Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry

Episode: Start/Sit: Drake Maye, Terry McLaurin, Isiah Pacheco + 10 Bold Predictions for 2025
Date: September 3, 2025
Host: Matthew Berry (NBC Sports)
Panel: Connor Rogers, Jay Croucher

Overview

This episode kicks off the 2025 NFL season, focusing on key start/sit decisions for fantasy week one—including spotlights on rookies like Drake Maye—and concludes with a rapid-fire round of ten bold predictions for the upcoming fantasy season. The trio delivers classic banter, sharp analysis, and plenty of memorable quips, all in Berry's signature style.

Key Segments & Analysis

Season Opener Banter, Ankle Talk & Show Energy

[00:55 - 04:22]

• Fun, irreverent start as Matthew Berry’s ankles (and socks) once again become a running joke, setting a light tone.
• Matthew: “America loves the ankles. They’re good. I have the ankles of a 30-year-old.” [02:08]
• The group briefly comments on Berry’s new haircut and Football Night in America appearance, before launching into fantasy analysis.

Start/Sit Decisions: Quarterbacks & Running Backs

Drake Maye vs. Raiders

[04:22 - 08:18]

• Berry: All-in as a starter for Week 1. “I’m starting him with bells on, with my ankles exposed.” [06:13]
• Cites Raiders’ terrible secondary, influx of offensive weapons (Stefon Diggs, Travion Henderson), and Maye’s underappreciated rushing upside.
• Berry: “Top five among quarterbacks in rushing yards per game...without any designed runs. I expect Josh McDaniels to use his legs quite a bit.” [07:00]
• Jay: Maye is a borderline QB1 this week given Raiders’ lack of cornerbacks and strong pass rush.

Isaiah Pacheco vs. Chargers (Brazil Game)

[08:18 - 10:15]

• Berry: Likes him as a high-end flex and likely an auto-start: “If I have Isaiah Pacheco, I’m likely starting him.” [08:49]
• Appeared healthy in preseason, should see big workload. Only real competition is aging Kareem Hunt and less-experienced backs.
• Chiefs are “going scorched earth” on offense.
• Jay: Agrees Pacheco is the sole upside back; expects Chiefs offense to rebound.

Javonte Williams (Dallas @ Eagles)

[10:58 - 13:01]

• Berry: “I’m closing it out on him... He’s going to be barely a top-40 running back for me this week.” [13:01]
• Eagles were #2 vs. RBs last year; volume likely, but needs luck and touchdown.
• This week is a bad matchup, but recommends Williams as a late-round stash for rest of season.

Caleb Johnson (Steelers @ Jets)

[14:29 - 17:15]

• Berry: Hard avoid. “Closing it out. He’s also going to be kind of a barely top-40 play for me this week.” [15:31]
• Jets defense stifled RBs in 2024; Johnson is 3rd on depth chart behind Warren and Gainwell, lacks Rodgers’ trust.
• Discussion points out the complicated Arthur Smith offense and fantasy headaches in Pittsburgh.

Start/Sit Decisions: Wide Receivers

Terry McLaurin vs. Giants

[20:24 - 23:32]

• Berry: Start. “I just can’t imagine having Terry McLaurin on my roster...at home against the Giants as favorites and benching him.” [21:08]
• Solid home matchup, Giants weak vs. deep passes.
• Acknowledges WR3 more than WR2 value due to competition (Deebo Samuel), but upside is there.

DJ Moore vs. Vikings

[24:32 - 28:08]

• Berry: Confident “open”; can’t justify sitting Moore in week one.
• “Pound for pound, one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, period. He’s going to be fine.” [27:27]
• Vikes allowed most fantasy points to WRs last season; Moore historically productive even with bad QBs.

Khalil Shakir vs. Ravens

[28:37 - 31:10]

• Berry: “I’m going to close it out on him. I like him long term this season, but I’m just nervous until I see what this offense looks like this year.” [29:13/30:39]
• Limited in practice, tough Baltimore matchup, too many question marks about his health and target share.

Lightning Recap: Start/Sit

[31:37 - 32:23]

• Open: Drake Maye, Isaiah Pacheco, Terry McLaurin, DJ Moore
• Close: Javonte Williams, Caleb Johnson, Khalil Shakir

Head-to-Head Touchdown Parlay with LeBron James

[34:00 - 38:44]

• Matthew Berry shares excitement about participating in a DraftKings touchdown draft with LeBron James.
• Berry’s Picks: Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry, Jonathan Taylor, Bijan Robinson (“I went with four running backs. There was no rules...” [34:47])
• LeBron’s Picks: Malik Nabers, Ja’Marr Chase, Bucky Irving, Jameer Gibbs
• Cute anecdote: Berry’s daughters get to meet LeBron over Zoom—“He’s everything you’d hope he would be. He’s awesome.” [35:32]
• Listeners are invited to bet on either Berry’s or LeBron’s parlay via DraftKings.

