Makai Lemon

Philadelphia Eagles
Wide Receiver
FANTASY NEWS STATS INJURY

Makai Lemon News RotoBaller

Makai Lemon Looks to Build Momentum in Good Matchup Vs. Commanders

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon has had a slow start to his rookie campaign, but finally had something close to a breakout performance in a 38-21 Monday Night Football loss against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7. The No. 20 overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft led the Eagles in targets (eight), receptions (seven), receiving yards (67) and receiving touchdowns (one). Lemon operated as the de facto No. 1 wideout for Philadelphia in Week 7, as fellow wide receivers DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) both missed the game. With Smith and Wicks ruled out for Week 8 as well, Lemon could earn a similarly heavy load in a Week 8 matchup against the Washington Commanders. The Commanders allow 254 passing yards per game (27th in the NFL) and, according to Pro Football Reference, give up 23.0 fantasy points per game to wide receivers (eighth-most in the league). On paper, this is a good matchup for Lemon and the Philadelphia wide receivers, but the Eagles are still trying to find a rhythm in the passing game under quarterback Tanner McKee. Lemon looks to bounce back from his disastrous professional debut against the Commanders in Week 1, in which he caught four passes for a total of minus-five yards. Through seven games in 2026, Lemon has tallied 25 receptions (on 36 targets) for just 194 yards (7.8 yards per reception) and the aforementioned touchdown. He has recorded one rush that lost five yards as well. RotoBaller ranks Lemon as No. 35 wide receiver for Week 8 (half-PPR). While Lemon needs to find more consistency to become a trusted fantasy football starter, he should see heavy volume against the Commanders and is a solid WR3 or flex play.

Oct 30, 2026 1:22 PM EST

Makai Lemon a Waiver-Wire Target Amid Eagles WR Injuries

Philadelphia Eagles rookie first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon is a priority waiver-wire addition heading into Week 8 after both DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) missed the team's 38-21 loss to the division-rival Dallas Cowboys on Monday night. With both of Philly's top two receivers out of action, Lemon led the team in targets (eight), receptions (seven), and receiving yards (67) while scoring the first touchdown of his career. The 22-year-old 20th overall pick from USC came into Monday's tilt with only 18 receptions for 127 yards on 28 targets in his first six NFL games. Lemon's fantasy upside should be tempered with quarterback Jalen Hurts (blood clots) out for the rest of the season, but he could continue to operate as the team's WR1 if both Smith and Wicks are unavailable for a second straight game in Week 8 on Sunday night against the division-rival Washington Commanders. In Lemon's NFL debut in the Week 1 win over Washington, he hauled in three of his four targets for a loss of five yards. Lemon is currently rostered in only 37% of Yahoo leagues.

Oct 26, 2026 7:32 PM EST

Makai Lemon is Streaming Option with Larger Role Looming

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon is quickly moving up the depth chart on this roster. Both DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) have been ruled out ahead of the Week 7 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. With neither of them active, Lemon will move into the top spot on the depth chart ahead of this juicy matchup against the Cowboys' secondary. The 22-year-old hasn't done much this season, but he should be counted on more frequently this weekend. Fantasy managers in deep leagues who are looking for a possible streaming option should consider Lemon for this weekend.

