Caleb Williams vs Drake Maye: Who Should You Start?
Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Caleb Williams averaged 19.1 PPG across 17 games with the Chicago Bears, while Drake Maye posted 21.1 PPG in 17 appearances for the New England Patriots.
A 2.0-PPG gap gives Drake Maye the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Drake Maye offers meaningful rushing upside with 450 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Caleb Williams (3942 passing yards, 27 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: Caleb Williams sits Week 7 while Drake Maye is off Week 14. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.