Makai Lemon or Michael Pittman Jr.: Who Should You Start?

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

Start Pittman — the consensus rank and projection edges are too wide to ignore.

Michael Pittman Jr. is the higher consensus play (WR32 to WR50) and projects 9.8 to Lemon's 7.5. Lemon's edge is the game script, 23.0 implied points to 21.5. The gap is wide.

Makai Lemon

Makai Lemon

WR50PHIvs LAR

Projected Points

Toss-Up
Michael Pittman Jr.

Michael Pittman Jr.

WR32PITvs CLE

Projected Points

Toss-Up

Makai Lemon’s market

REC
O/U 2.5
-144 / +113
REC YDS
O/U 25.5
-110 / -114
ATD
Anytime TD
+500

Michael Pittman Jr.’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
+108 / -137
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 32.5
-111 / -113
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+370
Anytime Touchdown Props →
LAR@
PHISun, Oct 4, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
PIT@
CLEThu, Oct 1, 8:15 PM ETView the game →

Why Makai Lemon

Toss-Up

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

Toss-up — WR50 consensus, projects WR67 this week: 11% target share, 7.5 PPR projected vs LAR.

  • LAR ranks 12 of 32 against WRs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 3-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 23.0 team points as 1.5-point underdogs.
  • Listed WR-3 on the latest depth chart with a 66% snap share.

Why Michael Pittman Jr.

Toss-Up

WR2 and high-volume possession target. Big-bodied contested-catch winner over the middle and in the red zone.

Toss-up — WR32 consensus, projects WR51 this week: CLE is the 11th-softest matchup vs WRs, 11% target share.

  • CLE ranks 22 of 32 against WRs (one of the softer matchups, 3-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 21.5 team points as 2.5-point favorites.
  • Listed WR-2 on the latest depth chart with a 81% snap share.

Latest on Pittman

Steelers rule out WR Pittman Jr. vs. Patriots with foot injury

The Steelers will be without another starter for their Week 2 game against the Patriots after downgrading wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to out with a foot injury.

ESPN · Sep 19, 2026
Joey Porter Jr. out again for Steelers; WR Pittman questionable

The Steelers will be without top cornerback Joey Porter Jr. again amid their contentious contract negotiation. Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) and offensive tackle Troy Fautanu (ankle) are questionable to play.

ESPN · Sep 18, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricMakai LemonMichael Pittman Jr.
Projected points
Consensus rankWR50WR32
Opponent vs positionLAR · 12 of 323-game sampleCLE · 22 of 323-game sample
Receptions1 of 3214 of 32
Receiving Yards6 of 3217 of 32
Receiving TDs24 of 3229 of 32
Targets4 of 3219 of 32
Anytime TD24 of 3229 of 32
Target share11%11%
Reception share13%11%
Implied total · spread23.0+1.521.5-2.5
Depth chartWR3WR2
Snap share66%81%
Start/Sit record0–10–1

Recent form

Makai Lemon — last 3 weeks

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

Michael Pittman Jr. — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs CIN
Week 2vs NEDNP
Week 1vs ATL

Signal breakdown

  • 7.5 vs 9.8 projected PPR pointsMichael Pittman Jr. +
  • Rank 50 vs 32Michael Pittman Jr. +
  • Opponent DvP rank 12 vs 22 (32 = softest)Michael Pittman Jr. +
  • Implied 23.0 vs 21.5 team pointsMakai Lemon +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 66% vs 81% snap shareMichael Pittman Jr. +

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