Oct 16, 2026, 5:02 PM ET

It hasn't been a smooth start for Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon, but he showed improvement in a 19-17 Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Lemon recorded career highs in receptions (five) and receiving yards (43) last Sunday. The seven targets that Lemon saw against the Jaguars were also the most he has recorded in his young NFL career thus far. Lemon and the Eagles will face off against the Carolina Panthers in Week 6. The Panthers rank 22nd in the league in passing defense, allowing 230.8 passing yards per game. With that said, Carolina is only giving up 16.2 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, according to Pro Football Reference. While No. 1 wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) missed the past two games, he is expected to play in Week 6, which could cut into Lemon's workload. Still, Lemon should continue to see his fair share of targets, but he needs to be more efficient with his opportunities. Lemon, the 20th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, has recorded 15 receptions (on 22 targets) for 108 yards (7.2 yards per reception) and one rush for negative-five yards so far in 2026. He has not scored a touchdown of any kind. Lemon has tallied 17.8 fantasy points in half-PPR scoring formats, according to RotoBaller, which ranks him 88th out of 215 qualifying wide receivers. Of note, Lemon will be catching passes from backup quarterback Tanner McKee on Sunday, with Jalen Hurts (calf) out due to a blood clot in his calf. Lemon ranks as RotoBaller's No. 59 wideout for Week 6 (half PPR) and is expected to score 4.2 fantasy points. It is not necessary to start Lemon right now.--Ryan O'Bleness
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 16, 2026, 4:51 PM ET

Wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (hamstring) has essentially operated as the No. 1 wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles with DeVonta Smith (hamstring) missing the past two games with a hamstring injury. In Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Wicks saw eight targets, which was the second-most on the team behind tight end Dallas Goedert. Wicks turned those opportunities into five receptions for 63 yards (12.6 yards per catch), but he did not find the end zone. Only Darius Cooper (71 yards on two receptions) had more receiving yards for the Eagles against the Jaguars. Now, Wicks and the Eagles return to Philadelphia for a Week 6 matchup with the Carolina Panthers. Wicks has been dealing with a hamstring injury, and he missed Thursday's practice this week, but he played through it against Jacksonville last week and is expected to play against the Panthers as well. Smith is returning in Week 6, but Wicks should still be involved against Carolina as the No. 2 wideout for the Eagles. The big question mark for Wicks and the wide receivers, though, is how well backup quarterback Tanner McKee will play in place of Jalen Hurts (calf). The Panthers currently allow 230.8 passing yards per game (22nd in the NFL). However, Carolina is one of the stingier teams in the league when it comes to allowing fantasy points to wide receivers. According to Pro Football Reference, the Panthers rank fourth in the NFL, allowing 16.2 fantasy points per game to wideouts. Wicks currently leads the Eagles with 260 receiving yards, and he has scored one touchdown. His 17 receptions rank second on the team, behind Smith's 19, and Wicks is averaging 15.3 yards per reception. He is RotoBaller's No. 41 wide receiver (half-PPR) for Week 6 and is projected to score 7.1 fantasy points. Wicks has flex or possibly WR3 fantasy appeal.--Ryan O'Bleness
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 16, 2026, 4:18 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring, toe) is off the injury report and will play in Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers, per John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia. Smith has missed each of Philadelphia's last two games with a hamstring injury. The 27-year-old was off to a strong start before getting injured, recording 19 catches for 235 yards and a touchdown on 27 targets across three games. However, Smith now returns to an Eagles offense that will be without starting quarterback Jalen Hurts (calf) and star right tackle Lane Johnson (retirement). Smith has enough talent to produce for fantasy managers, but he profiles as a risky start while catching passes from Eagles QB2 Tanner McKee.--Will Brady
Source: NBC Sports Philadelphia - John Clark

Oct 16, 2026, 12:23 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) is practicing with the team on Friday, which is a good sign for his availability in Week 6 against the visiting Carolina Panthers, according to Zach Berman of The Athletic. Smith has missed the last two games after injuring his hamstring in the Week 3 loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. The 27-year-old did not practice on Wednesday, but he returned to the field on Thursday and was listed as limited. Smith could very well take a questionable tag into the weekend, but with back-to-back days of practice, he is trending up to return to action against the Panthers. The bad news for Smith is that starting quarterback Jalen Hurts (calf) is out indefinitely with a superficial blood clot, so if he plays on Sunday, he will be working with backup Tanner McKee. Smith is an easy fade in DFS if he is active this weekend, with McKee running the show on offense for Philadelphia, and fantasy managers in single-year leagues may want to consider benching him as well if he is active.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Zach Berman

