Drake Maye

QB, NE

Maye entered the year as a preseason top-3 fantasy QB off last season's playoff run, but he's currently the Patriots' starter in a stripped-down offense: no A.J. Brown, a line that lost Mike Onwenu, and a rushing floor (30+ yards/game) that's now his main selling point. Across three-plus weeks he's thrown far more interceptions than touchdowns and was even benched for Tommy DeVito in a blowout, making him a bench/streamer in most leagues rather than a must-start.

The arc moved from 'tough early schedule' excuse-making (FantasyPros, Late-Round) to outright alarm after the Jacksonville blowout, when shows like Rotoworld, The Ringer, and Fantasy Football Today unanimously called for benching or dropping him, citing nine fumbles and ten picks over seven games and a cratered EPA. By September 30-October 1, the field split: Yahoo's Matt Harmon dropped him in redraft entirely while The Ringer and Dynasty Nerds pushed him as a buy-low given last year's ceiling, Onwenu's injury, and an easing schedule once A.J. Brown returns. Nobody disputes the talent or job security — the disagreement is purely about how long to wait on the turnaround.

The line: Bench him as a streamer until A.J. Brown returns and the schedule softens, but don't cut the dynasty asset. · updated Oct 01

Thursday, October 1

Shows agree Maye's slide is mostly a brutal offensive scheme and depleted weapons, though he's compounding it with ill-timed forced throws; Yahoo has already dropped him in redraft, while FantasyPros sees a soft spot with Buffalo's top corner out.

▶ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Falling in rankings after poor play, but Fitz remains somewhat optimistic given a matchup vs. Buffalo missing top corner Christian Benford. listen ↗

▼ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: About 80% of his struggles are attributed to an archaic, poorly scheme-dressed offense and injury-depleted weapons (no AJ Brown), but he's also making bad situations worse with forced throws at key moments; hosts have dropped him in redraft leagues. listen ↗

Wednesday, September 30

Split verdict: The Ringer sees a buy-low given last year's top-12 QB production and a softer schedule ahead, while Yahoo points to nine fumbles and ten interceptions since the postseason as reason for zero confidence in him or the Patriots' skill players.

▼ RotoWire Fantasy Football With Theo Gremminger: Extremely turnover-prone, with Mack Hollins as his top target; Patriots offense struggling badly and set up to be shredded by Buffalo's defense. listen ↗

▼ The Audible: Facing a pivotal 'storm' game vs Buffalo after poor coaching support; hosts say avoid starting any Patriots skill players for fantasy. listen ↗

▼ The Audible: Currently QB33, outscored by Case Keenum this season; struggles tied to A.J. Brown injury, O-line issues, and more zone defense, but hosts say hold given draft capital and easier upcoming schedule plus A.J. Brown's return. listen ↗

▶ The Audible: Concerned in redraft due to continued turnovers, sacks, and poor decision-making dating back to last season's playoffs, but patient in Dynasty; viewed as a buy-low in Dynasty if available cheap. listen ↗

▲ The Ringer Fantasy Football Show: Called a buy-low; hosts cite an easier upcoming schedule and note he was a top fantasy QB last year, arguing panic over recent play is overblown. listen ↗

▼ Yahoo Fantasy Football with Josh & Hayden: Nine fumbles and ten interceptions since last postseason; hosts have no fantasy confidence in him or the Patriots skill players currently. listen ↗

Tuesday, September 29

Turnovers and a brutal early schedule have all three shows souring short-term, though nobody thinks the talent or job security is actually in question - hold through the tough slate but bench him until the matchups turn.

▶ Fantasy Focus Football: Under 10 fantasy points in each of his first three games; too talented to cut, but hosts are benching him short-term in favor of Mariota, expecting improvement once the brutal early schedule eases. listen ↗

▼ Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast: Called a 'landmine' quarterback situation hosts want to avoid streaming until the offense improves with A.J. Brown's eventual return. listen ↗

▼ Fantasy Life Show: Struggling with turnovers and pressing under pressure, but Scott Turner says a QB change isn't warranted given his talent and 2024 MVP-caliber flashes. listen ↗

▼ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Posted a new career-low fantasy scoring for a third straight week, ranks dead last in passer rating and EPA among starters with a league-high 7 turnovers; hosts call him a 'matchup-based' QB right now but see a friendlier schedule ahead. listen ↗

▶ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Play has been bad but hosts remain hopeful due to an easier upcoming schedule than the Chargers. listen ↗

▶ The Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast: Recommend holding despite a poor Week 3 given tough early schedule; upcoming matchups are much more favorable, but not a start this week. listen ↗

▼ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: Placed in coping corner after scoring under 13 fantasy points in all three games this season versus only once last year; hosts considering dropping him despite last year's strong finish. listen ↗

Monday, September 28

Unanimous bench call: one TD against six picks, sub-8 fantasy points a game, and a shaky offensive line have every show telling you to drop the preseason QB3 hype and stream literally anyone else, with some even wondering if he's playing hurt or has developed real accuracy issues.

