Two practice days wind down for New England as the Patriots wrap up camp at Gillette and turn attention toward Minnesota’s challenge. Drake Maye, pegged by observers as a potential Week 1 contributor, showed a mix of improvisation and struggle in a late two-minute drill, finishing 4-for-10 with three sacks and some protection hiccups from the left. Kyle Duggar’s role remains a talking point, with the staff and players noting he’s still carving out a primary spot, partly due to development from Yeomen and the emergence of depth pieces like Hawkins. The Vikings’ Brian Flores defense looms as a real test, a reminder that New England is adjusting to a more complex look on that side of the ball, while the team continues to discuss Drake Maye’s balance between playmaking and smart decision-making on a run-heavy approach. The interview with Josh McDaniels adds clarity on how Drake Maye might be deployed—whether as a true playmaker or a measured processor—while the offense emphasizes run-first concepts to counter Minnesota’s scheme. Fantasy takeaway: Maye’s ceiling is tied to his ability to handle pressure and translate scrambles into productive plays, while Duggar’s path to meaningful snaps hinges on mastery of coverage and run fits in Flores’ system.

Drake Maye’s path to fantasy relevance likely hinges on his NFL readiness and Patriots’ backfield usage. He showed flashes of athleticism and a willingness to take calculated risks, but the day also exposed the need for better protection and quicker reads against a Flores-coached unit. For dynasty players, Maye represents a speculative buy at quarterback with upside if he secures a starting role; for seasonal leagues, his Week 1 value will be driven by how quickly he translates game reps into fantasy points, and by the Patriots’ willingness to lean on the run game to manage a tougher defensive front.

Pressure mounts for two pivotal players, Mike Onwenu and Kyle Duggar, on the New England Patriots as their cap numbers escalate significantly. Onwenu is set to increase from $21 million this year to $25 million next year, while Duggar's cap hit will rise from $15 million to $17 million. The discussion highlights the importance of these players' performance amidst potential roster cuts, particularly for Onwenu, a guard who is expected to excel given his significant salary.