Oct 24, 2026 5:43 PM EST

Despite Slow Start, Makai Lemon Should See More Volume vs. Cowboys

Makai Lemon, a rookie wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, is yet to break out in 2026. Lemon has not made many explosive plays, and he has struggled with an overall lack of production in his first six NFL games. The No. 20 overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft has recorded 18 receptions (on 28 targets) for just 127 yards, and one rush for negative-five yards so far on the year. Lemon averages a disappointing 7.2 yards per reception, and he has not scored. Last week, Lemon caught just three of his six targets and amassed a mere 19 yards in a 25-14 loss to the Carolina Panthers. In Week 7, Lemon gets a Monday Night Football matchup with the Dallas Cowboys, which permits opposing offenses to pass for 232.7 yards per game (23rd in the NFL). According to Pro Football Reference, the Cowboys also surrender 24.4 fantasy points per game to wide receivers (27th in the NFL). Lemon should see more targets this week with both DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) out. Notably, quarterback Tanner McKee is expected to start once again in place of Jalen Hurts (blood clots), who will miss the remainder of the 2026 season due to multiple blood clots found in his lungs. Lemon ranks as RotoBaller's No. 52 wideout for Week 7 (half-PPR) and is expected to score 3.8 fantasy points. While Lemon continues to play a significant amount of snaps (265 snaps in 2026 so far) and he should see more volume in Week 7, he is a risky start.

Oct 24, 2026 12:57 PM EST

Makai Lemon has Lost Waiver-Wire Appeal

Philadelphia Eagles rookie first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon was drawing some waiver-wire interest in recent weeks with fellow receiver DeVonta Smith sidelined by a hamstring injury. In the two games that Smith missed against the Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars, Lemon saw more involvement in the passing game and caught eight of his 13 targets for 70 yards. The former USC star got off to a slow start to his NFL career and now has 18 receptions on 28 targets for 127 yards while still searching for his first touchdown. Lemon had at least six targets for the third straight week in Sunday's 25-14 loss to the visiting Carolina Panthers, but he caught only three passes for 19 yards with Smith making his return. Lemon still has intriguing long-term fantasy football upside, but with starting quarterback Jalen Hurts (blood clots) now done for the rest of the season, Lemon's short-term waiver-wire case has withered. He is currently rostered in 34% of Yahoo leagues as the Eagles head into a Monday night battle in Week 7 against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys.

Oct 20, 2026 8:47 AM EST

Makai Lemon Making Strides as Rookie Campaign Continues

It hasn't been a smooth start for Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon, but he showed improvement in a 19-17 Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Lemon recorded career highs in receptions (five) and receiving yards (43) last Sunday. The seven targets that Lemon saw against the Jaguars were also the most he has recorded in his young NFL career thus far. Lemon and the Eagles will face off against the Carolina Panthers in Week 6. The Panthers rank 22nd in the league in passing defense, allowing 230.8 passing yards per game. With that said, Carolina is only giving up 16.2 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, according to Pro Football Reference. While No. 1 wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) missed the past two games, he is expected to play in Week 6, which could cut into Lemon's workload. Still, Lemon should continue to see his fair share of targets, but he needs to be more efficient with his opportunities. Lemon, the 20th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, has recorded 15 receptions (on 22 targets) for 108 yards (7.2 yards per reception) and one rush for negative-five yards so far in 2026. He has not scored a touchdown of any kind. Lemon has tallied 17.8 fantasy points in half-PPR scoring formats, according to RotoBaller, which ranks him 88th out of 215 qualifying wide receivers. Of note, Lemon will be catching passes from backup quarterback Tanner McKee on Sunday, with Jalen Hurts (calf) out due to a blood clot in his calf. Lemon ranks as RotoBaller's No. 59 wideout for Week 6 (half PPR) and is expected to score 4.2 fantasy points. It is not necessary to start Lemon right now.

Oct 16, 2026 1:02 PM EST

Makai Lemon Slowly Becoming More Involved in Philadelphia

Philadelphia Eagles rookie first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon has had a quiet start to his NFL career. In his first three games, he had seven receptions on nine targets for only 38 yards (5.4 yards per catch). Top receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) has missed the last two games, though, which has forced the young pass-catcher into a bigger role in losses to the Los Angeles Rams and the Jacksonville Jaguars in the last two weeks. In the 19-17 loss to the Jags on Sunday in London, Lemon caught five of a season-high seven targets for a season-high 43 yards while playing a season-high 81% of the offensive snaps. Smith could return as soon as Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers this Sunday, but Lemon is not going to simply go away as the team's first-round pick back in April. Dontayvion Wicks earned a big role in this offense by impressing the coaching staff this summer during training camp, but if Lemon continues to ascend, it would not be a surprise at all to see the rookie take hold of the WR2 duties behind Smith by the end of the year. Lemon is already rostered in 41% of Yahoo leagues.

