Who Should I Start? J.J. McCarthy or Drake Maye

Thursday, August 14, 9:39 PM

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy had his "best practice of camp" on Thursday and impressed with both his consistency and accuracy, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. Lewis notes that McCarthy had a stretch of practice where he completed 13 straight passes and threw for six touchdowns. The 22-year-old former first-round pick is preparing for his first year as an NFL starter after missing his entire rookie season with a torn meniscus in his knee. McCarthy will likely experience some growing pains, but he has a lot of playmaking talent around him in Minnesota and an excellent play-calling head coach in Kevin O'Connell. He profiles as a mid-tier QB2 in fantasy, but he's got more upside than some of the other quarterbacks being drafted in his range.

Saturday, August 9, 12:26 AM

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye completed three of his five pass attempts for 12 yards during Friday's preseason opener against the Washington Commanders. He also registered two carries, 16 rushing yards, and a rushing touchdown. The touchdown came on Maye's second and final drive of the game, as he scrambled into the end zone to put the Patriots ahead by two scores. On a less positive note, Maye did take a sack and lose a fumble in the preseason opener. Nevertheless, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the former Tar Heel in his second pro season. Not only should he benefit from a new coaching regime led by Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels, but he'll also have a full season, offseason, and training camp under his belt. The blend of playing experience and quality coaching will serve Maye well. The same can be said of his rushing skills and New England's offseason additions, both in the trenches and among the offensive skill positions. Maye is currently being drafted as a mid-to-low QB2 in most fantasy leagues, but there's a legitimate chance that he finishes among the top 10 quarterbacks in fantasy points this year. As long as Maye continues to make strides this preseason, he should be a hot commodity in fantasy drafts given his rushing ability.