Oct 15, 2026, 6:31 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) returned to practice on Thursday and was listed as a limited participant. It was the first time that Smith has practiced with the team since injuring his hamstring in a Week 3 loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. The 27-year-old is not out of the woods yet, but it is a good sign that he is progressing and gives him a chance to end his two-game absence and play this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers in Week 6. The problem for Smith is that if he returns to face Carolina this weekend, he will be working with backup quarterback Tanner McKee after the Eagles ruled Jalen Hurts (calf) out due to a superficial blood clot. Hurts is out indefinitely and could miss time beyond this week, which would obviously do damage to Smith's fantasy value. Smith has only 19 catches for 235 yards and one touchdown in three games played in 2026, but he is averaging 13.0 half-PPR fantasy points per game, which makes him a top-20 fantasy wideout. Fantasy managers should be tempering their expectations for the former first-rounder for however long Hurts is sidelined.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Philadelphia Eagles

Oct 15, 2026, 2:36 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) was not seen during warmups before Thursday's practice, according to The Athletic's Brooks Kubena. Smith injured his hamstring in the Week 3 loss to the Chicago Bears and has missed each of the last two contests. It looks like he will go down as a non-participant for the second straight day this week, putting his status firmly in question for the Week 6 tilt this Sunday at home against the Carolina Panthers. The 27-year-old is a must-start when healthy as the Eagles' unquestioned WR1, but Smith's injury and quarterback Jalen Hurts' -- he has been ruled out for Week 6 due to a superficial blood clot -- have dropped his fantasy value for the time being. If Smith is not cleared to play this weekend, Dontayvion Wicks and rookie first-rounder Makai Lemon would once again have bigger roles while working with backup QB Tanner McKee. Through the first five games in 2026, Smith has caught 19 of his 27 targets for 235 yards and one touchdown in only three games played.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena

Oct 14, 2026, 3:15 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) was not spotted at Wednesday's practice, according to Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice. Smith has already missed two consecutive games, and his absence from the field Wednesday leaves his availability for Sunday's Week 6 matchup against the Carolina Panthers uncertain. Head coach Nick Sirianni expressed optimism earlier in the week about potentially getting Smith back, while NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported that a return was possible depending on how the practice week unfolded. Smith hasn't played since Week 3 and finished his first three appearances with 19 receptions for 235 yards and one touchdown, including a 10-catch, 117-yard performance against Tennessee in Week 2. Dontayvion Wicks has handled additional receiving work in his absence, catching five passes for 63 yards against Jacksonville on Sunday, while Darius Cooper contributed a 62-yard touchdown reception. Smith remains one of Philadelphia's most important offensive weapons, but fantasy managers should have an alternative ready if he cannot resume practicing before the weekend.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Jimmy Kempski

Oct 12, 2026, 11:40 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles rookie first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon has had a quiet start to his NFL career. In his first three games, he had seven receptions on nine targets for only 38 yards (5.4 yards per catch). Top receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) has missed the last two games, though, which has forced the young pass-catcher into a bigger role in losses to the Los Angeles Rams and the Jacksonville Jaguars in the last two weeks. In the 19-17 loss to the Jags on Sunday in London, Lemon caught five of a season-high seven targets for a season-high 43 yards while playing a season-high 81% of the offensive snaps. Smith could return as soon as Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers this Sunday, but Lemon is not going to simply go away as the team's first-round pick back in April. Dontayvion Wicks earned a big role in this offense by impressing the coaching staff this summer during training camp, but if Lemon continues to ascend, it would not be a surprise at all to see the rookie take hold of the WR2 duties behind Smith by the end of the year. Lemon is already rostered in 41% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com

Oct 12, 2026, 10:28 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks is gaining value after a solid performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars this past weekend. The Eagles were without top wideout DoVonta Smith (hamstring), so Wicks stepped up as the top option in Week 5. The 25-year-old hauled in five of his eight targets for 63 yards in the loss. Wicks has posted good performances this season, including two 70-plus yard games, but his value will take a hit once Smith is back. Wicks should be put in the deep league flex conversation for Week 6. He appears to have earned himself more opportunities in Philly.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

Oct 12, 2026, 9:12 PM ET

After recording just two catches through the first three weeks of the 2026 season, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper has emerged as a more reliable contributor lately. Across his last two games, Cooper has recorded five catches for 104 yards and three touchdowns on 10 targets. The 24-year-old has established himself as a red zone target for Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, as four of his seven catches on the season have gone for touchdowns. The Eagles may get star wideout DeVonta Smith (hamstring) back from his two-game absence in Week 6, which would likely significantly impact Cooper's playing time and target share. Still, Cooper could be worth targeting on the waiver wire in deeper leagues just in case Smith remains sidelined by his hamstring injury for Philadelphia's Week 6 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 12, 2026, 3:55 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) has a chance to return for Sunday's Week 6 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Smith has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, but there are indications he could be available this weekend depending on how he progresses through practice. The 27-year-old was off to a productive start before getting hurt, catching 19 passes for 235 yards and one touchdown through three appearances. He was particularly effective against Tennessee in Week 2, hauling in 10 of 13 targets for 117 yards and a score. Smith entered the season as Philadelphia's clear No. 1 receiver following the departure of A.J. Brown and recorded 77 receptions for 1,008 yards in 2025. Rookie Makai Lemon and Darius Cooper have seen increased opportunities during his absence, with Cooper catching a 62-yard touchdown against Jacksonville on Sunday. Smith would immediately regain considerable fantasy appeal if he's cleared to play, although his practice participation will determine how realistic a Week 6 return becomes.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Mike Garafolo

