Podcast Summary: Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry

Episode: Preseason Love/Hate: Ashton Jeanty, Nico Collins, Bo Nix + More

Date: August 21, 2025
Hosts: Matthew Berry, Jay Croucher, Lawrence Jackson

Overview

This episode kicks off Matthew Berry’s preseason "Love/Hate" analysis, spotlighting standout draft values and potential fantasy pitfalls with the 2025 fantasy football draft season in full swing. Berry and the co-hosts explore their favorite breakout candidates, discuss key running back and wide receiver situations, and debate hot-button names at quarterback—all while trading signature wisecracks. The episode delivers actionable draft advice, data-driven observations, and memorable pod banter—making it a must-listen for drafters.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Running Backs: Preseason "Love" List

(02:45 – 20:19)

- Ashton Jeanty (Las Vegas Raiders)

• Matthew Berry is "all in" on Jeanty as a first-round pick, citing Chip Kelly’s offenses and the Raiders’ context:
  • Berry [03:27]: “He's a rock solid first round pick. He makes the love list… Chip Kelly has always featured the running back.”
  • Jeanty's passing game skills underrated in college—43 receptions, 500+ yards, 5 TDs as a sophomore.
  • "I am not worried about Zemir White or Raheem Mostert."
• Lawrence Jackson [05:02]: "Once they saw he got that touchdown, you saw the whole team come around… he's ready to go."
• Jeanty earns Berry's "flag plant" as the top rookie RB to trust.

- Chase Brown (Cincinnati Bengals)

• Succeeded as a starter from Week 9 in 2024 (RB4 in PPG); Bengals didn’t draft real competition.
  • Berry [09:13]: “Going outside the top 10 at the position. I have [him] RB7. I think he's an RB1… 85% snap rate from week nine on."
  • Massive usage; only concern is perceived size/workload durability—Bengals aren’t worried, and neither are the hosts. Samaje Perine/Rookie Taj Brooks: not threats.
• Jay Croucher [10:27]: “Juiceless.” (running podcast joke)

- Bucky Irving (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

• Standout in yards after contact; 17+ touches in final 6 games.
  • Berry [11:04]: “From week six on… fifth most scrimmage yards among all running backs.”
  • “He can handle a big workload. Rashad White’s banged up. Tucker for insurance, but Bucs view Irving as a true workhorse.”

- Amarian Hampton (LA Chargers)

• Clear path to a workhorse role with Najee Harris injured and high draft capital.
  • Berry [16:26]: “Greg Roman doesn’t throw to the RB? When he had Lamar Jackson… Justin Herbert dumped off plenty to Ekeler.”
  • Viewed as a candidate for 35-40 receptions in addition to three-down work.
• Draft Range: Berry ranks him RB13, suggesting late-2nd/early-3rd (17:03).

- Others Receiving Love Votes

• Alvin Kamara: Never a target share below 18%.
• James Conner: Top-15 RB every season in Arizona.
• Travion Henderson: Boost from pass-catching game via Josh McDaniels.
• Tony Pollard, Denver’s Dobbins and Harvey, Jordan Mason (SF), Zach Charbonnet (Seattle; strong camp), Braylon Allen (Jets), Jacory Merritt (Jags sleeper).

- Bonus Sleeper: Kyle Monangai (Chicago Bears)

• Berry [20:27]: “Over 1200 yards, two straight years in the Big Ten. Never fumbled. Lawrence, never fumbled.”

2. Running Backs: Preseason "Hate" List

(21:00 – 28:22)

• Major point: "Hate" is relative to ADP, not about personal dislike for the player.
  • Berry [21:07]: “I don’t hate players, I hate ADP. Every player has a value—it’s about what it costs to acquire them.”

- James Cook (Buffalo Bills)

• Berry [22:22]: “Under 15 touches a game, <10% target share, not involved in passing game… Can’t count on 16+ TDs again. Obvious regression candidate.”
• TDs propped up numbers last year. DraftKings O/U for rush TDs: 8.5 (down from 16 last year).

