Who Should I Start? Joe Burrow or Drake Maye

Friday, August 29, 9:35 PM

The Cincinnati Bengals believe that quarterback Joe Burrow "just enjoyed the best training camp of his career," according to Jeff Howe of the Athletic. The 28-year-old is coming off a stellar 2024 campaign, amassing career-highs in passing yards (4,918), touchdowns (43), and completion percentage (70.6). Unfortunately, his efforts weren't enough to lead the team into the postseason. Without question, the Bengals defense struggled last season. While not much is expected to change on that front, Burrow is ready to spearhead one of the NFL's most explosive offenses. Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Mike Gesicki all received new deals in the offseason. In addition, Chase Brown was one of the league's most improved running backs. All things considered, it appears Burrow has all the tools necessary to finish the year as the top fantasy quarterback. However, the offensive line must keep him upright, especially since he's had issues staying healthy over the years. Chase, Higgins, and Brown will also need to avoid the injury report.

Friday, August 29, 8:12 PM

The New England Patriots have a "strong internal belief" that quarterback Drake Maye will take a step forward in the second season of his career, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 draft, took over the starting job in Week 6 as a rookie and went on to flash his sky-high potential over 13 games. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound dual threat completed 66.6% of passes for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He added another 421 yards and two scores on the ground, averaging a gaudy 7.8 yards per attempt on 54 rushes. While the 22-year-old will likely experience some growing pains, especially as he gets acclimated to a new system under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, he should benefit from a better supporting cast than he had in 2024. Maye is going into the season as RotoBaller's 14th-ranked QB, but his upside is significant.