Every year, a new crop of rookies is injected into the fantasy football landscape. Finding the next superstar can change the trajectory of a dynasty roster or be the catalyst behind winning a redraft championship. Makai Lemon joins the Philadelphia Eagles after the team traded up to acquire his services. What does the future, both short-and-long-term, look like for the USC product?
Makai Lemon’s Fantasy Outlook
Lemon is a 5’11” slot weapon that was plenty comfortable with volume last season. With the Trojans, he averaged 6.6 catches per game (eighth most in the FBS), highlighted by a trio of double digit reception games.
Even more encouraging for our purposes was his ability to produce against strong competition. He lined up across from a ranked opponent on five occassions in 2025 and he scored six times across those contests.
The Eagles trading up to draft Makai Lemon heavily suggests A.J. Brown will be traded. Obviously, if that doesn’t happen, this is a disaster landing spot short term. If it does, he will have a clear path to a 20% target share behind DeVonta Smith. But low volume passing attack. pic.twitter.com/eY2OLyAs6Y
— Fantasy Sports HQ (@FSHQ365) April 24, 2026
If the Eagles roster was assured to stay in the form that it ended last season, Lemon would be more of a wait-and-see prospect, but with AJ Brown very much looking to be New England bound, the fantasy numbers could come sooner than later.
In 2025, the Eagles ranked 29th in yards per slot pass attempt (ahead of only the Commanders, Dolphins, and Jets). Lemon isn’t going to solve all of those issues, but this is certainly a comfortable landing spot and when you consider that the team went out of their way to invest, redraft and dynasty managers alike should be encouraged.
Lemon’s Value In the FSHQ Trade Analyzer
Lemon’s stock entering the draft wasn’t anything special, as he wasn’t considered a part of the elite tier and thus it wasn’t clear which organization would roll the dice.
After the Eagles, a stable franchise with a QB entering his age-28 season and the ability to score in bunches, paid a preimum for his services, he’s now an asset to target.
Try it: FREE Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer
In dynatsy circles, the soon-to-be 22-year old should be treated as a fantasy starter. Terry McLaurin is the better player, but with him being nine years older, the scales are tipped in the favor of the unknown quantity.
Jordan Addison has had some success at the pro level and is much closer to Lemon age wise than McLaurin, but how confident are you in what the Vikings are doing under center for the next few seasons?
His draft capital wasn’t quite what Jordyn Tyson demanded, but you could argue that he’s in just as good a spot and your league may not yet consider the two on similar footing.
Look for Lemon’s stock to tick up between now and the start of the season, something that makes him a strong pick in rookie drafts that take place over the next month.
