Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry

Episode: Week 3 Love/Hate: Bucky Irving, Zay Flowers, DK Metcalf, Caleb Williams
Date: September 18, 2025
Network: NBC Sports
Host: Matthew Berry, with Jay Croucher & Lawrence Jackson

Overview

This week’s episode of Fantasy Football Happy Hour revolves around the much-anticipated Week 3 "Love/Hate" segment. Matthew Berry and co-hosts Jay Croucher and Lawrence Jackson provide detailed fantasy football analysis and playful banter. The trio tackle the hottest fantasy start/sit debates, focusing on breakout players like Bucky Irving, Roman Odunze, Zay Flowers, DK Metcalf, and rookie QB Caleb Williams. Covering every position, they offer data-driven opinions, back them up with stats, and pepper the episode with their trademark quick wit and audience engagement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Running Back Round-Up

Bucky Irving: The Breakout Workhorse

• [06:13] Matthew Berry:
  • Bucky Irving is now among the rare true bell-cow RBs, averaging 20+ touches and 15%+ target share—joining an elite group.
  • “Two first names, always a crowd pleaser!”
  • Facing the Jets, a bottom-10 fantasy run defense, Berry ranks Irving ahead of Jameer Gibbs this week, expecting him to outperform already high expectations.
• [07:05] Lawrence Jackson:
  • Endorses Berry’s take, highlighting the Jets’ struggles against James Cook.
  • Predicts a big game in both run and pass situations.

James Cook: Finally Fulfilling the Hype

• [09:02] Lawrence Jackson:
  • “James Cook, running back one through the first two weeks in fantasy points per game.”
  • Emphasizes his versatile usage (at least 18 touches and 100+ scrimmage yards in each game), and how the Bills are leveraging him better than last year.
• [10:18] Matthew Berry:
  • A preseason skeptic, now a believer: “Let James Cook.”
  • Points to increased receiving work and a plus matchup vs. Miami.

Jordan Mason: Next Man Up in Minnesota

• [11:22] Matthew Berry:
  • With Aaron Jones landing on IR, Mason becomes a top-20 play, likely seeing 15+ touches, including increased passing work.
  • “Seven career games with at least 15 touches: averages 94 yards.”
  • Believes the Bengals-Vikings will surprise as an offensive shootout.

Tyler Allgeier & “Others Receiving Votes”

• [15:21] Jay Croucher:
  • Tyler Allgeier can be a sneaky flex when Atlanta is heavily favored (vs. Carolina this week).
  • Compared to David Montgomery as a “poor man’s version” with TD upside but inconsistent work outside favorable scripts.

Honorable Mentions

• Dobby, Cam Skatteboo, and Bashal Tootin highlighted as strong RB options (“I love the Tootler. I love to toot… everyone else should use the toot!” – Berry, [18:12]).

Wide Receiver Spotlight

Zay Flowers: Volume King in Baltimore

• [27:37] Matthew Berry:
  • “Only Jackson Smith-Njigba has a higher target share than Zay Flowers—42.6%—that’s insane.”
  • Despite limited TDs, sheer volume and a juicy matchup (vs. Detroit, MNF) locks him in as a top-10 WR this week.

DK Metcalf: Trust and Opportunity

• [29:13] Lawrence Jackson & Berry:
  • Aaron Rodgers’ confidence in him, plus a soft Patriots secondary, means “DK should be ready to get fired up this week.”

Roman Odunze: Breaking Out for the Bears

• [29:58] Matthew Berry:
  • “A lot of people say Rome wasn’t built in a day—but maybe a weekend.”
  • Leads team in target share, deep targets, and has quickly passed DJ Moore in WR pecking order.
  • Top-12 WR for Week 3 against Cowboys, who have struggled on deep passes this season.

Tedaroa McMillan: The Lone Star in Carolina

• [31:32] Lawrence Jackson:
  • “Double digit fantasy points in his first two NFL regular season games without even scoring a TD… he is their offense.”
  • Benefits from lack of competition for targets and projects for another high-volume day vs. Atlanta.

Other WRs Getting Love

• Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Malik Nabers, Devante Adams, Puka Nacua all cited as target-hog types with little competition.

Tight End Takes

Sam LaPorta (Lions)

• [36:01] Matthew Berry:
  • “Laporta is a love again.”
  • Faces Ravens, who have allowed the 2nd-most yards to TEs, and leads the position in consistent usage.
  • “I’m like the Harlem Globetrotters out here of the English language.”
  • Ranks him as TE3, recommending to start him with confidence.

Others Receiving Votes

• George Pickens, Wandale Robinson, Juwan Johnson, and even (shockingly) Kyle Pitts, given favorable team situations and matchups. “Your guy Kyle Pitts… he’s fourth in route participation among tight ends this season at 87%.” [39:45]

Quarterback Analysis

Caleb Williams: Ready for Takeoff

• [45:51] Matthew Berry:
  • “You can’t ask for a better matchup than the Dallas Cowboys—30th in pass defense. Bears have a top-five implied team total.”
  • Slates Williams as QB6, predicting a bounceback “Caleb Cooks” performance in a game with an over/under 50.5.

Russell Wilson: Encouraging Volume

• [46:33] Lawrence Jackson:
  • “Quarterback 2 last week… he indeed got to cooking.”
  • Now faces KC’s pass-funnel defense; still running a surprising amount, so “could probably get three [points] on the ground.”

