 2026 drafts.

Aug 19, 2026 5:36 AM EST

Makai Lemon Still Sidelined With Hamstring Injury

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring) remained out of practice Monday, according to Zach Berman. The rookie has now missed a significant chunk of training camp with the injury after first being sidelined earlier this month. Lemon also dealt with a hamstring issue during the spring, though it is unclear whether the two are related. Philadelphia traded up to select him 20th overall in April, and the Eagles still list him as a starter on their current unofficial depth chart. That makes the missed time more notable with the regular season getting closer. Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award at USC last season after leading the Power Four with 1,156 receiving yards, and Philadelphia drafted him with the expectation that he could contribute quickly. For now, the biggest issue is simply getting him back on the field. The Eagles have not announced a timetable for his return, and Monday brought another missed opportunity for Lemon to get work in the new offense.

Aug 17, 2026 9:25 AM EST

Makai Lemon Missing Another Practice on Thursday

Philadelphia Eagles rookie first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring) is missing his seventh straight training camp practice on Thursday due to a hamstring injury, according to Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com. The good news is that Lemon was seen with a helmet on while catching passes from a JUGS machine on a side field on Thursday. Fellow wideout DeVonta Smith is also missing his seventh straight practice with a hamstring injury, and both pass-catchers are unlikely to play in the preseason opener on Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens. With Smith and Lemon sidelined, Dontayvion Wicks has cemented himself as the team's WR2 behind Smith and has displayed strong chemistry with quarterback Jalen Hurts as he heads into his first season with the Eagles after a trade sent Pro Bowler A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots. The 22-year-old Lemon should have a key role in the Eagles' new offense in 2026 after being taken in the first round, but Wicks' emergence and Lemon's hamstring injury have put a damper on his redraft fantasy stock. Lemon is now ranked as the No. 50 WR at RotoBaller and could get off to a slow start in the NFL.

Aug 13, 2026 8:00 AM EST

Fair to Doubt Makai Lemon's Starting Status

When the Philadelphia Eagles spent a first-round pick on wide receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring), he was viewed as a critical piece to replacing the production of three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown, with expectations that he could earn a starting role out the gates. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury has sidelined him for much of training camp, and when he has been on the field, his impact has been minimal, leading beat reporter Jimmy Kempski to note, "It's fair at this point to doubt that he will start, at least early in the season." A strong camp has positioned Dontayvion Wicks to begin the year as the team's second receiver opposite DeVonta Smith, but Lemon still has a chance to earn early reps out of the slot, making the team's three-game preseason slate and a pair of joint practices with the Patriots all the more important for his development. The rookie sits at RotoBaller's WR50, but a further prolonged absence could push him into the closing rounds of 2026 drafts.

Aug 10, 2026 5:25 AM EST

Makai Lemon Still Not Practicing

Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring) is once more absent from practice on Saturday, marking the fourth straight missed session as he deals with a hamstring injury. A first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the path was clear for him to immediately step into a sizable role following the departure of three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown, but as he continues to miss time, trade acquisition Dontayvion Wicks has reportedly built a strong case to begin the year as the Eagles' second receiver alongside DeVonta Smith. Lemon worked primarily out of the slot at USC and still has the potential to earn a similar role in Philadelphia. Still, without regular usage in two-receiver sets, he could struggle to consistently deliver for fantasy. Lemon is RotoBaller's WR50, and after being billed as part of a big three for much of the pre-draft process, he's fallen well behind Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson in 2026 redraft rankings.

