Who Should I Start? C.J. Stroud or Drake Maye

Friday, September 5, 9:37 PM

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud opens the season in Los Angeles against the Rams on Sunday afternoon, as he looks to start a bounce-back season. He took a step backwards last season after throwing for 4,108 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 15 games as a rookie. He finished with 3,727 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 17 games last year, while leading the Texans to a second straight AFC South title. He has a new Offensive Coordinator in Nick Caley, and the new system puts more responsibility on the quarterback at the line of scrimmage. Stroud is the QB16 this week against the Rams, who allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks last season. Stroud will be without Christian Kirk (hamstring), so he'll be working with an unproven group of receivers aside from his elite receiver option, Nico Collins. He's a strong QB2 with boom or bust upside in Week 1.

Saturday, September 6, 9:32 AM

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye will open his second pro season against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Maye showed several flashes of potential last year, and there's optimism that his accurate passing skills and mobility could make him a fringe top-12 quarterback this year. He definitely has top-12 upside in Week 1 against the Raiders, who allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks last year. It also helps that Maye is playing with the best receiver group of his career, headlined by veteran Stefon Diggs. Maye should be started in all two-quarterback formats, and he's even a strong option in deeper single-quarterback leagues.