For the first time since Tom Brady’s final season in New England, the Patriots have a fantasy-relevant quarterback.
The likes of Cam Newton and Mac Jones were on the periphery of streaming potential, but never had enough prolonged success to warrant QB1 upside. This year’s starter, Jacoby Brissett, could’ve been the MVP of a golf league (fewest points win), but his inability to get the offense out of first gear led to his benching.
Turning to rookie Drake Maye felt like a desperate attempt to inject life into a franchise on the ropes. The third overall pick is uber-talented, but putting him behind a historically bad offensive line with limited weapons seemed premature. His first outing against Houston might’ve looked like a mixed bag on paper, but he showed so much promise that managers should sprint to waivers to inquire about his services.
Drake Maye is a priority add in Week 7
A three-touchdown, three-turnover performance rarely offers praise, but Maye proved he can put up stats despite his unfavorable situation. His only horrible rep of the day was his first interception, grossly overshooting a crossing route to the 5’8 Pop Douglas. Considering he was under pressure the entire afternoon, the 22-year-old had tremendous poise.
Maye is a natural scrambler who will continue to rely on his legs to escape pressure. He is a gunslinger and, even with a dreadful collection of pass catchers to throw to, will push the ball downfield. His 40-yard dime to Kayshon Boutte traveled 51.7 yards in the air, which is the longest by a Pats quarterback in over three seasons, according to Next Gen Stats.
The receivers’ lack of separation matters less if Maye is using his monster arm to fit passes into tight windows. He might be a bit erratic at times, but his timing and accuracy jumped off the screen. His volume offers an untapped ceiling if he can minimize putting the ball in harm’s way. Chunk plays can help open up concepts underneath, which is imperative for a young signal caller.
New England’s schedule gets much more manageable, with seven of their next eight matchups against teams with .500 or worse records. This offense went from disastrous to frisky. Don’t be surprised if this unit continues to put points on the board on the back of their budding star.
The fantasy quarterback market is so volatile that Maye’s upside is worth rostering. He’s a streaming option in deeper leagues as soon as his next game against the woeful Jaguars. Don’t wait until he fully bursts onto the scene—buy low and get in now.
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