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Eric Moody
When the Patriots turned to Drake Maye in Week 6 of the 2024 season, they tasked the No. 3 general choose with revitalizing an offense affected by inconsistency and inexperience.
In 11 begins from Week 6 to Week 17, Maye threw for two,254 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, whereas including 409 dashing yards and two dashing scores. That translated to a mean of 16.0 fantasy factors per recreation in these begins, which might have ranked simply outdoors the highest 12 quarterbacks over a full season.
Maye’s effectivity was notable. He completed seventeenth in quarterback score (QBR) and threw not less than one landing in each full recreation he performed.
Getting into his second NFL season, Maye has all of the makings of a top-10 fantasy quarterback. After displaying promise in his rookie yr, he enters a much better offensive scenario and affords the dual-threat ability set that fantasy managers covet.
This is why Maye, whose present common draft place of 152.3 in ESPN leagues ranks 18th amongst quarterbacks, deserves critical consideration in your 2025 fantasy drafts:
An upgraded supporting forged
The most important offseason addition for the Patriots is Stefon Diggs, a confirmed wideout with six 1,000-yard seasons and a profession common of 72.8 receiving yards per recreation. Diggs’ route-running and separation abilities ought to instantly elevate Maye’s passing ceiling.
The Patriots additionally added Mack Hollins, rookie Kyle Williams and dynamic second-round working again TreVeyon Henderson, who brings pass-catching means out of the backfield. This provides Maye a a lot deeper and extra versatile group of playmakers than he had as a rookie.
There are additionally enhancements on the offensive line, which is notable given the main safety points final season. The Patriots ranked close to the underside of the league in move block win charge and final in run block win charge. Whereas Maye performed in solely 13 video games as a rookie, he was sacked 34 occasions, rating fifteenth within the league.
To deal with this, New England added veteran linemen Morgan Moses and Garrett Bradbury, drafted left deal with Will Campbell within the first spherical and picked up heart Jared Wilson. Even reasonable enchancment right here may result in cleaner pockets and extra constant manufacturing from Maye.
As well as, new head coach Mike Vrabel arrives with a run-heavy background from his time in Tennessee, however the return of Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator indicators a extra balanced and adaptable method.
McDaniels is aware of easy methods to construct schemes round his quarterback’s strengths. Anticipate early-down runs to arrange play-action and run-pass choices that enable Maye to make the most of mismatches. This technique performs to each his passing means and his mobility.
The dashing flooring issues in fantasy
Maye’s dashing means is a serious asset, particularly in comparison with another younger quarterbacks who do not make the most of the bottom recreation as a lot. Maye ranked ninth at QB in dashing yards and first on the place with 7.8 yards per rush (minimal 20 carries), displaying the flexibility to increase performs and salvage fantasy factors even when underneath stress.
Even in video games the place passing numbers dip, a handful of scrambles can result in 50 dashing yards, which interprets to five.0 fantasy factors earlier than touchdowns are even thought of. This provides him a dependable fantasy flooring.
That dashing security internet makes Maye a extra interesting choice than pocket passers equivalent to Jared Goff or C.J. Stroud, who do not supply the identical mobility.
Favorable schedule and precious fill-in
The Patriots have the sixth-easiest schedule in 2025, in keeping with ESPN analyst Mike Clay’s power of schedule matrix.
Maye additionally strains up effectively as a bye-week fill-in for managers with Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow, who’ve byes in Week 10, or Jayden Daniels, Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa, who’ve byes in Week 12.
In these matchups, Maye attracts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals — two defenses that struggled to comprise dual-threat quarterbacks final yr. This type of flexibility positions him as a high-end QB2 or a sensible element of a quarterback committee method.
Addressing the considerations
Maye ranked tenth within the league in off-target share (13.6%) final season, a mirrored image of the dangerous passes he was pressured to make underneath stress behind a struggling offensive line. With upgrades to safety and higher offensive expertise round him, that quantity ought to drop.
Diggs’ restoration from an ACL damage is one other variable. If his snaps are restricted early within the season, Maye might want to rely extra on Williams, Hollins and DeMario Douglas. Happily, that group has sufficient depth to fill in, with 2024 second-rounder Ja’Lynn Polk and Kayshon Boutte additionally within the combine.
Whereas Vrabel’s fame suggests a run-focused offense, his Tennessee groups nonetheless utilized quarterback mobility when obtainable. Maye’s dashing means may make him a focus quite than an afterthought. On high of that, Maye has had a full offseason to enhance his reads, sharpen his pocket presence and develop with a stronger roster round him, suggesting an upward trajectory.
So what’s Maye’s precise potential?
Taking a second quarterback feels pointless in lots of leagues, however Maye’s profile breaks that mould.
Maye’s rookie per-game manufacturing already bordered on QB1 territory. With an improved line, higher playmakers and a system that leverages his abilities, a breakout season is effectively inside attain. A recreation with 250 passing yards, two touchdowns and 60 dashing yards would internet 24 fantasy factors — effectively above the 20.9 common of final season’s top-10 fantasy quarterbacks. Combine in a few spike weeks towards weak defenses, and Maye may simply discover himself in top-10 territory.
The second-year QB affords a secure dashing flooring and thrilling passing upside, all at a late-round worth. That makes him one of many smartest targets at quarterback in 2025.
