Who Should I Start? Drake Maye or Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Saturday, October 4, 9:29 AM

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has been playing some of the best football of his young career and should be deployed as a mid-range QB1 in most leagues during Week 5. He takes on the Buffalo Bills this week, and while that's a tougher matchup, it should at least lead to some garbage-time opportunities, if not steady, consistent production in a potentially close game. The Bills have actually been relatively soft this year, allowing the most rushing touchdowns and 13th-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, as well as just one interception. That bodes well for Maye, who is the overall QB4 so far while contributing 988 passing yards, 98 rushing yards, nine total touchdowns, and two interceptions. Maye should be started in most fantasy leagues this week given his extreme success and relatively favorable matchup.

Thursday, October 9, 12:49 PM

Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said that rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt still has a "ways to go" with his play when the football isn't in his hands, according to John Keim of ESPN. "Pass protection, pass game, any sort of lead blocks. He has to keep working to become a complete back but since day one when he touches the ball he does good things with it," Kingsbury added. It's about par for the course with most young RBs in the NFL. The 24-year-old displayed his upside in the Week 5 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, carrying the ball 14 times for a season-high 111 yards and two touchdowns, but he also lost a fumble. But will it be enough to get JCM out of a committee backfield approach in Washington that also includes Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols? Fantasy managers should be willing to find out with Croskey-Merritt in their starting lineups for a Monday night affair against the Chicago Bears to close out Week 7.