- Breece Hall (New York Jets)

• Hall faces competition from rookie Braylon Allen and non-pass-catching QB (Justin Fields).
  • Berry [24:47]: “Fields is also a threat at the goal line… Not a big TD guy, and Fields never throws much to RBs. Just a narrow window for Breece Hall at his ADP.”

- Joe Mixon (Houston Texans)

• Berry [27:04]: “No timetable to return with a lingering ankle, rumors he could miss significant time. This is the scariest one.”
• Offensive line still shaky, treading as an avoid.
• On Nick Chubb as replacement [28:29]: “Potentially a flex if Mixon is ruled out Week 1.”

3. Wide Receivers: "Love" List

(29:08 – 41:38)

- Nico Collins (Houston Texans)

• Endorsed as elite—called a “unicorn” by C.J. Stroud.
  • Berry [29:46]: “He’s in the same class as CeeDee Lamb, Jefferson, Chase… Not being drafted there, but should be.”
  • Leads NFL in yards per route run over last two seasons; was on pace for a huge year before injury.

- Drake London (Atlanta Falcons)

• Volume machine—third in NFL in targets last year, usage spiked with Michael Penix at QB.
  • Lawrence [32:16]: “Only taking Jamar Chase, Jefferson, Lamb, Malik Nabers ahead of him.”
  • Floor/ceiling combo is high, and set to move all over the formation—used like Cooper Kupp per Jay.
  • Berry [33:13]: “Assuming health for Penix and London, I don’t know how he isn’t a top-10 fantasy WR.”

- Tetairoa McMillan (Carolina Panthers)

• Top-10 rookie WR—history says 100+ targets are locked in.
  • Berry [34:03]: “Have him at WR20. Legit WR2 on a better-than-you-think Panthers offense.”

- Travis Hunter (Jacksonville Jaguars)

• Jags’ trade-up to acquire him = massive opportunity.
  • Berry [35:37]: “Hunter has to work—they will make sure of it. Don’t overthink the stats—he’ll be force-fed.”
  • Jaguars plan to ramp him up to 80% of snaps.
• Offensive Rookie of the Year dark horse (per Jay, odds 10:1) and recommended over on his receiving yards.

- George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers)

• Not just a "tight end" but one of football’s most productive pass-catchers.
  • Berry [37:40]: “No player—not just TEs—had more yards per target last season than Kittle (11.8). Only TE with at least 1,000 yards each of last two years.”
  • Luke Farrell’s signing means Kittle blocks less, runs more routes. Berry ranks him TE3 with real TE1 upside.

- Others Receiving Votes

• Courtland Sutton (DEN): Top-10 WR in last 10 games, meshes well with Bo Nix.
• George Pickens (DAL): Great fit with Dak Prescott.
• Jameson Williams (DET): Jarred Goff sleeper pick.
• Emeka Egbuka (TB): Benefits from Godwin’s injury, possibly #1 for Baker Mayfield early.
• Jacoby Myers (LV), Ricky Pearsall (SF), Matthew Golden (GB): All mentioned as under-the-radar volume/injury bump guys.
• Rashid Shaheed (NO): “When healthy, he produces.”

4. Wide Receivers: "Hate" List

(41:38 – 43:52)

- DK Metcalf (Seattle Seahawks)

• New OC Arthur Smith never produced WR better than WR31 in his last four years.
  • Berry [41:46]: “Only one career season higher than WR22. Team will be run-heavy, low-scoring.”

- Zay Flowers (Baltimore Ravens)

• Lacks upside; Ravens spread targets too thin.
  • Berry [42:24]: “Not a guy that gets touchdowns. So many weapons… there’s no upside.”
  • Lawrence [42:35]: “Lamar spreads it too much… 27 pass attempts/game.”

- Jerry Jeudy (Cleveland Browns)

• Limited upside now that Jameis Winston isn’t there to lock onto him.
  • Berry [42:50]: “Outside my top 40.”

- Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons, TE)

• Perennial underperformer.
  • Berry [43:13]: “It’s not happening. Stop trying to make it happen. If I miss out, so be it.”

