Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice: Makai Lemon (2026 Fantasy Football)

This is what we’ve been waiting for, fantasy football enthusiasts. The NFL Draft is underway, and we finally get to see where the dynasty rookie draft prospects will launch their professional careers. And NFL Draft landing spots allow us to start to zero in on fantasy football and dynasty rookie draft pick values.

Throughout the draft, we’ll take a closer look at fantasy-relevant prospects, providing an overview of their strengths and weaknesses and assessing their fantasy football value in both redraft and dynasty formats. Here’s our dynasty rookie draft advice for Makai Lemon.

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Fantasy Football | Dynasty Rookie Draft Outlook: Makai Lemon

Fantasy Football Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice: Makai Lemon

The Eagles land my No. 1 receiver in the draft in Lemon. This signals an A.J. Brown trade could be imminent, and if so, Lemon will be a fantastic WR2 to DeVonta Smith. He’s Amon-Ra St. Brown-like, can route all of the routes, and is fantastic after the catch. I do question the overall volume of passes that Lemon will see from Jalen Hurts after the Eagles were 23rd in passing yards per game last year with 192.8 and averaging just 167.3 in their final three games. That said, I’m buying into the long-term talent, and he’s worthy of a top-five pick in dynasty leagues. We’ll see what Sean Mannion can do with this offense.

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DBro’s NFL Draft Scouting Report & Player Comp: Makai Lemon

Scouting report:

Lemon will run the majority of his routes from the slot in the NFL, as he did in college (75.6% slot). His perimeter usage could depend on whether he’s closer to the 2024 or 2025 version of his play. In 2024, Lemon was a more explosive player in all facets (off the line, in route, and after the catch). He wasn’t nearly as twitchy in 2025, which could be related to a preseason injury he sustained or possibly adding some weight prior to the 2025 season. We’ll see what version of Lemon we get in the NFL, but if he’s closer to the 2025 version of himself, he could be a slot-confined receiver.
Lemon isn’t a burner regardless of which season you’re discussing. He’s more “quick” than fast, though. He has the quick-twitch/short-area skills to produce with the ball in his hands after the catch. Lemon displays solid contact balance with the ability to break tackles and churn out yards with the ball. He has good vision while running in traffic.
Lemon is a zone coverage Ginsu knife. He slices through the zone with ease, with a firm understanding of finding space and pacing his routes well. Lemon’s snap at the top of his routes can be good, but not amazing at times, which allows corners to undercut his routes. He has to clean up his technique in this area.
Lemon’s raw speed and the limitations in this area, and his route running, could limit him as a perimeter receiver and vertical threat. Lemon doesn’t routinely stack defenders with vertical route concepts as he puts the emphasis upon his ability to win with back shoulder throws and at the catch point.
Lemon is strong at the catch point with the ability to high point the ball while flashing late hands. He had a 66.7% contested catch rate in 2025. Lemon isn’t a skyscraper, so despite the fact that he is strong at the catch point, his smaller catch radius could make it tough to live in a world in the NFL where he must dominate at the catch point. His hands are like vice grips, though, with a 2.8% drop rate in college (only four in college across 183 targets).

Player Comp: Jarvis Landry