Colston Loveland or Makai Lemon: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 4 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Loveland's positional edge wins the pair; Lemon keeps the published start

Loveland gets the narrow head-to-head edge because a TE3 consensus standing carries more positional value than Lemon's WR50, and Chicago's stronger scoring outlook helps support it. Loveland's heavy field presence is useful, but his modest target share and quiet recent weeks make that edge fragile; the Jets matchup is also a meaningful obstacle, though the DvP sample is only three games (ESPN 2026-09-28). Lemon has a real counter: Philadelphia reports a larger role with DeVonta Smith out, and his softer matchup plus better projection give him a path to outscore Loveland (philadelphiaeagles.com 2026-10-03). Keep the published individual verdicts intact: Lemon is still the start and Loveland the sit, despite Loveland winning this close pairwise comparison.

What flips it: A verified target-share increase for Lemon beyond the expanded role already reported.

Sources: ESPN · Sep 28, 2026 · philadelphiaeagles.com · Oct 3, 2026

AI editor

Colston Loveland

Colston Loveland

TE3CHIvs NYJ

Projected Points

Sit
Makai Lemon

Makai Lemon

WR50PHIvs LAR

Projected Points

Start

Colston Loveland’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
+100 / -127
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 34.5
-110 / -114
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+245
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Makai Lemon’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
-125 / -102
REC YDS
O/U 35.5
-113 / -113
ATD
Anytime TD
+330
NYJ@
CHISun, Oct 4, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
LAR@
PHISun, Oct 4, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Colston Loveland

Sit

TE1 and pass-catching mismatch. Seam-stretching move tight end with flex alignment and rising target volume.

Sit — TE3 consensus, projects TE18 this week: NYJ is the 4th-toughest matchup vs TEs, 10% target share.

  • Chicago's stronger scoring outlook makes a touchdown opportunity more plausible for its pass-catching TE.
  • His TE1 role and sustained field presence offer a useful base, even if targets have lagged.

Latest on Loveland

Where has Bears TE Colston Loveland been this season?

The tight end has one catch and faces a tough Eagles defense on MNF. With no Caleb Williams, can he get going?

ESPN · Sep 28, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Makai Lemon

Start

Rookie WR3 in slot-heavy role. Quick separator with reliable hands and yards-after-catch juice.

Start — WR50 consensus, projects WR37 this week: 11% target share, 10.5 PPR projected vs LAR.

  • Smith's absence opens room for Lemon's slot-heavy, yards-after-catch skill set to earn more work (philadelphiaeagles.com 2026-10-03).
  • A softer matchup and stronger forecast give Lemon a clear route to beat Loveland if the added role brings targets.

Latest on Lemon

Role

Makai Lemon is expected to take on a larger role in the offensive game plan against the Rams with DeVonta Smith ruled out.

Makai Lemon is ready to face his hometown teamphiladelphiaeagles.com · Oct 3, 2026

Head-to-head stats

MetricColston LovelandMakai Lemon
Projected points
Consensus rankTE3WR50
Opponent vs positionNYJ · 4 of 323-game sampleLAR · 12 of 323-game sample
Receptions8 of 321 of 32
Receiving Yards8 of 326 of 32
Receiving TDs1 of 3224 of 32
Targets3 of 323 of 32
Anytime TD1 of 3224 of 32
Target share10%11%
Reception share8%13%
Implied total · spread27.0-8.523.0+1.5
Depth chartTE1WR3
Snap share84%66%
Start/Sit record—0–1

Recent form

Colston Loveland — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs PHI
Week 2vs MIN
Week 1vs CAR

Makai Lemon — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs CHI
Week 2vs TEN
Week 1vs WSH

Signal breakdown

  • 8.6 vs 10.5 projected PPR pointsMakai Lemon +
  • Rank 3 vs 50Colston Loveland +
  • Opponent DvP rank 4 vs 12 (32 = softest)Makai Lemon +
  • Implied 27.0 vs 23.0 team pointsColston Loveland +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 84% vs 66% snap shareColston Loveland +

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