Who Should I Start? Desmond Ridder or Drake Maye

Thursday, May 7, 9:27 AM

When asked about the shoulder injury that bothered New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (shoulder) down the stretch last year, he said he's doing "great," according to The Associated Press. "Nothing, nothing, no problems at all," Maye said, adding that he didn't require surgery. The 23-year-old former third overall pick out of North Carolina in 2024 finished second in the MVP voting in 2025 after an amazing regular season thanks to a soft schedule, but he really struggled in four postseason games, completing 70 of his 120 pass attempts for 828 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions while taking 21 sacks. Maye required a pain-killing injection in his right shoulder before the Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but his shoulder is all systems go this offseason, and he shouldn't have any physical limitations going into Year 3. Some fantasy managers will want Maye to prove it again in 2026, but after an outstanding sophomore season, RotoBaller has him ranked as a top-five QB. The Pats added receiver Romeo Doubs in free agency, and Maye's fantasy stock in redraft and dynasty formats will only be boosted if they trade for A.J. Brown, as is expected.