Who Should I Start? Michael Penix Jr. or Drake Maye

Friday, September 5, 11:07 PM

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will make just the fourth start of his professional career on Sunday, coming into the Week 1 contest with a 58.1 percent completion percentage and a 3:3 TD:INT. While that may not inspire confidence, the former eighth-overall draft pick has had plenty of time to prepare for the home matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that ranked third-worst in terms of passing yards per game (245.3) and allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing signal callers in 2024. However, the Bucs' pass defense will be healthier than they were last season, will have added veteran linebacker Haason Reddick, and the Falcons will be without starting right tackle Kaleb McGary and backup Storm Norton, leaving the 25-year-old's blind side to third-stringer Elijah Wilkinson. Mix in a banged-up Darnell Mooney (shoulder), and the University of Washington product should be considered a low-end QB2 in Week 1.

Saturday, September 6, 9:32 AM

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye will open his second pro season against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Maye showed several flashes of potential last year, and there's optimism that his accurate passing skills and mobility could make him a fringe top-12 quarterback this year. He definitely has top-12 upside in Week 1 against the Raiders, who allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks last year. It also helps that Maye is playing with the best receiver group of his career, headlined by veteran Stefon Diggs. Maye should be started in all two-quarterback formats, and he's even a strong option in deeper single-quarterback leagues.