10 Bold Fantasy Predictions for 2025

[39:43 - 52:05]

1. Trevor Lawrence: Top-10 Fantasy QB

• Berry: “Never ranked higher than QB13 in points per game...but new OC Liam Coen will throw the hell out of the ball.” [39:49]

2. AJ Brown Outscores Saquon Barkley

• Jay: “I think AJ Brown is one of the five most talented receivers in football... is less of an injury risk than Saquon.” [40:54]

3. Elic Ayomanor: Top-50 WR

• Connor: “He establishes himself as the number two in Tennessee...I thought the Titans getting him in the fourth round was an absolute steal.” [42:04]

4. Omarion Hampton Leads NFL in Rushing TDs

• Berry: “My ride or die...plus 4500 on DraftKings to lead the league in rushing touchdowns. The Chargers want to run...he’s an absolute hammer.” [43:02]

5. Colts Finish with a Winning Record (w/ Daniel Jones, etc. Outperforming ADP)

• Jay: “I believe in Shane Steichen. I’ll bet on Shane Steichen.” [43:59]

6. DeAndre Swift: Top-12 Running Back

• Connor: “If I’ve seen you do it once before, there’s hope you could do it again...he should have the volume to do it.” [46:09]

7. Nico Collins Finishes as WR1 Overall

• Berry: “Nico Collins is someone that is as good as CeeDee Lamb or Justin Jefferson...he’s just not talked about that way.” [47:30]

8. Joe Burrow Throws for 50 TDs

• Jay: “He’s coming in the healthiest he’s ever been, defense is bad, they’ll have to throw.” [48:49]

9. Michael Penix: 25+ TDs, Top-15 QB

• Connor: “His TD total prop is just 19.5. I think he throws 25.” [51:03]

10. Super Bowl Champion Picks

• Connor: “I took the Ravens.” [51:57]
• Jay: “Green Bay Packers; Micah Parsons is the most impactful non-QB in football.”
• Berry: “Handle the Commanders. Shock us there. Of course, why not?”

Offensive Rookie of the Year Long Shots

[54:06 - 54:50]

• Jay: Wild card bet on OT Josh Simmons at +12000. “No tackle has ever won this award...but if Mahomes gets back to MVP level, Josh Simmons could be viewed as the most impactful rookie in the NFL.” [54:17]
• Connor: Travis Hunter at 10:1. “Don’t worry about him playing some defense. Travis Hunter’s gonna win Offensive Rookie of the Year.” [54:45]
• Berry: Omarion Hampton. “If he leads the NFL in rushing touchdowns, he will win the award.” [54:50]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Matthew Berry, on fantasy emotions: “Fantasy football is an emotional game...we play this game for fun. So if you’re like, ‘I’m done with Pacheco,’ I get it. But we have to look at it objectively.” [10:15]
• Connor Rogers, on DJ Moore: “Feels like the overreaction game of the week, right? Where... there’s going to be a lot of takes from this game.” [25:48]
• Jay, on Daniel Jones: “Not hard for Daniel Jones to outperform his ADP because he’s not being drafted at all.” [45:19]
• Berry, on ankle exposure: “I’m starting him with bells on, with my ankles exposed.” [06:13]
• Jay, on Khalil Shakir: “He also got out-produced last year in fantasy by Keenan Allen, so it’s not like he set the world alight.” [30:06]
• Berry, candid on Khalil Shakir: “I’m nervous until I see what this offense looks like this year.” [30:39]

Timestamps for Crucial Segments

• Drake Maye deep dive: [04:22 – 08:18]
• Isaiah Pacheco analysis: [08:18 – 10:15]
• Javonte Williams breakdown: [10:58 – 13:01]
• Wide receiver slate (McLaurin, Moore, Shakir): [20:24 – 31:10]
• Berry vs. LeBron DraftKings parlay: [34:00 – 38:44]
• 10 Bold Predictions for 2025: [39:43 – 52:05]
• Rookie of the Year odds: [54:06 – 54:50]

Tone & Style

• The show is playful, quick, and loaded with friendly jabs, but grounded with rich, actionable fantasy insights.
• The panel freely mixes personal anecdotes (LeBron meeting Berry’s kids) with serious stats and weekly advice.
• Fans are directly engaged via frequent commentary shoutouts and real-time viewer questions.

Conclusion

This episode is a comprehensive primer for fantasy managers ahead of Week 1, offering critical start/sit calls and high-upside bold predictions, all delivered in classic Matthew Berry fashion—with a mix of humor, statistical rigor, and a genuine passion for the fantasy community.

For rankings, projections, and the full Love/Hate column, visit NBCSports.com and Rotoworld.com. Catch the Fantasy Football Happy Hour video on Peacock and YouTube.