In Sunday’s preseason finale against the Washington Commanders, New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett sustained an injury to his right shoulder after being sacked on his first and only drive of the game. Although Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said that the team elected to sit him out for the rest of the night out of caution, Brissett — along with the majority of New England’s starters — was only expected to play a drive or two anyway. In his relief, rookie quarterback Drake Maye shined — completing 13 of 20 passing attempts for 126 yards and a touchdown.

While Brissett’s injury might not be as serious as it was initially believed to be, Drake Maye’s performance only makes the quarterback battle in New England even more enticing. The North Carolina product has largely outperformed Brissett throughout the preseason, and any sort of missed time by the ninth-year veteran could thrust Maye into a starting role sooner than expected. While Brissett’s already-low fantasy ceiling becomes even murkier with his latest injury, Maye suddenly becomes a hot commodity — even in an offense that is expected to be one of the league’s worst. Furthermore, the ceilings of New England’s skill position group — highlighted by running back Rhamondre Stevenson, wide receivers Ja’Lynn Polk, Kendrick Bourne, DeMario Douglas, and K.J. Osborn, and tight end Hunter Henry — figure to be raised if Drake Maye is named the starter in Foxboro.