Drake Maye vs Geno Smith: Who Should You Start?
There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Drake Maye (New England Patriots) averaged 21.1 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Geno Smith (New York Jets, 12.7 PPG) by 8.4 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.
The per-game difference of 8.4 points favors Drake Maye, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one quarterback to the other.
Drake Maye offers meaningful rushing upside with 450 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Geno Smith (3025 passing yards, 19 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.
One scheduling note: Drake Maye is off Week 14 and Geno Smith Week 12. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in quarterback for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.