Dak Prescott: All Systems Go

• [47:33] Matthew Berry:
  • Back to his 2023 self with a dream script vs. the Bears: “Jalen Johnson out. Clean pocket, depleted secondary. Give me all the Dak.”

Others Receiving Votes

• Cam Ward (sleeper trending up), Drake Maye (“my favorite stat of Week 3—Steelers allowing 5th-most yards per pass attempt; faced Fields and Darnold!”), Jared Goff (“expect a Monday night shootout”), and Jordan Love who, despite playing well, faces a negative game script.

Quarterbacks to Avoid

• C.J. Stroud: “It’s been two years since CJ Stroud was good at this point… does not look right—outside my top 20.”
• Joe Flacco: “Browns are in big trouble… I don’t think Joe Flacco is going to do much.” [51:20]

Hate List Highlights

RBs to Fade

• Quinshon Judkins (Browns)

  • “I just want no part of any offense facing the Packers if I can avoid it.” ([21:43])
  • Pack’s run D is elite—allowing just 2.4 yards/carry.

• Tyrone Tracy (Giants)

  • Losing grip on lead-back workload, Giants inept run game, bad matchup vs. KC.
  • “Not the face of someone who just got 37% of touches.” ([25:19])

• Josh Jacobs

  • Faces same Browns run D; “You’re just hoping he falls into the end zone.”

WRs to Avoid

• Jerry Jeudy
  • Non-factor in Browns’ anemic offense, zero red zone usage.
• Keon Coleman
  • Highly game script dependent; risks vanishing if Bills don’t need to throw.

TE to Avoid

• Evan Engraver
  • Not part of Broncos’ passing game plan. “It’s so weird… he’s just not out there.”

Memorable Quotes

• On Bucky Irving’s breakout:
  “Two first names, always a crowd pleaser!” – Matthew Berry [06:13]
• On the Bills’ RB usage:
  “Let James Cook. That’s all we’re asking.” – Matthew Berry [10:18]
• On Tedaroa McMillan’s upside:
  “He is their offense… You can count on one hand the guys with a 30% target share—and he’s on that list.” – Berry [33:03]
• On his signature joke style:
  “I’m like the Harlem Globetrotters out here of the English language.” – Matthew Berry [36:01]
• On Calvin Ridley vs. trending waiver plays:
  “You just heard me talk up Rootin Tootin… but I’m going with Calvin Ridley. Just volume.” – Berry [19:45]
• Fan interaction:
  “Stuntman Chuck 85: Matthew never stop making bad jokes. You’re the ankle breaker comedy.” [38:01]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [05:03] RB “Love” List Begins with Bucky Irving
• [09:02] James Cook Tier Jump
• [11:22] Jordan Mason Opportunity in Minnesota
• [14:51] Tyler Allgeier as a Matchup-Based Flex
• [27:04] WR Highlights Begin: Zay Flowers
• [29:13] DK Metcalf & Patriots Secondary
• [29:58] Roman Odunze’s Sudden Ascendancy
• [31:32] Tedaroa McMillan: Lone Bright Spot in Carolina
• [36:01] Sam LaPorta: TE Upside Play
• [45:51] Caleb Williams & the Week 3 QB “Love” List
• [47:33] Dak Prescott Love Call
• [49:23] C.J. Stroud Red Flags
• [21:43] Quinshon Judkins Killswitch
• [25:15] Tyrone Tracy Usage Crash
• [39:45] Kyle Pitts Fun Fact (“fourth in route participation among TEs at 87%”)

Notable Moments, Atmosphere & Tone

• Classic Banter: The hosts constantly riff on each other, e.g., Berry joking about “running back hands” and “jazz hands” ([00:47]), “the Tootler,” and his bad puns (“Rome wasn’t built in a day, but maybe a weekend!” – [29:58]).
• Audience Engagement: Successful effort to integrate live chat and fantasy mailbag, fielding lineup questions (“Pick two, full PPR: Chase, Connor, Mason” – [13:48]).
• Fantasy Philosophy: Emphasizes the volatility of matchups, necessity of chasing volume and workload, and trusting context over strictly talent in fantasy decisions.

Summary Table of Week 3 “Love/Hate” (Key Players)

| Position | Love | Hate | |-----------------|-----------------------------------|----------------------------------| | Running Back | Bucky Irving, James Cook, Mason | Judkins, Tracy, Josh Jacobs | | Wide Receiver | Zay Flowers, Odunze, Metcalf, McMillan | Jerry Jeudy, Keon Coleman | | Tight End | Sam LaPorta, Juwan Johnson, Kyle Pitts | Evan Engraver | | Quarterback | Caleb Williams, Dak Prescott | CJ Stroud, Joe Flacco |

Final Thought

The show is packed with actionable advice and entertaining delivery. Berry and crew excel at identifying usage trends, explaining matchup-driven decisions, and never miss a chance for a joke—however “ankle-breaking” it may be. Their analyses on emerging talents like Bucky Irving and Roman Odunze, the RB shakeups, and the shifting WR hierarchy are must-listen material for any fantasy manager prepping for Week 3.

For deeper analysis and more rankings, check out Berry’s “10 Facts You Need to Know Before Week 3” on NBCSports.com.

[No advertisements or non-content sections were included in this summary.]