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Drake Maye Continues to Build Chemistry With New Receiver
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and his new No. 1 wide receiver, A.J. Brown, got off to a quiet start in the early days of training camp, but "there have been some serious signs of life since the pads came on Thursday," according to Paul Perillo of Patriots.com. Brown was a problem for the Patriots' secondary on Friday, catching slants, gos, and everything in between. "I feel the connectivity building now," Maye said. "That's the biggest thing. You are just seeing it get better every day. I'm blessed to play with a player like him, and I'm looking forward to getting him the rock." The two have been seen spending time talking between plays as they "continue to forge a bond." The 23-year-old former third overall pick in 2024 from North Carolina broke out in 2025 thanks to a historically soft regular-season schedule, but he came back down to Earth in the postseason, even though the Pats made a run to the Super Bowl. With the additions of Brown and Romeo Doubs in the passing game, Maye has even more weapons. Between his downfield exploits and his mobility, he enters the 2026 campaign as a top-five fantasy QB.
Source: Patriots.com - Paul Perillo
Source: Patriots.com - Paul Perillo
Drake Maye Building Chemistry With New Wideout Quickly
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye said on Thursday that he is quickly building chemistry with new wide receiver A.J. Brown before training camp begins, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. "It has been awesome," Maye said. "I'm really looking forward to playing with him. I'm looking forward to getting to camp and building some chemistry. And I know there's already some there for me. You just gotta throw it near him, and he'll make a play." Although Brown had 1,003 receiving yards in 2025 in his final season with the Philadelphia Eagles, his relationship with QB Jalen Hurts and head coach Nick Sirianni soured to the point where they could not continue. The Patriots sent Philly a first-round pick in exchange for Brown this offseason, so they have a lot riding on Brown and Maye forming a strong bond in 2026 and beyond. On paper, Brown should thrive with Maye, who was the most accurate deep-ball passer in the NFL in 2025. Maye, meanwhile, has darted up to top-five status at his position in fantasy after a strong first full season as the Patriots' starter, which included a trip to the Super Bowl. RotoBaller has Maye ranked as the No. 4 fantasy QB for 2026.
Source: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
Source: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
Can Drake Maye Take Another Step in 2026?
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was one first-place vote away from winning the 2025 NFL MVP award in his first full season as a starter, and one area that his supporters pointed to was the level of pass catchers he was throwing to in comparison to the award's winner, Matthew Stafford. Heading into 2026, the Patriots have rebuilt their wide receiver corps, adding Romeo Doubs through free agency and sending a first and fifth-round pick to Philadelphia for three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown. Maye finished as the fantasy QB2 in 2025, accounting for 4,844 yards and 35 touchdowns through the air and on the ground, and as he continues to take agency over Josh McDaniels' offense, his game has the potential to reach even higher levels. He was one of the most proficient passers against man coverage last season, while Brown has been the league's most disruptive receiver against man since 2022, and with Brown and Doubs expected to hold the top two spots on the depth chart, the rest of New England's receivers like Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas, and, for now, Kayshon Boutte can slot into their more natural positions. With improvements made to both the receiver room and offensive line, and still possessing the ability to keep plays alive well-beyond structure, Maye is RotoBaller's QB4 for 2026, though a QB1 finish is very much in his range of possibilities.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Does Latest Addition Put Drake Maye Among the Upper Echelon of Fantasy Elite?
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was the MVP runner-up in his first full season as a starter, and with the Patriots officially trading for three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Brown on Monday, he gets not only a new No. 1 weapon, but one who marries up perfectly to his own rare abilities. Maye's 1,149 passing yards and 18 touchdowns against man coverage in 2025 were both top-four numbers in the NFL, and since 2022, Brown has ranked first in receptions, first in receiving yards, and fourth in receiving touchdowns against man coverage. Maye was arguably the best deep-ball thrower in the league last season, with a number one downfield target in Kayshon Boutte, who has never topped 589 yards in a season, while Brown has built a career out of dominating at the second level. While the Patriots are not acquiring the prime version of Brown, who received an MVP vote in his first year with the Eagles, he is undoubtedly the top receiver that Maye has had in his young career. With Romeo Doubs and a well-rounded supporting cast also getting a boost by being allowed to slot into more natural secondary or tertiary roles, it should come as no surprise if the 23-year-old Maye, currently RotoBaller's dynasty QB2, claims the top spot in the rankings by season's end.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Drake Maye to Make a Big Leap in 2026 in Second Season With Josh McDaniels?
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye could take another leap in 2026 in his second year in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' system, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. Maye was the runner-up in the MVP race last year in his first season playing under McDaniels, completing 72% of his passes for 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions in the regular season before struggling in the playoffs against some of the league's top defenses. Tight end Hunter Henry thinks Maye could be even better in Year 2 with McDaniels, and two key newcomers have noted Maye's ownership of the offense. "To see the growth from, call it last May to the Super Bowl, was really remarkable in my opinion. Now, he's going to have all that to build off going into this offseason of OTAs. He's in meetings; he has extreme ownership over it. Being in the second year in a system is so vital," former NFL QB Brian Hoyer said. Despite a much tougher schedule in 2026, the Patriots are optimistic with Maye at the helm, and RotoBaller has the former North Carolina product ranked as a top-five fantasy QB in redraft leagues.
Source: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
Source: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
Is Drake Maye Becoming the Most Valuable Player in Superflex Dynasty Leagues?
In what was his first full season as a starter, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye missed out on the MVP award by a single first-place vote in what was the closest MVP race in over 20 years. He did so at the age of 23 with a league-average offensive line and one of the weaker receiving rooms in the league. Heading into 2026, the Patriots have invested heavily in the line through both free agency and the draft, and they remain the odds-on favorite to land three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown on or after June 1st. In what will be only his second season in Josh McDaniels' complicated system, there should be an expectation of more nuance and wrinkles as the offensive identity is further molded around Maye's unique, fantasy-friendly skill set. Yet to turn 24 years old, Maye is RotoBaller's dynasty QB2, but should things continue to progress in an environment that already looks better on paper, he could claim the top spot as early as this season and keep it for some time.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
