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

Wednesday, April 22, 5:25 AM

Fresh off the closest MVP race in recent history, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is RotoBaller's dynasty QB2, though the market would suggest he may be the most difficult player to acquire via trade. The 23-year-old third overall pick from 2024 finished his second season with 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns through the air and an additional 450 and four on the ground, good enough for a QB2 finish in most fantasy formats, and the arrow is still pointing up. Although a trade with the Eagles likely won't become official until after June 1st, dynasty managers are presently treating an A.J. Brown to the Patriots deal as a foregone conclusion, with the upgraded weaponry already baked into Maye's cost. At nearly 29 years old, Brown is still a dominant outside threat who could open things up even further for arguably the best downfield thrower in the league, and his presence would allow the rest of New England's receivers to slot into their more natural roles without having to fight up a weight class. The acquisition of Romeo Doubs to replace Stefon Diggs can be seen as a lateral move given the trajectory of each player, and the Patriots also made moves to bolster an offensive line that had its struggles throughout the 2025 season. Even with his rushing numbers dropping from his rookie season, Maye proved that he belongs among the fantasy elite, and if given the chance to fully utilize all his tools with a better surrounding cast, it should surprise nobody if he claims the QB1 title in the near future.