It’s not hard to connect the dots and understand the quiet optimism surrounding Makai Lemon in fantasy football circles.
The Eagles used first-round draft capital on the former Trojan, and with A.J. Brown taking his talents to New England, there are valuable targets available for the taking. What are the reasonable expectations for 2026 and beyond?
Should You Draft Makai Lemon in Fantasy Football?
If you’re interested in the Makai Lemon profile, buy now before it’s too late.
The 5-foot-11, 192-pound Lemon shone in his final season at USC, turning 79 receptions into 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. That kind of production could translate into a real role in Philadelphia as a rookie.
A.J. Brown scored 32 times and averaged just under 15 yards per catch across four seasons in the City of Brotherly Love, and with him gone, DeVonta Smith steps into the vacated WR1 role while Lemon is expected to soak up a chunk of what’s left behind.
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He showed last season he’s more than capable of threatening a defense vertically, averaging 26.0 yards per touchdown reception in 2025, and that kind of downfield ability is closer to a requirement than a bonus in this offense.
The Eagles ranked 30th in the NFL in dropback percentage during Brown’s tenure, and there’s little reason to expect that number to climb now that the offense’s best receiver is gone.
Lemon is currently priced outside the top 40 receivers, and that feels about right. There will be good weeks, but banking on consistently viable production isn’t the smart play. The Philadelphia scheme hasn’t historically been friendly to receiver volume, and Lemon’s own college tape showed that same kind of week-to-week unevenness.
Lemon’s Receiving Yardage Totals, Final 5 Collegiate Games
- At Nebraska: 18 yards
- Vs. Northwestern: 161 yards
- Vs. Iowa: 153 yards
- At Oregon: 34 yards
- Vs. UCLA: 32 yards
We are talking about a talented player stepping into an above-average offense: there are worse profiles to put money behind. But for me, this reads more as a DFS asset, someone you target for a favorable single-week matchup rather than a receiver you commit to holding on your season-long roster.
Preseason Fantasy WR Rankings
- Ja’Marr Chase | CIN
- Puka Nacua | LAR
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA
- Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET
- Drake London | ATL
- Justin Jefferson | MIN
- CeeDee Lamb | DAL
- Nico Collins | HOU
- A.J. Brown | NE
- Malik Nabers | NYG
- George Pickens | DAL
- Chris Olave | NO
- Rashee Rice | KC
- Zay Flowers | BAL
- Jaylen Waddle | DEN
- Tee Higgins | CIN
- DeVonta Smith | PHI
- Ladd McConkey | LAC
- Terry McLaurin | WAS
- Emeka Egbuka | TB
- Tetairoa McMillan | CAR
- Garrett Wilson | NYJ
- Jameson Williams | DET
- Christian Watson | GB
- Luther Burden III | CHI
- Rome Odunze | CHI
- Parker Washington | JAX
- Carnell Tate | TEN
- DJ Moore | BUF
- Marvin Harrison Jr. | ARI
- Davante Adams | LAR
- Brian Thomas Jr. | JAX
- Quentin Johnston | LAC
- Mike Evans | SF
- Stefon Diggs | WAS
- Michael Wilson | ARI
- DK Metcalf | PIT
- Jakobi Meyers | JAX
- Josh Downs | IND
- Michael Pittman Jr. | PIT
- Jayden Reed | GB
- Courtland Sutton | DEN
- Wan’Dale Robinson | TEN
- Chris Godwin Jr. | TB
- Alec Pierce | IND
- Makai Lemon | PHI
- Jordan Addison | MIN
- De’Zhaun Stribling | SF
- Khalil Shakir | BUF
- Romeo Doubs | NE