▲ Dynasty Nerds Podcast | Dynasty Fantasy Football: Despite a brutal statistical start (9 INT-level performance level), hosts see this as an elite buy-low window given his 2024 breakout and playoff run; they'd trade for him over all QBs except Caleb Williams and Josh Allen. listen ↗

▼ Fantasy Feast: NFL Fantasy Football Podcast: Has looked lost since A.J. Brown's injury, throwing multiple bad interceptions and fumbling; got benched for Tommy DeVito in the blowout loss to Jacksonville. listen ↗

▼ Fantasy Focus Football: Three straight single-digit fantasy weeks including a pick-six and lost fumble; will drop out of the top-10 QB rankings. listen ↗

▼ Fantasy Focus Football: Under 4 fantasy points, three straight weeks without double-digit output; hosts recommend benching him in favor of a better streaming option. listen ↗

▼ Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast: Turnover-prone (9 fumbles/10 INTs in 7 games), looked visibly distraught on the sideline; hosts debate dropping him now versus holding for when A.J. Brown returns and schedule eases around Week 7. listen ↗

▼ Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry: One touchdown and seven interceptions through three weeks; no longer a must-start, now viewed as a low-end QB2, with the issue described as mental/confidence-related. listen ↗

▼ Fantasy Football Today: Scored under 4 fantasy points; hosts unanimously say he's droppable given poor offensive weapons and performance. listen ↗

▼ Fantasy Football Today: Making poor decisions (two bad interceptions), receivers not getting open, and some O-line pressure; hosts lean toward droppable in shallow leagues despite easier upcoming matchups. listen ↗

▼ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: One touchdown and six interceptions through three weeks with a mediocre supporting cast; labeled a streaming-only option and a sell in dynasty leagues. listen ↗

▼ Harris Fantasy Football Podcast: Threw multiple terrible interceptions and looked lost; hosts said he could be droppable in some fantasy leagues and isn't startable outside Superflex. listen ↗

▼ RotoWire Fantasy Football With Theo Gremminger: Has 7 turnovers through 3 weeks (worst since 2022 alongside Will Levis) and looks lost; labeled a bench-until-proven-otherwise QB after a 35-6 blowout loss. listen ↗

▼ Rotoworld Football Show – Fantasy Football: Three straight poor performances, negative EPA per dropback, one TD to six INTs through three games; hosts say he should be benched in fantasy and is falling outside the top 12. listen ↗

▼ The Ringer Fantasy Football Show: Hosts say he looks broken, possibly playing through a lingering shoulder injury; leads NFL in interceptions (6) and has 9 fumbles/10 picks over his last 7 games; averaging just 7 fantasy points/game and was named to the 'burn book.' listen ↗

▼ Yahoo Fantasy Football with Josh & Hayden: Threw two picks and fumbled twice behind a bad offensive line with no go-to weapon post-A.J. Brown; hosts said to fully disassociate from his preseason QB3 ranking. listen ↗

▼ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: Threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in a lifeless, directionless offense without AJ Brown; hosts said almost any other starting QB is currently a better fantasy option. listen ↗

Sunday, September 27

▼ The Audible: Reverted to college 'hero ball' tendencies, took a self-sack, threw multiple costly interceptions, and got no support from the run game or line in a 35-6 blowout loss to Jacksonville. listen ↗

Saturday, September 26

▲ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Fitz defends his slow start, noting a brutal Seattle pass-defense matchup in Week 1 and low volume in Week 2 due to a blowout; expects a bounce back with a favorable upcoming schedule. listen ↗

Friday, September 25

Efficiency has cratered from last year's top mark to bottom-of-the-league territory, and the loss of Mike Onwenu only deepens line concerns that have hosts split on urgency: Ringer and Yahoo are ready to bench him given a shrinking floor, while FantasyPros and Late-Round lean patient, pointing to a brutal early schedule, his 30+ rushing yards per game, and a potential AJ Brown return to turn things around.

