Makai Lemon Fantasy Stats

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.

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.

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.

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.

In trading up for wide receiver Makai Lemon in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman took yet another step to prepare the team for life without three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown. By that point, the Eagles had already signed Hollywood Brown and traded for Dontayvion Wicks, and with three-time 1,000-yard receiver DeVonta Smith still in the building, Roseman was able to retool the group on the fly. With a versatile group of new pass catchers looking to earn their spots behind Smith, it will undoubtedly be one of the most interesting position groups to watch when the team reconvenes for training camp in late July, and Sports Illustrated's Eagles reporter Ed Kracz believes Lemon will be used primarily out of the slot and will be the team's most impactful rookie. Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award operating primarily from the inside at USC, and if he can carve out an early role, he could pay immediate fantasy dividends as a late-round pick in 2026 drafts, particularly in full-PPR leagues.

When the Philadelphia Eagles traded up to select USC wide receiver Makai Lemon with the 20th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, it was clear they were planning for life without three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown. With the trade of Brown to New England becoming official on Monday, the spotlight on Lemon grows notably brighter. In his four seasons with the Eagles, Brown never earned less than a 27.3% target share, twice topping the 30% mark, and his absence creates the opportunity for Lemon to immediately claim a meaningful role in Philadelphia's new-look offense. After spending the past two seasons in Green Bay, Sean Mannion steps in as the Eagles' fifth offensive coordinator in as many seasons, creating a fresh slate for every pass catcher on the roster. While DeVonta Smith has become the focal point of Philadelphia's passing offense in a small sample of games played without Brown over the past two seasons, he's done so without another target-earner of Lemon's caliber on the roster. While some early-season growing pains are to be expected, Lemon has both the talent and opportunity to quickly establish himself as a legitimate 1B in Philadelphia, and he is RotoBaller's rookie WR3 and dynasty WR21.

Philadelphia Eagles rookie first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon is already working with the starters during 7-on-7 drills at OTA practices, according to Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com. It shouldn't exactly be a surprise after the Eagles traded up in the first round to take the former USC star with the 20th overall pick. The 21-year-old could immediately become Philly's WR2 behind DeVonta Smith in 2026, with the expectation that the Eagles will ship Pro Bowler A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots at some point next week. Neither Brown nor Dontayvion Wicks is present for OTAs this week, which helps, but that shouldn't take away from the fact that Lemon is expected to be a big part of the Eagles' offensive reboot this year under first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. Lemon has an opportunity for a big role in Year 1, but he will most likely be overvalued in fantasy in an offense that still has talented tight end Dallas Goedert and star running back Saquon Barkley. Target Lemon as more of a WR4/flex in single-year fantasy leagues this fall.

When the Philadelphia Eagles traded up to select wide receiver Makai Lemon with the 20th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, it all but confirmed that A.J. Brown had played his last game with the team. With a trade of the three-time Pro Bowler expected in early June, Lemon is the most exciting new piece in an Eagles receiver room that was rebuilt on the fly. Philadelphia added Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks prior to the draft and spent a second-round selection on Eli Stowers, a tight end with a wide receiver skill set, ensuring there would be no lack of depth joining incumbent DeVonta Smith. Even with recent rumors suggesting that New England's Kayshon Boutte could be part of Philadelphia's return in the Brown trade, it will undoubtedly be Lemon who most often takes the field with Smith in two-receiver sets. Former NFL quarterback Sean Mannion takes over as the Eagles' offensive coordinator in 2026. With this being his first year in the position, his tendencies are not yet known, but Lemon is a natural target-earner who should become an early favorite of Jalen Hurts. At RotoBaller's rookie WR3, he is well worth a top-five pick in superflex rookie drafts, and he could make an immediate impact, even from a crowded room.

Philadelphia Eagles rookie first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon signed his four-year, fully guaranteed rookie contract on Thursday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The deal includes an $11.5 million signing bonus. The Eagles traded up with the division-rival Dallas Cowboys to take Lemon at 20th overall and steal them away from the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were reportedly ready to take Lemon at pick No. 21. The selection of Lemon only reinforces the expectation that the Eagles will trade Pro Bowl wideout A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots around June 1. Lemon, who stands at 5-foot-11 and 294 pounds, profiles as more of a slot receiver, but he could be moved around the offensive formation alongside DeVonta Smith. Lemon plays bigger than his size and has plenty of yards-after-the-catch potential in a Philly offense looking for a spark. As long as Brown ends up heading out of town, Lemon should have immediate value in single-year fantasy formats in 2026. In rookie-only keeper drafts this year, Lemon should be considered a top-five player.

When the Philadelphia Eagles traded up to select USC wide receiver Makai Lemon with the 20th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, they got a player who spent his final collegiate season as the unquestioned alpha in Lincoln Riley's pass-heavy Trojans offense. In his Biletnikoff Award-winning season, Lemon earned a 26.8% target share, even while taking the field with another early NFL pick in Ja'Kobi Lane, who the Baltimore Ravens selected in the third round on Day 2. Moving to the next level, Lemon is unlikely to see that sort of opportunity as a rookie. The Eagles threw the ball at the sixth-lowest rate in the league in 2025 and were one of only nine teams with fewer than 500 total pass attempts. While the presumed trade of three-time Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Brown will open up 127 targets from 2025, the Eagles have revamped their receiver room on the fly, adding Marquise Brown and Dontayvion Wicks through free agency and trade, and after drafting Lemon on Day 1, they added the pass-catching tight end Eli Stowers in the second round. Incumbent receiver DeVonta Smith is still the safest bet to lead the team in targets in 2026, but Lemon represents his most significant competition both long-term and in the here and now. Given their complementary skill sets, it's possible that Smith and Lemon could form a new one-two punch in Philadelphia, with the rest of the new additions settling into more periphery supporting roles, which would still make Lemon one of the most valuable selections in dynasty rookie drafts.