Drake Maye Questions the Moon Landing — But He's No. 3 QB in Our Rankings
The Patriots QB admits he's 'a little bit skeptical' about 1969. On the field, he's a verified QB3 with 64 PPR points through four games.
Top-three QB in our rankings with a rushing floor that travels every week.
- Maye: our No. 9 overall, QB3 for 2026
- 854 pass yds, 4 TD, 0 INT in 4 games (2026)
- 136 rush yds already — the fantasy cheat code
- 64 PPR pts through 4 games (2026 actual)
- Studied a conspiracy class at UNC
Drake Maye spent part of a Monday radio hit in Boston casting doubt on the 1969 moon landing, telling WEEI he isn't fully convinced the United States ever got there. The 24-year-old Patriots quarterback said he's not leaning either way — just that he stays a little skeptical, and he even noted he once took a conspiracy-theories course at North Carolina.
Fun segment. But here's the part that actually matters for your lineup: Maye is QB3 in our rankings and No. 9 overall, and through four games in 2026 he's posted 854 passing yards, four touchdowns, zero interceptions and 136 rushing yards — good for 64 PPR points. Whatever he believes about Apollo 11, his production is very much real.
Pressed on the wildest theory he secretly entertains, Maye said he could understand why people doubted the lunar footage but stopped short of fully committing. He also referenced a UNC class — titled around uncertain truths, aliens and secret societies — where students dug into the 'are birds real' bit and other classics. He didn't endorse any of it. He just found it interesting.
Conspiracy Hour in NFL Locker Rooms
Maye isn't alone in the genre. Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers has famously pulled teammates down the rabbit hole, and receiver DK Metcalf told The Athletic he's a believer now too — floating theories about a hidden civilization, whether in Antarctica or inside the Earth itself. For context, Rodgers sits at QB19 in our ranks with 69 PPR points through four 2026 games, while Metcalf is WR25 at 43 PPR points on 16 catches.
The real-world footnote: Rodgers' form has dipped slightly, down two fantasy points versus his 2026 season average over his last five games, so the off-field quirks haven't translated to upside there. Metcalf's modest 213-yard, one-touchdown start keeps him as more of a boom-or-bust flex than a set-and-forget piece.
The Fantasy Verdict
For Maye managers, ignore the noise. His legs are the whole point — 136 rushing yards in four games gives him a weekly floor most pocket passers can't match, and he's thrown zero picks. Yes, he's running three and a half fantasy points below his 2026 average across his last five, but a QB3 with rushing equity is a plug-and-play starter every week. Keep him in your lineup. The moon can wait.