Oct 12, 2026 7:40 PM EST

Will Makai Lemon's Rookie Woes Continue Against the Jaguars?

Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon continues to play a lot of snaps, but has struggled to begin his NFL career. With No. 1 wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and reliable tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) both missing the Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Lemon was poised for a breakout role, but it did not come to fruition. He played 45 snaps against the Rams, but recorded just three receptions for 27 yards (9.0 yards per catch). He is still yet to find the end zone in 2026. He gets a Week 5 date with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jacksonville is an interesting matchup for Lemon and the Eagles, as the Jaguars give up more than 280 passing yards per game, but are near the top of the NFL in most other defensive categories, including ranking as the No. 3 scoring defense in the league (13.3 points per game allowed). Smith is still out, and with additional injuries in Philadelphia's offense, Lemon could see his fair share of targets on Sunday. The Eagles spent high draft capital on Lemon, selecting the former USC Trojan with the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. It is taking Lemon some time to adjust to the professional ranks, but he has recorded 10 receptions (on 15 targets) for 65 yards (6.5 yards per reception) and one rush for negative-five yards through four games in 2026. Lemon ranks as RotoBaller's No. 47 wideout for Week 5 and is expected to score 6.1 fantasy points. Lemon, who is currently rostered in 43% of Yahoo leagues, is off of the fantasy radar for Week 5 and does not need to be in your lineup until he proves otherwise.

Oct 9, 2026 1:00 PM EST

Makai Lemon Still Carries Waiver-Wire Intrigue Despite Week 4 Dud

Across the first four games of his NFL career, Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon has recorded just 10 catches for 65 yards on 15 targets. With Eagles wideout DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) both sidelined in Week 4, Lemon looked to have a golden opportunity to assert himself. However, the 22-year-old recorded just three catches for 27 yards in Philadelphia's Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. On the bright side, Lemon saw a season-high six targets and was on the field for a season-high 74% of the Eagles' offensive snaps. Lemon missed a significant chunk of training camp with a hamstring injury, which could explain his slow start to the year. Given the injuries to Smith and Goedert, Lemon could continue to see his role scaled up and remains a worthy waiver wire stash in most fantasy formats.

Oct 6, 2026 12:19 PM EST

Makai Lemon's Fantasy Stock Stalls Despite Bigger Opportunity

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon had a much cleaner path to targets Sunday, but it did not lead to a breakout. With DeVonta Smith, Hollywood Brown and Dallas Goedert all inactive, Lemon drew a season-high six targets and finished with three catches for 27 yards in the 24-20 loss to the Rams. Philadelphia's offense was a mess overall, managing only 172 total yards, so Lemon was hardly alone. Still, Darius Cooper caught both of Jalen Hurts' touchdown passes while Lemon was held below 30 receiving yards for the fourth straight game. He now has 10 catches for 65 yards without a touchdown this season. The increased targets were at least something to build on, but this was the kind of opening Lemon needed to turn into more. Instead, his fantasy value remains stuck after another quiet afternoon.

Oct 5, 2026 6:57 AM EST

Makai Lemon Set For WR2 Role In Absence of Top Pass-Catchers In Week 4

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon should have a bigger role in his team's offense with both wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) ruled out for their Week 4 game. The Eagles will take on the Los Angeles Rams without their WR1 and TE1, meaning Lemon, their first-round draft pick in 2026, should see a heavily expanded role. Lemon has been one of the worst WRs in football, efficiency-wise, through three games -- he's caught just seven passes for 38 yards, averaging three targets per game and under 13 receiving yards per contest. He has yet to reach the end zone, and almost impressively finished his NFL debut with negative yardage. He hasn't established much of a connection with quarterback Jalen Hurts, though film shows him getting open on multiple occasions and not getting the ball. It's difficult to predict how he might play in Week 4, as rookies tend to improve as the season goes along. He's a very risky speculative WR3 start, though in most leagues, he's better left on the bench until he shows some real upside in the pros.

