Lemon
WR · PHI vs LA
Proj pts
10.7pts
market
Bateman
WR · BAL vs TEN
Proj pts
10pts
market
Makai Lemon or Rashod Bateman: who should I start in Week 4?
Toss-up: lean Makai Lemon over Rashod Bateman by 0.7. Makai Lemon leads at 10.7. Rashod Bateman is the first one out, 0.7 short.
Highlights
Pros
- Big-play upside33% boom weeks
Cons
- Low target share12% target share
- Thin volume3.0 targets/g
Pros
- High-scoring spot27.0 team total
- Favorable matchupFavorable · A- vs WR
Cons
- Low target share12% target share
- Thin volume2.9 targets/g
Some recent form, opportunity and matchup figures still lean on the 2025 season (not enough games played this season yet).
Week 4 · Updated Tue 29 Sep, 6:00 AM ET
The widest gap between them, in proportion, is last 3 avg: Lemon 3.4, Bateman 9.2.
Latest game on the card: Bateman 5.7 (PPR points).
Why Makai Lemon
Start Makai Lemon — projects 10.7, an even matchup vs LA.
Makai Lemon projects 10.7 points. The matchup grades as neutral against LA. Usage: targets / game at 3.0. Net: start Makai Lemon this week.
Working for Lemon: Big-play upside (33% boom weeks).
Working against Lemon: Low target share (12% target share), Thin volume (3.0 targets/g).
Where Lemon leads the head-to-head: Projection (10.7 vs 10.0); Consistency (49% vs 0%); Boom rate (33% vs 23%); Bust rate (0% vs 38%); Targets / game (3.0 vs 2.9).
Why Rashod Bateman
Sit Rashod Bateman — projects 10.0, a favorable matchup vs TEN, with a rising role.
Rashod Bateman projects 10.0 points on a 1.2–14.3 range. The matchup grades as favorable against TEN. Usage: targets / game at 2.9. Net: bench Rashod Bateman this week.
Working for Bateman: High-scoring spot (27.0 team total), Favorable matchup (Favorable · A- vs WR).
Working against Bateman: Low target share (12% target share), Thin volume (2.9 targets/g).
Where Bateman leads the head-to-head: Matchup grade (recency weighted) (A- vs B); Implied team total (27.0 vs 19.5); Last 3 avg (9.2 vs 3.4); Last 5 avg (5.8 vs 3.4); vs season (+0.4 vs +0.0); Snap share (69% vs 66%); Red zone targets (9 vs 0).
Recent form
Makai Lemon's last 3 games: PPR points 1.9, 2.5, 5.9 (low to high; the card does not say which came first).
Rashod Bateman's last 5 games: PPR points 0, 1.7, 0, 21.8, 5.7 (oldest to newest).
Lemon has already beaten Bateman's 10 projection in 0 of his 3; Bateman has beaten Lemon's 10.7 in 1 of his 5.
At least 1 of these 5 games was played before the 2026 season.
Matchup
Makai Lemon (PHI) faces LA, kickoff Sun, Oct 4, 1:00 PM ET. The matchup is rated neutral. Betting line: implied team total 19.5, spread +3.5.
Rashod Bateman (BAL) faces TEN, kickoff Sun, Oct 4, 1:00 PM ET. The matchup is rated favorable. Betting line: implied team total 27.0, spread -11.5.
More start/sit comparisons from this week's PPR projections. Open a pair for the call and the reasoning.
More Makai Lemon comparisons
- Makai Lemon or Michael Pittman10.7 · 10.7
- Makai Lemon or Ryan Flournoy10.7 · 10.7
- Kalif Raymond or Makai Lemon10.5 · 10.7
- Makai Lemon or Wan'Dale Robinson10.7 · 10.8
This week's toughest calls
- Christian Watson or Tee Higgins16.8 · 16.8
- Jaylen Waddle or Matthew Golden15.3 · 15.3
- KC Concepcion or Mack Hollins12.1 · 12.2
- Jakobi Meyers or Romeo Doubs11.8 · 11.8
- Malik Washington or Xavier Worthy11.3 · 11.3
- Jakobi Meyers or Khalil Shakir11.8 · 11.9
- More WR start/sit calls (wide receivers this week)