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.