- Tight End Sleepers:

Colson Loveland, Tyler Warren (top 10 for Berry), Brenton Strange

5. Quarterbacks: "Love" List

(46:34 – 50:32)

- Bo Nix (Denver Broncos)

• Berry [46:49]: "Final 10 games: 21.4 PPG, QB6. They’ve added weapons, Sean Payton year 2—fantasy goodness is here to stay. He’s my QB8."

- Justin Fields (New York Jets)

• Lawrence [47:18]: "Should be a top-10 QB—best passing efficiency year coming; QB7 in six starts with Steelers."
• Berry [47:52]: “Every time he’s started, he’s been top 10 in fantasy... better weapons, better O-line.”

- Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys)

• 4,400+ pass yards and 30+ TDs in every full season last three years.
  • Berry [48:44]: "I'm a Commanders fan—not a Dak guy—but fantasy-wise, he'll crush. He’s going way too low (QB12-14 draft range)."
• Defense not as strong, so more shootouts.

- Others Receiving Votes:

• Caleb Williams (CHI): Rushing upside overlooked.
• Drake Maye (NE): 36 rush yards/game as rookie, weapons added.
• Trevor Lawrence (TB): Pass-first offense under Liam Coen.
• Bryce Young (CAR): Top-8 QB last 7 starts in 2024, Dave Canales resurrects QBs.

6. Quarterbacks: "Hate" List

(50:32 – 52:20)

- Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins)

- Great real QB, not a fantasy ceiling guy—never translated elite seasons to fantasy.
- **Lawrence [50:50]:** “Even when he led the league in passing yards, only QB17 in PPG. Goal-line TDs go to RBs; health risk for self and WRs.”

- Justin Herbert (LA Chargers)

- Chargers are a low-volume pass offense, and Herbert doesn’t bring enough rushing.
- **Berry [51:38]:** “Finished top-12 QB in only 47% of starts last year—still being drafted as such. I prefer Dak at similar price.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Berry [03:27]: “He's a rock solid first round pick. He makes the love list… Chip Kelly has always featured the running back.”
• Jay Croucher [10:27]: “Juiceless.” (recurring joke about the mysterious ‘Juice’)
• Berry [09:13]: “I was up all night writing Love/Hate. Yeah, well, I don’t know Juice. I was there in my room by myself.”
• Berry on ‘hate’: “I don’t hate players, I hate ADP.” [21:07]
• Berry on Kittle [37:40]: “No player… had more yards per target last season than George Kittle’s 11.8.”
• Berry on DK Metcalf [41:46]: “Arthur Smith, no WR has finished higher than WR31. I’m out.”
• Berry on Travis Hunter [35:37]: “He has to work… they will make sure that Travis Hunter works in Jacksonville this year.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:45 — RB "Love" List kicks off: Jeanty, Brown, Irving, Hampton
• 20:19 — RB Sleepers/Deep Cuts
• 21:00 — RB "Hate" List: Cook, Hall, Mixon
• 29:08 — WR "Love" List: Collins, London, McMillan, Hunter, Kittle
• 41:38 — WR "Hate" List: Metcalf, Flowers, Jeudy, Pitts
• 46:34 — QB "Love" List: Nix, Fields, Prescott; bonus votes (Williams, Maye, Lawrence, Young)
• 50:32 — QB "Hate" List: Tua, Herbert

Final Thoughts

Matthew Berry and co. serve up their annual "Love/Hate" as equal parts draft tool and locker room banter, focusing on actionable tier-breaking takes. If you’re drafting this weekend:

• Don’t sleep on rookie RBs or ascending volume WRs like Jeanty, Collins, London, and Hunter.
• Beware naming over value for veterans like Cook, Hall, Mixon, Metcalf, and Pitts.
• Take advantage of the market’s lag on upside QBs (Nix, Fields, Dak).
• Laugh, learn, and don’t draft Kyle Pitts.

Matthew Berry [43:13]: “It’s not happening. Stop trying to make [Kyle Pitts] happen.”

For the rest—including full QB deep dives and more league-specific strategy—watch the full episode on Peacock or NBC’s YouTube channel.