Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry

Episode: Week 1 Love/Hate — Christian McCaffrey, Drake London, Baker Mayfield Headline Top Players
Date: September 4, 2025

Episode Overview

Matthew Berry and the Fantasy Football Happy Hour crew (Jay Croucher and Lawrence Jackson) celebrate the return of NFL football by breaking down their Week 1 Love/Hate lists for 2025. The episode features in-depth discussion of key running backs, wide receivers, and quarterbacks to target or avoid, with lively banter, fan questions, stat-backed insights, and the signature Love/Hate energy. Special focus is given to Christian McCaffrey’s health, high-upside RB picks, fantasy-fade candidates, and headline matchups. The team also delivers their best bets for Thursday night and responds to community input.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Week 1: Football is Back!

[01:56-02:42]

• Matthew Berry, reporting live from Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, sets the celebratory tone:

  "Today is game day. Today is game day, baby... Everyone drinks for free if you're a football fan because today the season starts. Let's freaking go." — Matthew Berry (02:09)

• Lawrence Jackson reflects the excitement:

  "Shout out to the football fans. We are you and you are us. We all love it. NFL is back today, of course, on NBC Sports." — Lawrence Jackson (02:42)

Running Backs: Love List

Christian McCaffrey — San Francisco 49ers

[03:52-05:42]

• Kyle Shanahan (via clip) reassures that CMC is fully healthy after offseason arthritis concerns.
• Berry hypes him as the clear week-one love:

  "CMC is healthy... I have him at running back four this week, but there's a very real possibility that he ends the week as the number one running back in fantasy." — Matthew Berry (04:15)

• Concerns about Shanahan's unpredictability are acknowledged but dismissed due to talent and opportunity.

Chase Brown — Cincinnati Bengals

[06:18-08:38]

• Jay highlights Brown’s projected workload and favorable game script against the Browns.
• Berry adds:

  "They’re five and a half point favorites so you expect them to lean on the run especially in the second half." — Matthew Berry (07:30)

• All three see upside in Brown’s receiving props against Cleveland.

Memorable Moment:
A lighthearted debate about the fan-created nickname “The Brown Gobbler” for Chase Brown leads to hilarious banter.

“The Brown Gobbler sounds like a rejected Batman villain, right? Who did this? Oh, it’s the work of the Brown Gobbler.” — Matthew Berry (09:14)

James Conner — Arizona Cardinals

[10:49-11:46]

• Berry cites Conner’s red-zone dominance and a Saints run defense that surrendered the most rushing TDs last year.

  “When they get in close, they like to run with James Conner and they're going to be successful against your New Orleans Saints...” — Matthew Berry (11:04)

Tyrone Tracy — New York Giants

[12:14-14:13]

• Lawrence spotlights Tracy’s expected lead role, with Berry noting his pass-catching upside and likely positive workload regardless of game script.

Others Receiving Votes:
[15:53-17:17]

• Trebj on Henderson (Patriots): Big play & pass game ability.
• Jerome Ford (Browns): 3-down work, CIN gave up high RB catch rates.
• Austin Ekeler (Commanders): Early-season veteran reliance.
• Jordan Mason (Vikings): Goal-line RB, favorable Bears matchup.

Running Backs: Hate List

Nick Chubb — Houston Texans

[18:34-19:30]

• Berry is wary due to committee potential and post-injury performance.

  "I'm nervous about Nick Chubb's workload in week one. I want to see it first..." — Matthew Berry (19:30)

Jaquori Croskey-Merritt ("Bill") — Commanders

[20:25-22:39]

• Lawrence pounds the table against starting “Bill” amid a likely four-way RB committee and tough Giants’ defensive front.
• Berry supports this caution:

  "I'd rather play it safe. I'd rather see it first before I put him into my lineup unless I'm in a super deep league." — Matthew Berry (21:47)

James Cook — Buffalo Bills

[24:34-25:17]

• Jay flags expected touchdown regression and a brutal Ravens matchup:

  "The obvious reason is just the touchdown regression is going to inevitably, well, not inevitably, very likely hit him..." — Jay Croucher (24:34)

Wide Receivers & Tight Ends: Love List

Drake London — Atlanta Falcons

[27:01-28:04]

• Headliner due to Tampa’s vulnerable secondary; Berry:

  "Drake London has a big game in what should be a high scoring affair between the Buccaneers and the Falcons. He's a top nine play for me this week." — Matthew Berry (28:04)

Cooper Kupp — LA Rams

[28:26-29:34]

• Jay notes Cup has been "written off prematurely," projecting a strong PPR outing.

Xavier Worthy — Kansas City Chiefs

[30:05-31:05]

• With Rashee Rice suspended, Worthy steps into a featured role. Berry has him as a top-12 WR:

  "Patrick Mahomes goes scorched earth and I think it starts on Friday night in Brazil. So I think Xavier Worthy has just a huge game here..." — Matthew Berry (30:19)

Tyreek Hill — Miami Dolphins

[31:27-32:51]

• Lawrence details Hill’s “Mr. Week One” reputation and expects a volcanic start, especially on turf in Indy.

David Njoku — Cleveland Browns

[33:34-34:48]

• Berry notes Njoku’s “magical” numbers with Joe Flacco at QB and the Bengals’ historical struggles against TEs:

  "Averaging 18.2 fantasy points per game with Joe Flacco as his quarterback... I have Njoku as a top five play as well." — Matthew Berry (34:01)

Others Receiving Votes:
[35:22-37:08]

• Tetaroa McMillan, Emeka Egbuka, Matthew Golden, Deebo Samuel, Cade Otton (deep streamer).