Oct 9, 2026, 5:33 PM ET

Due to injuries in the wide receiver corps for the Philadelphia Eagles, Darius Cooper is expected to have an increased role against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5 in London. The Eagles will be without No. 1 wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and fellow wideout Hollywood Brown (ankle) against the Jaguars. Meanwhile, starting running back Saquon Barkley (hamstring) and backup running back Tank Bigsby (abdomen, IR) are both out, while wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (hamstring) is expected to play but is dealing with a hamstring issue he suffered during the practice week. Cooper will likely work with Wicks and rookie Makai Lemon as Philadelphia's top receiver trio in Week 5. With Smith, Brown and tight end Dallas Goedert all out in a Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Cooper played 55 offensive snaps. He saw seven targets, and while he only recorded three receptions, Cooper made the most of them with two touchdowns and 33 yards. His seven targets, 33 receiving yards and two touchdowns all led the team, while his three receptions were tied for the most on a day when quarterback Jalen Hurts only threw for 93 yards. While Goedert is expected to return in Week 5, there should still be plenty of opportunities for Cooper. According to Pro Football Focus, Cooper ranks fourth in the NFL in fantasy points per touch (5.28). He has recorded just five receptions for 59 yards so far in 2026, but three of his five catches have been touchdowns. Cooper ranks as RotoBaller's No. 63 wide receiver for Week 5, and he is projected to score 5.6 fantasy points against the Jaguars. He is a touchdown-dependent boom-or-bust flex play at best this week, but it is probably best to leave Cooper out of lineups for Week 5.--Ryan O'Bleness
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 9, 2026, 5:00 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon continues to play a lot of snaps, but has struggled to begin his NFL career. With No. 1 wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and reliable tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) both missing the Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Lemon was poised for a breakout role, but it did not come to fruition. He played 45 snaps against the Rams, but recorded just three receptions for 27 yards (9.0 yards per catch). He is still yet to find the end zone in 2026. He gets a Week 5 date with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jacksonville is an interesting matchup for Lemon and the Eagles, as the Jaguars give up more than 280 passing yards per game, but are near the top of the NFL in most other defensive categories, including ranking as the No. 3 scoring defense in the league (13.3 points per game allowed). Smith is still out, and with additional injuries in Philadelphia's offense, Lemon could see his fair share of targets on Sunday. The Eagles spent high draft capital on Lemon, selecting the former USC Trojan with the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. It is taking Lemon some time to adjust to the professional ranks, but he has recorded 10 receptions (on 15 targets) for 65 yards (6.5 yards per reception) and one rush for negative-five yards through four games in 2026. Lemon ranks as RotoBaller's No. 47 wideout for Week 5 and is expected to score 6.1 fantasy points. Lemon, who is currently rostered in 43% of Yahoo leagues, is off of the fantasy radar for Week 5 and does not need to be in your lineup until he proves otherwise.--Ryan O'Bleness
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 9, 2026, 4:54 PM ET

Wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (hamstring) entered the Week 4 matchup versus the Los Angeles Rams as the Philadelphia Eagles' de facto No. 1 wide receiver, but the results were disappointing in the 24-20 loss. With leading wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) both missing the contest against the Rams due to injury, and running back Saquon Barkley (hamstring) exiting the game in the first quarter with a hamstring injury, Wicks had the opportunity for a productive day, but that was not the case. Wicks saw five targets on the day, but he tallied just three receptions for 18 yards (6.0 yards per reception) and did not score. Wicks was behind both Darius Cooper (seven) and rookie Makai Lemon (six) in targets, although each player recorded three receptions. Cooper amassed 33 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while Lemon totaled 27 receiving yards. Wicks is dealing with a hamstring injury this week, but is expected to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5. He will look for a better performance against the Jaguars in London. Philadelphia will be without Smith, Barkley and others, giving Wicks another opportunity to be heavily involved. The good news for Wicks is that Jacksonville allows the second-most passing yards in the NFL, giving up 280.3 yards per game through the air. The bad news for Wicks and the Eagles is the Jaguars rank in the top-three in the NFL in scoring defense (13.3 points per game) and are among the very best teams in the league at forcing turnovers. Through four games in 2026, Wicks has caught 12 passes for 197 yards (16.4 yards per reception) and a touchdown. He is RotoBaller's No. 30 wide receiver for Week 5 and is projected to score 7.8 fantasy points. While he should see targets against the Jags, Wicks is a touchdown-dependent boom-or-bust candidate for Week 5.--Ryan O'Bleness
Source: RotoBaller