2024 Fantasy Football Rookie Drafts - Should I Draft Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels?

Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye were each top three picks in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Both players are viewed as potential franchise-altering prospects.

Time will tell if each player is here to stay or not. With fantasy football dynasty rookie drafts right around the corner, it is important to begin noting who you want on your dynasty team.

Each player has elite upside, albeit in completely different playing styles. Will one emerge over the other?

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Drake Maye Fantasy Football Outlook

Drake Maye had a stellar 2022 season at UNC. He racked up 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns. Maye took a bit of a step back in 2023 but was still a highly touted NFL prospect heading into the draft.

Maye has prototypical size and excellent mobility. The QB was labeled as a bit of a project entering the draft, and the Patriots do not have stellar offensive weapons in place yet. It would behoove the Patriots to allow Maye time to develop behind veteran Jacoby Brissett.

"Drake Maye was never gonna go to the Commanders at two..

The two Quarterbacks they had in consideration were Jayden Daniels and JJ McCarthy" ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/SZTmiNv1t4

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 29, 2024

Jayden Daniels Fantasy Football Outlook

Daniels took a while to develop in college. He was a solid starter for most of his career but he was stellar in 2023 on his way to 4,946 total yards and 50 touchdowns. Daniels' performance in 2023 earned him a Heisman Trophy and catapulted him up the draft board.

Daniels is an elite rusher. However, unlike Justin Fields and Lamar Jackson, who entered the league with question marks as passers, Daniels also gets it done in that department. The Commanders QB will have solid weapons at his disposal such as wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson and rookie tight end Ben Sinnott.

Jayden Daniels is SOOOO much more than a runner and that makes him a defensive coordinators worst nightmare #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/Zkt9IB8fBx

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) April 29, 2024

Should I Draft Maye or Daniels in Fantasy Football?

Quarterback is a tricky position in fantasy football. Fantasy quarterbacks outside the top five are not difference-makers for your fantasy team. To enter elite fantasy status, quarterbacks must either be Patrick Mahomes or threaten to run for 1,000 yards, 5-10 touchdowns, or both.

Daniels brings elite rushing upside to the NFL and could realistically challenge for 1,000 rushing yards in any given season. He has a small frame, so it remains to be seen how much Kliff Kingsbury will put Daniels in harm's way, but the QB's scrambling ability alone is excellent.

Maye could very well be a good fantasy starter one day, but Daniels is the better bet both this year and long-term.

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