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Maye’s breakout came on modest pass volume and with a limited pass-catching corps. That makes the 2026 outlook even more exciting after New England upgraded at WR and projects to throw at least a bit more. Maye’s rushing ability only strengthens his case as a high-end fantasy starter, and he’s attractively priced with a QB5 ADP in Round 6 of best ball drafts.
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Maye’s 17-game season included 4,394 yards, 31 TDs, and 8 INTs, plus 450 yards and four more scores on the ground. The passing TDs ranked third among QBs, while both yardage totals ranked fourth.
It all added up to a QB3 finish in total fantasy points and QB4 in points per game, with:
Maye ranked 12th in pass attempts (492) but just 25th in attempts per game (28.9). He finished third in carries (103).
Maye threatened defenses vertically with a 13.7% deep-throw rate, seventh among 36 QBs with at least 200 total attempts.
The Pats clearly trusted Maye in the red zone, ranking 16th in red-zone pass rate but sixth in RZ pass rate over expected. Maye also ranked fifth among QBs in RZ carries.
Efficiency drove Maye’s breakout season.
Among 36 QBs with 200+ pass attempts, he ranked:
Only Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Brock Purdy beat Maye’s 0.60 fantasy points per dropback.
Maye found success on an offense that broke in a new OC (Josh McDaniels) and No. 1 WR (Stefon Diggs).
This unit ranked just 26th in pass rate and 18th in neutral pass rate. Play volume didn’t help either: New England finished 18th in total plays and 30th in pace.
Diggs’ 85-1,013-4 line carried a thin pass-catching group that also included Hunter Henry, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, and DeMario Douglas.
Maye suffered his first documented concussion in Week 8 of 2024 but recovered in time to start the next week.
A right shoulder injury in the AFC Championship limited Maye in the Super Bowl but shouldn’t hinder him going forward.
Romeo Doubs joined in March on a four-year, $68 million deal ($39 million guaranteed) after setting career highs last year in catch rate, yards per catch, and yards per route run. He’s a clear upgrade on Hollins at WR2.
New England lessened the burden on Doubs by trading for A.J. Brown. The 29-year-old delivered 5.4 catches, 81.1 yards, and 0.51 TDs per game during his four-year run in Philly. The past two seasons brought a mild production dip and four missed games with hamstring issues, but Brown still gives Maye a stronger lead target than the 32-year-old Diggs.
Last year’s No. 2 through No. 7 target earners return, including reliable TE Hunter Henry. He accounted for nearly 23% of Maye’s passing TDs in 2025 and has missed only one game over the past two seasons.
The O-line returns four of five starters from a unit that ranked 13th in ESPN’s pass-block win rate and 24th in adjusted sack rate. New LG Alijah Vera-Tucker, a former Round 1 pick, could upgrade the interior if healthy, but he’s coming off a lost 2025 because of his second career torn triceps. (He also tore an Achilles’ in 2023.)
Overall, Maye’s environment looks significantly better compared to 2025.
The Pats return the staff that steered Maye to a high-end fantasy finish on modest volume, and McDaniels said in June that Maye is showing a better understanding of the offense in Year 2.
After adding Brown and Doubs, New England looks likely to lean a bit more on the pass. Our projections have the Pats at a 54.8% pass rate, up from 53.1% in 2025.
Maye already showed the formula last season: top-tier passing efficiency plus real rushing volume. Another 72% completion rate or 8.9 yards per attempt is too much to expect. Over the past 20 seasons, Maye’s completion rate ties Drew Brees’ 2017 mark for fifth best, while his YPA ranks fourth. Still, Brown and Doubs give him more margin for error, and his rushing growth from Year 1 to Year 2 keeps the ceiling in the top five.
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A.J. Brown Keeps Clicking With Drake Maye, and His Fantasy Cost Is Catching Up
A.J. Brown Keeps Clicking With Drake Maye, and His Fantasy Cost Is Catching Up
Patriots WR A.J. Brown has continued to find success as the newest member of the Drake Maye passing attack, catching all 4 targets thrown his way on the ninth day of training camp, per The Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan. That comes just a day after he dislocated his left thumb.
This One Factor Should Boost Drake Maye and His Mates
This One Factor Should Boost Drake Maye and His Mates
The Patriots plan to increase their offensive pace this season, which will be their second under OC Josh McDaniels (for his latest stint, that is). Last year's offense ranked third-slowest in the league at 30.6 seconds per play. They ranked 24th in 2021 (29.6 seconds), McDaniels' previous most recent Pats season. Before that came a No. 20 ranking in 2020 after eight straight seasons of finishing inside the top 12:
Finally, We Can Move on from A.J. Brown Trade Talk
Finally, We Can Move on from A.J. Brown Trade Talk
The Eagles are finally sending WR A.J. Brown to the Patriots for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder, according to multiple reports. The deal is pending a Brown physical, of course, but has been expected for months now. ESPN reports that waiting until June 1 allowed the Eagles to split Brown’s $40 million cap hit between this year and next. (NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo calls it $43 million, with $27 million of that on the team’s 2027 cap.)
A.J. Brown Likely to Be Traded to the Patriots After June 1
A.J. Brown Likely to Be Traded to the Patriots After June 1
The Eagles continue to discuss an A.J. Brown trade, and the Patriots remain highly interested in acquiring him. Brown has been at the center of trade rumors for most of the offseason, but his contract made a pre-June 1st move unlikely. Now, with both sides interested in a deal, Brown appears likely to head to New England as Drake Maye's long-term No. 1 WR.
Drake Maye Gets New Weapon: Patriots Agree to Terms with Romeo Doubs
Drake Maye Gets New Weapon: Patriots Agree to Terms with Romeo Doubs
WR Romeo Doubs has agreed to terms with the New England Patriots on a four-year, $80m deal. After releasing WR Stefon Diggs, the Patriots desperately needed to add to their WR group and will sign the former Packers' WR. He has the potential be lead the Patriots' WRs in snaps opposite of Kayshon Boutte on the outside. His contract indicates a committment to getting Doubs on the field to continue helping the development of QB Drake Maye.
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