Oct 3, 2026 2:58 AM EST

Makai Lemon Likely to See Expanded Role

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon hasn't made much of an impact during the first three games of the season. Heading into Week 4, Lemon has recorded seven receptions for 38 yards with zero touchdowns. The rookie wideout hasn't contributed much, but his role is likely going to grow this weekend. Fellow wideout DeVonta Smith (hamstring) has been ruled out for the Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. With Smith sidelined, Dontayvion Wicks and Lemon are going to be the primary pass-catchers this weekend. Lemon should force himself into the flex conversation with the move into the No. 2 role in Week 4.

Oct 2, 2026 6:05 PM EST

Makai Lemons a Week 4 Add as His Role Continues to Grow

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon has seen his snap counts and route participation hold relatively steady through the first three games of his career, but in a Monday night loss to the Bears in which quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for only 153 yards, the rookie showed flashes of growth. Lemon converted his four targets into three receptions and a season-best 29 yards, racking up most of that yardage after the catch, and he should only see his involvement grow. The 2026 first-round pick is unlikely to be readily available on most waiver wires, but he is a must-add wherever still available, and he could soon work his way into the flex conversation as he continues to earn more targets.

Sep 29, 2026 9:39 AM EST

Makai Lemon Looks to Break Rookie Slump vs. Bears

To put it mildly, Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon has had trouble acclimating early in his NFL career. After missing time in training camp due to a hamstring injury, Lemon struggled in the preseason and those struggles have followed him into the first two weeks of the 2026 regular season. After a rough debut in Week 1 against the Washington Commanders, in which Lemon recorded three receptions for a total of minus-five yards, he followed that up with just one target in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans. He finished with one catch for 14 yards and one rush attempt that went for minus-five yards against Tennessee. Lemon will look to break out of his rookie slump in what could potentially be a solid matchup for him against a Bears defense that has allowed 504 gross passing yards through two games. While he has had his issues, what is going well for Lemon is the number of snaps he is playing. He is Philadelphia's clear No. 3 wide receiver with 83 offensive snaps, behind DeVonta Smith (119) and Dontayvion Wicks (97). Lemon played 48 snaps on offense in Week 2, but it should be noted that wide receiver Darius Cooper saw a large uptick in snaps against the Titans with 31 after only seeing eight offensive reps in Week 1. Cooper made two receptions, including a game-winning touchdown, for 26 yards against Tennessee. Lemon ranks as RotoBaller's No. 55 wideout for Week 3. For now, Lemon should maintain his normal role, but until he sees more volume in the passing game and proves he can produce, he should not be in your lineup in most formats.

Sep 26, 2026 12:41 PM EST

Makai Lemon's Redraft Stock Keeps Sliding

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon has stayed involved enough to make his lack of targets stand out. The rookie played 48 offensive snaps against Tennessee but saw only one target, catching it for 14 yards. That came after three catches for minus-five yards on four targets in his NFL debut. Lemon has five targets and nine receiving yards through two games, while Dontayvion Wicks has turned seven catches into 147 yards and a touchdown. DeVonta Smith also commanded 13 targets in Week 2. Lemon's slow start is not about disappearing from the field. He played 35 snaps in the opener and 48 on Sunday, but Jalen Hurts simply has not looked his way very often. The hamstring injury that cost Lemon nearly three weeks of training camp probably did not help his early development, either. Philadelphia traded up to take him 20th overall, so there is still a strong long-term investment here. For redraft purposes, though, Lemon has fallen well behind the players fantasy managers can trust right now.

Sep 24, 2026 11:18 AM EST

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