Drake Maye vs Bucky Irving
2026 draft comparison · half-PPR
Updated Aug 24, 2026
Should you draft Drake Maye or Bucky Irving?
Last season — 2025, per game
Full game log & past seasons
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | ATT | CMP | YD | TD | INT | RuYD | RuTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | LV | 16.3 | QB17 | 46 | 30 | 287 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 |
2 | MIA | 26.3 | QB4 | 23 | 19 | 230 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 1 |
3 | PIT | 20.2 | QB7 | 37 | 28 | 268 | 2 | 1 | 45 | 0 |
4 | CAR | 23.2 | QB8 | 17 | 14 | 203 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
5 | BUF | 12.1 | QB25 | 30 | 22 | 273 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
6 | NO | 27.2 | QB2 | 26 | 18 | 261 | 3 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
7 | TEN | 23.1 | QB10 | 23 | 21 | 222 | 2 | 0 | 62 | 0 |
8 | CLE | 27.3 | QB2 | 24 | 18 | 282 | 3 | 1 | 50 | 0 |
9 | ATL | 17.4 | QB16 | 29 | 19 | 259 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 0 |
10 | TB | 19.1 | QB11 | 31 | 16 | 270 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
11 | NYJ | 15.4 | QB12 | 34 | 25 | 281 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
12 | CIN | 17.0 | QB12 | 35 | 22 | 294 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 0 |
13 | NYG | 20.5 | QB10 | 31 | 24 | 282 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
15 | BUF | 21.5 | QB13 | 23 | 14 | 155 | 0 | 1 | 43 | 2 |
16 | BAL | 24.7 | QB7 | 44 | 31 | 380 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 0 |
17 | NYJ | 32.4 | QB2 | 21 | 19 | 256 | 5 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
18 | MIA | 15.7 | QB16 | 18 | 14 | 191 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 0 |
Earlier seasons (2024)
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | ATT | CMP | YD | TD | INT | RuYD | RuTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
3 | NYJ | 2.1 | QB36 | 8 | 4 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | HOU | 21.5 | QB10 | 33 | 20 | 243 | 3 | 2 | 38 | 0 |
7 | JAX | 20.8 | QB7 | 37 | 26 | 276 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
8 | NYJ | 11.5 | QB27 | 6 | 3 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 1 |
9 | TEN | 17.7 | QB18 | 41 | 29 | 206 | 1 | 2 | 95 | 0 |
10 | CHI | 12.8 | QB16 | 25 | 15 | 184 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 0 |
11 | LAR | 19.0 | QB13 | 39 | 29 | 282 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 0 |
12 | MIA | 14.5 | QB17 | 37 | 22 | 222 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 0 |
13 | IND | 20.4 | QB10 | 30 | 24 | 238 | 1 | 1 | 59 | 0 |
14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
15 | ARI | 18.5 | QB11 | 23 | 19 | 202 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 1 |
16 | BUF | 18.4 | QB16 | 36 | 22 | 261 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 0 |
17 | LAC | 9.9 | QB27 | 22 | 12 | 117 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
18 | BUF | 0.0 | QB44 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | ATT | YD | TD | TGT | REC | RYD | RTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ATL | 12.5 | RB19 | 14 | 37 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
2 | HOU | 15.1 | RB14 | 17 | 71 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 50 | 0 |
3 | NYJ | 11.9 | RB17 | 25 | 66 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 33 | 0 |
4 | PHI | 23.0 | RB9 | 15 | 63 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 102 | 1 |
5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
10 | BYE | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
13 | ARI | 15.1 | RB14 | 17 | 61 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 0 |
14 | NO | 15.1 | RB12 | 15 | 55 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 1 |
15 | ATL | 7.6 | RB34 | 16 | 60 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 0 |
16 | CAR | 7.1 | RB41 | 19 | 71 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
17 | MIA | 5.8 | RB35 | 9 | 19 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 0 |
18 | CAR | 10.3 | RB19 | 26 | 85 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
Earlier seasons (2024)
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | ATT | YD | TD | TGT | REC | RYD | RTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | WAS | 8.6 | RB31 | 9 | 62 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 0 |
2 | DET | 2.2 | RB62 | 7 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3 | DEN | 9.9 | RB24 | 9 | 70 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 0 |
4 | PHI | 12.0 | RB22 | 10 | 49 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
5 | ATL | 4.6 | RB43 | 9 | 44 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 0 |
6 | NO | 17.5 | RB11 | 14 | 81 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 0 |
7 | BAL | 15.2 | RB17 | 9 | 23 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 54 | 0 |
8 | ATL | 11.9 | RB24 | 9 | 44 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 40 | 0 |
9 | KC | 4.9 | RB41 | 7 | 24 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 0 |
10 | SF | 16.2 | RB6 | 13 | 73 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 0 |
11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
12 | NYG | 24.2 | RB3 | 12 | 88 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 64 | 0 |
13 | CAR | 26.0 | RB1 | 25 | 152 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 33 | 0 |
14 | LV | 2.3 | RB49 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 0 |
15 | LAC | 12.3 | RB17 | 15 | 117 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -4 | 0 |
16 | DAL | 16.7 | RB16 | 16 | 68 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 24 | 0 |
17 | CAR | 21.0 | RB5 | 20 | 113 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 77 | 0 |
18 | NO | 15.4 | RB9 | 19 | 89 | 1 | 5 | 2 | -5 | 0 |
Latest takes
“Round 4: Drake Maye (QB – NE) I usually wait on quarterback, but I’ll try something different here and take Drake Maye.”
