Makai Lemon Longest Reception Pick for Eagles vs. Cowboys

Makai Lemon and the Philadelphia Eagles will suit up for a Monday Night Football matchup against their NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys.

With the list of injuries adding up on the Eagles’ roster, Lemon has seen his role scaled up, and this will be put on full display tonight. Neither the Eagles nor Cowboys have gotten off to their desired start to the season, each entering with a 2-4 record. But the divisional race is still largely open, with the New York Giants currently leading with their 4-2-1 record on the year. 

Looking at the odds for the Week 7 MNF matchup, the Cowboys enter as 4.5-point favorites and hold -218 odds of winning outright on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Eagles hold +180 odds of winning outright, with the game total set at 44.5.

There are plenty of ways to get involved in this battle of NFC East rivals. Check out the game preview and more on DraftKings Network. For now, here’s my top Makai Lemon prop bet for Monday Night Football.

Makai Lemon Longest Reception Pick vs. Cowboys

Makai Lemon Longest Reception Over 16.5 Yards (-123)

Injuries have taken a major toll on the Eagles this season. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is expected to miss the remainder of the season because of blood clots, DeVonta Smith has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, and Dontayvion Wicks is sidelined with an ankle issue. Dallas Goedert has also dealt with a knee injury that forced him to miss two games, but he has been cleared to play Monday night. Meanwhile, Saquon Barkley is officially listed as questionable after missing the previous two games with a hamstring injury.

Someone on this Eagles offense needs to make plays, and expect Makai Lemon to help fill that role. Through his first six NFL games, the USC product has tallied 18 receptions on 28 targets for 127 receiving yards. The rookie has seen his workload expand in recent weeks, recording at least three receptions in four straight games while drawing at least five targets in each contest.

If there is a matchup that could further spark his production, it is against this Cowboys defense. Dallas enters the week ranked 25th in opponent points allowed and 30th in total yards conceded. The Cowboys have struggled to find consistency on defense and have been particularly vulnerable against the pass, ranking 29th in net yards per pass attempt and 23rd in total passing yards allowed. They have also allowed the 12th-most yards after the catch and recorded the 10th-most missed tackles.

Philadelphia has not consistently put Lemon in favorable positions to make plays downfield. The Eagles have primarily leaned on him in the screen game, giving the 22-year-old opportunities to make defenders miss in space and pick up yards after the catch. He has shown flashes of success in that role, but with limited alternatives available, expect Philadelphia to look for ways to diversify his route tree and create more opportunities for Lemon to generate explosive plays.

Even while operating primarily near the line of scrimmage, Lemon has recorded a longest reception of more than 16.5 yards in two of his first six games. Given the limitations of the passing options around him, he could see his highest volume of opportunities yet. With a favorable matchup and an expanded role, count on the rookie to showcase his big-play ability and break free for a gain of at least 17 yards tonight.