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

Tuesday, July 22, 6:31 PM

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who was taken eighth overall in the 2024 NFL draft, enters training camp this summer as the team's unquestioned starter under center after starting the final three games of last season after Kirk Cousins was benched. While the 25-year-old southpaw signal-caller has plenty to work on heading into his first full season as the starter, the Falcons offense did average 32 points a game in his three starts to close out 2024. Nobody should be drafting Penix this fall as a QB1 in fantasy, but he is one of the more intriguing young QBs in the NFL and could eventually join the ranks of QB1s if he can stay healthy. If that is going to happen, the Washington alum is going to need to be more accurate on the short and intermediate throws. Penix has plenty of weapons and is not a bad QB2 in superflex leagues, but his lack of rushing will cap his fantasy ceiling.

Saturday, July 26, 7:42 AM

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is showing signs of taking a step forward at the onset of his second season. NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe mentioned that he was told by a member of the Patriots staff that Maye has shown increased processing speed and has had a good start to camp. Maye should be helped by the team's offseason addition of Stefon Diggs, a player who gives him a true No. 1 receiver after the rookie had limited offensive weapons to throw to in 2024. If Maye does show improvement in his second year, it would lift all New England skill players in fantasy and real life. For now, Maye's sneaky rushing upside keeps him in the conversation as a solid QB2 in fantasy drafts.