Richard Janvrin· Aug 21“For Pollard to find his way into the top-12, we need a Drake Maye / Joe Burrow -esque second season from Ward.”
Ellis Johnson· Aug 19“In only his second NFL season, Drake Maye finished QB2 in fantasy scoring, averaging 21.1 fantasy points per game. Maye was sublime as a passer last year, leading the NFL in completion percentage (72.0%), yards per pass attempt (8.9) and passer rating (113.5).”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 18
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“The Patriots should once again have a solid offense, with young star QB Drake Maye at quarterback and new arrival AJ Brown upgrading New England’s WR corps.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 15“Drake Maye is a first-round pick in Superflex formats”
Wolf Trelles-Heard· Aug 13“For example, last season, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye had an ADP of QB16, and he finished as QB2.”
Richard Janvrin· Aug 10“Brown should have no trouble seeing a consistently high target share as Drake Maye’s go-to receiver.”
Mike Fanelli· Aug 10“Alec Pierce, Nico Collins – 3.7 How to support a QB on a rookie deal ( Drake Maye ):”
The FF Newsletter· Aug 6“Only four quarterbacks last season bested their overall scoring ranking compared to ADP by more than five spots: Matthew Stafford (QB23 in ADP and QB3 in overall scoring output), Trevor Lawrence (QB20 in ADP), Drake Maye (QB16), and Caleb Williams (QB15).”
Rich Hribar· Aug 5“While many will worry about Drake Maye spreading the ball around in 2026, I’m not because last year that was related to New England not having an alpha-level receiver like Brown on the depth chart.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 5“In just his second year, Drake Maye absolutely tore it up, finishing as the overall QB2 in fantasy and dropping a massive 21.1 PPG.”
Brittney Foxworth· Jul 23“Drake Maye over Josh Allen. Maye immediately looked like one of the best pure passers in the league last season and carries a significant age advantage.”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 17“There do not seem to be many questions about Drake Maye, with him flying off the board as the consensus QB3, exactly where he finished in 2025. When you find yourself with the fourth-highest pass success rate of any QB through their first two years in the NFL, just behind Patrick Mahomes, Brock Purdy, and Dan Marino, you are doing something right.”
Colt Williams· Jul 13“I recently had a league as such, and I took Drake Maye with the 1.02 pick. Sure, drafting Ja'Marr Chase and letting quarterback value come to me instead may have been a better idea, but knowing I have Maye on my team for, theoretically, the next 10 years is something to feel confident about.”
Richard Janvrin· Jul 11“Maye's second-year breakout led to a second-place MVP finish and a Super Bowl appearance. He was the QB2 behind Josh Allen in fantasy points for the season (producing 96.3% of Allen's season total), and the QB2 in points per game (20.7).”
Rich Hribar· Jul 9
“There has yet to be a positive report about Bucky Irving this offseason.”
Ellis Johnson· Aug 21“Bucky Irving has dealt with a number of injuries in his short career with a foot sprain and a shoulder/ AC joint sprain last year. Rewinding to 2024, he also dealt with hip, back, toe, and hamstring issues.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 11“Bucky Irving , who is returning from a foot and shoulder injury that limited him to 588 rushing yards in 2025 after a breakout rookie campaign in 2024.”
Samuel DiSorbo· Aug 10
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“Check out all of DBro’s top fantasy football draft picks to target >> Bucky Irving (TB) It seems as if everyone in the fantasy community is fading Bucky Irving.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 10“If Bucky Irving struggles to stay healthy for the second consecutive season, Gainwell could have a career year”
Mike Fanelli· Aug 6“100 | (RB35) To be clear, Bucky Irving isn’t fading away despite a down season last year”
Kyle Zeigler· Aug 6“It’s odd that so many people are forgetting just how good Irving was over a fairly large sample size of games over the second half of his rookie season. Buy the dip.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 6“8 | Diff: +3 Over the last two seasons, with Bucky Irving in town, Rachaad White was a more effective per-touch player, but with Irving out of the lineup last year, he proved again that he can carry the mail (although while being horribly inefficient).”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 5“Bucky Irving ‘s rookie season was as impressive as they come, considering his draft capital (125th overall).”
Wyatt Bertolone· Aug 3“Bucky Irving was the only top-12 drafted RB to miss more than two games.”
Jordan Pullett· Jul 29“Bucky Irving finished as the RB13 his rookie year before slumping to an RB 34 playing 10 games the following season. More concerning than the games missed is his carries inside the 5-yard line in 2025: zero.”
Peter Kettering· Jul 24“Bucky Irving checks all the boxes when it comes to identifying a true “buy low” player.”
Jonathan Lange· Jul 23“After finishing his rookie season as the RB13, averaging 14.4 PPR fantasy points per game, Bucky Irving regressed last year and struggled to stay healthy, missing seven contests. Furthermore, Irving had offseason shoulder surgery and might not be fully ready for training camp.”
Mike Fanelli· Jul 19“Irving finished dead last in that metric among qualifying running backs last season, which sounds damning, but he ranked sixth in the same metric in 2024. The difference is the offensive line: Tampa Bay’s line ranked second in adjusted line yards during Irving’s rookie season and collapsed to 22nd last year due to injuries.”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 17“Even before the injury that sidelined him, Irving averaged just 3.3 yards per carry while ranking 32nd in explosive yards, 45th in missed tackles forced per attempt and 33rd in runs for first downs at his position. With Tampa Bay deploying a full rotation of backs, it feels extremely hard to replicate.”
Kyle Zeigler· Jul 11