Drake Maye vs Lamar Jackson: Who Should You Start?
If you are choosing between Drake Maye and Lamar Jackson for your lineup, you are not alone. Drake Maye finished the 2025 season at 20.7 PPG for the New England Patriots (17 games), and Lamar Jackson averaged 16.5 for the Baltimore Ravens (13 games).
That 4.2-point weekly advantage for Drake Maye is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.
Drake Maye offers meaningful rushing upside with 450 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Lamar Jackson (2549 passing yards, 21 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Drake Maye sits Week 14 while Lamar Jackson is off Week 7. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