Wide Receivers: Hate List

Calvin Ridley — Tennessee Titans ("The Baby Blue Riddler")

[38:05-39:05]

• Berry calls out the difficult dual of Ridley vs. Patrick Surtain & Denver’s lockdown secondary:

  “It's literally. It's just he's being matched up with Surtain... the Baby Blue Riddler will be a puzzling start on Sunday.” — Matthew Berry (38:40)

Garrett Wilson — New York Jets

[40:07-41:13]

• Lawrence worries about anemic game script (NYJ-PIT: 38.5 O/U), and a stacked Steelers secondary.

Davante Adams — Raiders

[41:13-41:59]

• Jay sees a difficult adjustment with Stafford at QB, injury/lack of rapport, and Houston’s daunting defense.

Quarterbacks: Love List

Baker Mayfield — Tampa Bay Buccaneers

[46:11-47:00]

• Berry’s QB6 for week one — 22.9 FPPG and six TDs in 2 matchups vs. the Falcons last season.

Daniel Jones — New York Giants

[47:00-47:48]

• Jay highlights the rushing upside and positive Week 1 setup vs. a depleted Miami secondary.

Trevor Lawrence — Jacksonville Jaguars

[48:25-49:11]

• Berry praises deep-ball advantage vs. Carolina and sneakily high shootout potential.

Bryce Young — Carolina Panthers

[49:11-50:16]

• Lawrence details Young’s hot finish to 2024 and upgraded weapons for a Jaguars matchup.

Others Receiving Votes:
[50:16-51:31]

• Drake Maye (Patriots): Mobility + new weapons against the Raiders.
• Joe Flacco: Volume, negative game script vs. Cincinnati.

Quarterbacks: Hate List

J.J. McCarthy — Minnesota Vikings

[51:49-52:03]

• Berry: tough road debut at Chicago, expects heavy run script.

Matthew Stafford — LA Rams

[52:06-52:29]

• Lawrence: tough Texans front, Stafford’s back issues, and poor 2024 fantasy output.

Brock Purdy — San Francisco 49ers

[52:29-53:05]

• Jay: brutal matchup in Seattle, Seahawks defense trending up, pass-catcher injuries.

Notable Quotes & Banter

• "Do you need me to tell you that the three games that [CMC] did play last year, he saw 88% of the snaps?...he reminds everyone, oh yeah, he's that dude." — Matthew Berry (04:15)
• On Chase Brown’s nickname:
  “Do you think Chase Brown would enjoy being known...as the Gobbler? ...Imagine being called The Brown Gobbler.” — Matthew Berry (09:08)
• On Tyreek Hill:
  "Tyreek Hill has become Mr. Week One ever since he's become a Miami Dolphin ...13 targets, 8.5 receptions, in 146 receiving yards per game." — Lawrence Jackson (31:27)
• Pure Berry:
  "You can't trust Kyle Shanahan as far as you can throw him... but I'm in this year and especially this week, [CMC] leads my love list." — Matthew Berry (04:59)
• Regarding the new NFL season:
  "We drink for free today. We've made it, baby. We're here." — Matthew Berry (02:12)

Best Bets for Thursday Night

[54:54-55:19]

• Jay: A.J. Brown over 71.5 receiving yards
• Lawrence: George Pickens 5+ receptions at plus money
• Matthew: Saquon Barkley under 19.5 carries

Memorable & Fun Moments

• "The Brown Gobbler" Nickname Bit [08:53–10:03]:
  Light-hearted running gag about fans bestowing questionable names on players.
• "Mr. Week One" and Stats:
  Tyreek Hill’s wild week one averages since joining Miami.
• Community Questions [14:13, 22:39, etc.]:
  Apex Fousey’s “Tyrone Tracy or Travis Hunter?” — group consensus leans Hunter this week.

Important Timestamps

• Opening energy and celebration — [01:56–02:42]
• CMC deep dive and Love List launch — [03:52–05:42]
• Chase Brown love and 'Gobbler' bit — [06:18–10:03]
• James Conner & Tracy — [10:49–14:13]
• RB Hate List (Chubb/Committee discussion) — [18:34–22:39]
• Drake London WR love — [27:01–28:04]
• Cooper Kupp revival, Tyreek Hill hype — [28:26–32:51]
• Top QB picks (Baker, Jones, T. Law, Young) — [46:11–50:16]
• QB Hate List — [51:49–53:05]
• Best bets for Thursday — [54:54–55:19]

Tone & Style

This episode blends statistical analysis, actionable fantasy advice, and running gags with a high-energy, camaraderie-filled banter. Matthew Berry's trademark blend of insight and humor is on full display, making the show equally entertaining and useful for fantasy players.

Summary Table — Top Week 1 Plays

| Position | Love List Headliner | Hate List Headliner | |-----------------|---------------------------|-------------------------------------| | RB | Christian McCaffrey | Nick Chubb | | WR | Drake London | Calvin Ridley | | TE | David Njoku | N/A | | QB | Baker Mayfield | J.J. McCarthy, Matthew Stafford |

For more context, in-depth matchup notes, and personalized start/sit advice, listen to the full episode or check out Matthew Berry’s “10 Facts You Need to Know Before Week 1” on NBCSports.com.