▶ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Struggling due to a poor offensive line generating pressure despite defenses dropping coverage; Fitz still trusts him to figure it out over Tyler Shough. listen ↗

▲ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Struggling through two tough matchups, but hosts predict a get-right game against a Jaguars defense ranked poorly in WR/TE coverage, projecting ~250 yards, multiple TDs, and rushing production. listen ↗

▶ The Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast: Concerning EPA per dropback trend since last year, but faced a tough slate of defenses (Houston, Denver, Seattle twice, Pittsburgh); still provides rushing value (4 scrambles/game, 30+ rush yards/game) and schedule eases up with A.J. Brown potentially returning in the second half. listen ↗

▼ The Ringer Fantasy Football Show: Went from No. 1 in EPA per dropback last year to 32nd this year; footwork and processing issues have hosts increasingly worried, especially after losing top lineman Mike Onwenu for the season. listen ↗

▼ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: Opened as QB27/25 through two weeks without AJ Brown; hosts debate benching him, noting his floor has dropped compared to last season's consistency. listen ↗

Thursday, September 24

▼ Fantasy Focus Football: Two straight duds with only one TD and four INTs over two weeks; being started only due to a thin QB pool (AJ Brown injured, Romeo Doubs unproven, Keion Booty released) against a tough Jacksonville pass defense. listen ↗

▼ Fantasy Football Today: Viewed as a sit this week with Patriots leaning on defense/run game; considered a buy-low candidate for later in the season once weapons return. listen ↗

▶ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Ranked around 10th; hosts favor his rushing upside despite losing A.J. Brown and facing tough Seahawks/Steelers-level defenses, though panic is rising after two rough weeks. listen ↗

▼ Rotoworld Football Show – Fantasy Football: Struggled badly against a good Steelers defense with no weapons; hosts now rank Stafford, Herbert, Kyler Murray and Jordan Love ahead of him. listen ↗

▶ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: May's tape against Pittsburgh wasn't as bad as perceived, but hosts remain low on him as a fantasy starter until A.J. Brown returns and matchups lighten. listen ↗

Wednesday, September 23

▲ Fantasy Focus Football: Struggled against two elite defenses (Seattle, Pittsburgh) the first two weeks, but hosts still rank him top-10 and expect a big bounce-back in a more favorable Jacksonville matchup. listen ↗

▼ Fantasy Football Today: Worry-O-Meter around 50-70%; concerns include A.J. Brown's injury, O-line losses, and shaky play, but some hosts see buy-low value once Brown returns. listen ↗

▲ The Ringer Fantasy Football Show: Last year's fantasy runner-up now ranks near the bottom in points per game after facing tough defenses; hosts believe the regression is overblown and still rank him top-10 going forward. listen ↗

Tuesday, September 22

All three shows agree Maye's fantasy value has cratered without a legit receiving corps and behind a banged-up line, with New England leaning run-heavy; he's no longer a top-10 QB and now needs his legs to hit weekly value against a rough Jaguars-Bills stretch.

▲ Dynasty Nerds Podcast | Dynasty Fantasy Football: Followed a Super Bowl run with two shaky performances (no passing TDs, one INT vs. Pittsburgh), but hosts say a team can't reach the Super Bowl on luck alone and point to a favorable six-game stretch ahead as reason to buy any dip. listen ↗

▶ Establish The Run Fantasy Football: Struggled again without AJ Brown, throwing to a thin receiver corps (Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, Pop Douglas); considered matchup-dependent DFS-only play. listen ↗

▼ Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast: Considered a hold over drop, but not a preferred start the next two weeks (vs Jacksonville, at Buffalo) given lack of A.J. Brown for an extended stretch. listen ↗

▼ Fantasy Life Show: Struggling without playmakers like AJ Brown; hosts say his fantasy outlook isn't looking good right now. listen ↗

▲ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Buy-low target despite ranking outside top-22 QBs through two weeks; hosts cite a favorable remaining schedule and eventual return of A.J. Brown as reasons for a rebound to QB4-level production. listen ↗

▼ Yahoo Fantasy Football with Josh & Hayden: Struggling without AJ Brown (on IR) and Hunter Henry-type production; more rushing-dependent now, tough matchups with Jaguars and Bills ahead. listen ↗

▼ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: Hampered by O-line injuries, A.J. Brown's absence, and a run-heavy, ball-control offensive approach; hosts no longer view him as a top-10 fantasy QB. listen ↗

Monday, September 21

Back-to-back low-scoring weeks without Diggs and Brown have both shows souring on him, dropping him from must-start to streamer-only territory heading into a tough Jacksonville matchup.

▼ Fantasy Focus Football: Failed to hit 10 fantasy points for a second straight week with no touchdowns and an interception; hosts suggest streaming elsewhere for Week 3 vs. Jacksonville. listen ↗

▼ Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry: Back-to-back single-digit fantasy point games, 1 TD and 4 INTs (all on deep passes) through two weeks; hosts say he won't be a top-12 QB next week and don't expect a rebound until AJ Brown returns. listen ↗

▼ Fantasy Football Today: Struggled to just 8 fantasy points vs Pittsburgh's defense without Stefon Diggs and A.J. Brown; hosts say he's no longer an automatic must-start. listen ↗

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