Aug 8, 2026 6:13 AM EST

Makai Lemon Misses Another Practice

After a closed walkthrough session on Thursday, Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon is absent from his third straight public practice as he deals with a hamstring injury that has kept him out since Tuesday. With DeVonta Smith also missing time, the offense has reportedly faced some stumbles in recent practices. While Smith's role atop the depth chart is not in question, Lemon's absence has opened the door for offseason acquisition Dontayvion Wicks to stake a claim to the Eagles' WR2 spot, as seen by several reporters on the beat. Used primarily as a slot receiver on his way to earning the Biletnikoff Award at USC, Lemon should still see an important role in Philadelphia's offense as Wicks profiles more as a boundary replacement for A.J. Brown. Lemon is RotoBaller's WR46, and if he can return without missing extended time, an expectation to see the second most targets on the team is still not out of the question.

Aug 7, 2026 7:01 AM EST

Makai Lemon Not Practicing with Hamstring Injury

Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon is not practicing on Tuesday, listed with a hamstring issue by The Athletic's Zach Berman. Joining Lemon on the DNP list is DeVonta Smith, who deals with a hamstring concern of his own, but while the veteran has years of chemistry banked with quarterback Jalen Hurts, as evidenced by their two red zone touchdown connections on Monday, Lemon is still looking to establish a role in Sean Mannion's offense. The 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Lemon did not participate in team drills on Monday, and his status will need to be monitored, as he factors as a critical piece in replacing the production of three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown. With the WR2 spot up for grabs across from Smith, Lemon is RotoBaller's WR45, but any lingering concerns could cause his ADP to drop.

Aug 4, 2026 7:13 AM EST

Makai Lemon Held Out of Team Drills

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon did not participate in team drills during Monday's practice, according to Delaware Online. The first-round rookie remained in uniform and went through individual work, but the reason for his limitation was not disclosed. Lemon missed the final two weeks of Philadelphia's spring practices with a hamstring injury, though he said on August 1 that he was fully healed. There is no confirmation that Monday's absence from team periods was related to the same issue. The Eagles selected Lemon 20th overall after he caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns during his final season at USC. Missing team work is notable for a rookie learning a new offense, but Lemon was not completely sidelined. His participation in Philadelphia's next practice should provide a better indication of whether this was simply a precaution or the beginning of another absence.

Aug 3, 2026 10:54 AM EST

Makai Lemon Being Frequently Put in Motion

When the Philadelphia Eagles traded up in the 2026 NFL Draft to select wide receiver Makai Lemon with the 20th pick of the first round, he became an integral part of the plan to replace three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown. Through the early stages of training camp, the team has been creative with his usage, according to Eagles beat reporter Jeff McLane. Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award as the best receiver in college football while operating primarily out of the slot, but McLane reports that new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion has regularly put him in motion, either pre-snap or at the snap, and he's even taken some reps on the outside, which is something that could be asked more of him in 2026. Brown topped 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons with the Eagles, and the task of replacing that production will likely be split between Lemon and new additions Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown, with Lemon having the highest potential ceiling of the group and currently coming off the board around the seventh or eighth round of 2026 drafts.

Aug 1, 2026 5:25 AM EST

Makai Lemon "Feeling Great", "100 Percent" Ready for Camp

Philadelphia Eagles rookie first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring) said that he's "feeling great" and is "100%" ready to go for the start of training camp after dealing with a hamstring injury during the offseason program, according to Olivia Reiner of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Lemon could be eased into camp at the end of July, but once he's a full-go, he has an opportunity to become Philly's WR2 behind DeVonta Smith in his first year in the NFL after the Eagles traded Pro Bowler A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots this offseason. The 20th overall pick out of USC comes to the NFL after having recorded 1,156 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on 79 receptions in 12 games in 2025 in his third and final year at USC for the Trojans. Lemon has the clear runway to become a weekly flex option for fantasy managers in his first year in the league, but there should be some hesitation from managers with the Eagles coming off a frustrating 2025 campaign on offense in which they really struggled to move the ball through the air. In redraft leagues, RotoBaller has Lemon ranked as the No. 45 pass-catcher. He'll be more attractive in dynasty/keeper leagues for his athleticism and big-play abilities out of the slot.

Jul 17, 2026 10:41 AM EST