Drake Maye vs Jared Goff: Who Should You Start?
If you are choosing between Drake Maye and Jared Goff for your lineup, you are not alone. Drake Maye finished the 2025 season at 21.1 PPG for the New England Patriots (17 games), and Jared Goff averaged 17.9 for the Detroit Lions (17 games).
That 3.2-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 Jared Goff (4564 passing yards, 34 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 Jared Goff is off Week 5. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
