Makai Lemon
Wide Receiver
Makai Lemon News
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
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
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