It’s been quite the roller coaster ride in New England this season. Between off-field issues, devastating injuries, and a difficult early schedule, it’s a minor miracle that this group remains 2-2. Perhaps no player has been more difficult to figure out than Drake Maye. Last season’s MVP runner-up hasn’t looked right, handing out a league-worst 12 turnovers through just four games. With that being said, a bounce-back performance on Sunday against the Bills offers a glimmer of hope. Has the third-year pro found his form, or is Week 4’s performance a flash in the pan?
Should you start or sit Drake Maye in fantasy football?
As previously mentioned, most of Maye’s struggles this season are of his own making. It’s difficult to lead the NFL in both interceptions (seven) and fumbles (five). Even if you take those crucial mistakes out of the equation, it hasn’t been great. The 24-year-old has thrown for 854 yards and four touchdowns, while scrambling for 136 more yards on the ground. Those aren’t terrible statistics on their own, but it’s a clear step down from 2025. Maye is averaging just 7.3 yards per attempt, a clear step down from his league-leading mark of 8.9 Y/A last season. Even worse, his quarterback rating has plummeted from 113.5 to 71.5.
With that being said, Sunday’s showing at Highmark Stadium was impressive. Maye threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns, albeit while turning the ball over twice. Still, that can be forgiven if you’re making big plays through the air. It’s worth noting that New England, unlike last season, has faced a difficult set of opponents so far. Games against Seattle, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and Buffalo each come with their own set of challenges. With that being said, it’s not as if things lighten up much going forward. The Patriots will have to face _ more teams that sit within the top ten in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks.
Granted, the impending return of Brown from his high ankle sprain should help. The three-time Pro-Bowler left mid-game during Week 1’s defeat in Seattle. As a result, we still haven’t seen what this Pats offense is truly capable of. Functional, but unspectacular, receivers such as Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins have gotten most of Maye’s targets this season. It’s easy to see how a physical, 6’1″ red zone threat could elevate New England’s passing attack.
In short, it’s easy to convince yourself into buying back into Maye. It’s only been one-quarter of a season; the North Carolina alum remains one of the NFL’s most talented QBs. However, there’s reason to express some doubt. Even in a good week, the youngster is capable of giving away the football on multiple occasions. To make matters worse, the Patriots have their fair share of intimidating defenses on the upcoming schedule.
The best move for fantasy football managers going forward is to continue rostering Maye. At his best, few quarterbacks in the league offer more upside at the position. However, picking up a solid QB2 makes sense as well. Eventual matchups with teams such as Minnesota and Kansas City should be avoided, if possible. Maye is an asset at this early juncture of the season, but a strong backup plan is advisable. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable giving him the nod in Week 5 against a middling Raiders pass defense.
