Makai Lemon — 2026 Fantasy Outlook

Lemon saved his best for his third season at USC, setting career highs across the board with 79 catches for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. The big-play ability was always there. He's averaged 14.7 yards per reception throughout his college career, but scoring chances were scarce early on, with just three touchdowns over his first 21 games. He made up for lost time in 2025, surpassing 150 receiving yards four times (4/158/2, 11/151/2, 11/161/1, and 10/153/1) and finding the end zone five times over his final four starts.

For teams in the market for a smaller-framed receiver in the Puka Nacua mold, Lemon offers a compelling profile at 5'11" and 190 pounds. He plays with a physicality that belies his size in the short area of the field and has a knack for breaking tackles after the catch. His route running is a strength: clean, purposeful, and equipped with a second gear that shows up when he gets into the intermediate and deep portions of the field. Lemon competes for contested catches and wins more than his size would suggest, thanks to reliable hands. His projection is a high-volume slot receiver who could thrive with the right offensive infrastructure around him.

Lemon picked up an early June hamstring injury, which should be cleared up by training camp.