DeVonta Smith unsurprisingly led Philly receiving in Sunday's win over the Titans. He racked up 10 catches for 117 yards and a TD. That included 4 receptions on the game-winning scoring drive. Dontayvion Wicks followed with a 5-74 receiving line on 6 targets. No other Eagle drew more than 3 targets or caught more than two passes. WR Darius Cooper landed the game-winning TD among 2 receptions for 26 yards. Rookie Makai Lemon finished with just 1 catch for 14 yards. He matched Wicks in playing time, though, after nearly equaling his route count (31-29) in the opener. Does that mean we can expect more production soon from the first-round pick?
What They're Saying
Reuben Frank of NBC Sports Philadelphia, a day before the Tennessee game: "Not saying Makai Lemon is a bust. Way too early for that kind of talk. But he just doesn't seem to be in a place right now where he's confident enough in himself and comfortable enough in this offense to make plays to help the Eagles win football games. ... Why Lemon played 35 offensive snaps [against Washington] while Moore was inactive, I don't understand."
Lemon, on the Thursday before Week 2: "Lots to improve on. Route details. Just making sure I define my routes and assignments."
HC Nick Sirianni, the same day: "There's a lot of things that Makai did in that game that don't reflect on the stat sheet. ... What he's always done a good job since he's been here [is] blocking, doing the right things, being in the right spots. Obviously the [targets] that went to him didn't equal out to a big yardage game, right? But he did little things to help us win the football game that sometimes are unseen."
2026 Fantasy Football Impact
That all lays out a pretty good case for why Lemon's on the field ... but also not helping your fantasy team.
The Eagles obviously like the young wideout. That's why they traded up in Round 1 to draft him. And they're confirming it with strong playing time despite a summer that found Lemon sidelined extensively with hamstring trouble.
But he has seen half as many targets as Wicks through two weeks (10-5) and trails well behind Smith's team lead (19).
Lemon has caught four of those five targets but totaled just 9 yards on those receptions.
He's fine to keep stashed in deeper fantasy leagues, but don't expect to start the rookie anytime soon.
