Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry

Week 7 Love/Hate: Breece Hall, Davante Adams, Deebo Samuel, Baker Mayfield

Release Date: October 16, 2025
Podcast Host(s): Matthew Berry (NBC Sports), Jake Croucher, Lawrence Jackson
Key Guests: N/A

Main Theme/Purpose

This Week 7 edition of "Fantasy Football Happy Hour" with Matthew Berry focuses on his signature “Love/Hate” lists for fantasy football, guiding managers on key players to start or sit. The episode zeroes in on trending running backs (Breece Hall), wide receivers (Davante Adams, Deebo Samuel), and quarterbacks (including Baker Mayfield and Dak Prescott), digs into crucial injury updates, and contextualizes emerging backfield and receiver situations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breece Hall & the Jets Backfield

• Jake Croucher opens Love/Hate with Breece Hall’s trade rumors:
  "This is like my...probably like my fifth month dealing with this now. So at this point...it just, it is what it is. You know, I'm here, I want to be here. I love being a New York Jet and everything, but at the end of the day, you know, I don't control what goes on..." (04:14)
• Matthew Berry advocates for starting Hall:
  “Since Braylon Allen went on IR, it’s basically been the Breece Hall show. 80% of the Jets' running back touches in the two games since Allen went down...against Carolina, it means quite a bit because three of the four running backs that have seen at least 15 touches against the Carolina Panthers this year have scored at least 16 or more fantasy points.” (05:10)
• Garrett Wilson’s injury propels Hall’s floor upward: Jets' offense likely consolidated around Hall, Justin Fields, and Mason Taylor.

2. Emergence of Jaquori Krosky Merritt (JCM)

• Jake Croucher: “The Cowboys run defense who just turned uncle Rico into uncle LaDainian Tomlinson circa 2004...JCM got 17 of 20 RB carries last game, up from 50% of touches to 70% and above.” (08:34)
• Berry: "It’s the highest game on the week seven slate...because there's so much uncertainty around the commander's offense, JCM is one of the few that you can say, 'that's a guy that's going to get between 15 and 20 touches in a high-scoring game.'" (09:11)

3. Quinson Judkins, Kareem Hunt, and Running Back Touchdown Chasing

• Berry: “Judkins, it should be a neutral or favorable game script for the Browns...Dolphins’ defense gives up 150 rushing yards per game, the most in the NFL. 4 of last 5 games, a RB has scored at least 20 fantasy points against Miami.” (09:49)
• Lawrence Jackson on Kareem Hunt: “Not a lot of yards, but goal line work: five carries inside the five, three TDs. Chiefs are 11.5-point favorites over the Raiders...reasonable expectation he falls in the end zone at least once this weekend.” (11:21)

4. Backfields and Situations to Avoid

• Arizona Cardinals backfield: "I wouldn't twist your neck playing any one of these Cardinals running backs...Last week, by committee, they carried the ball 21 times for only 69 yards against the Colts." (17:13)
• Berry: “If I had to pick one, it'd be Bam Knight...but in an ideal world, you're avoiding that.” (18:04)

5. Pass Catcher Insights

• Davante Adams vs Jaguars in London
  • Berry: “No Puka Nacua, Adams should get a massive target share...Three different wide receivers have had at least 30% target share against the Jags and posted at least 22 fantasy points. Adams has nearly 70% of the Rams' end zone targets.” (23:30)
• Deebo Samuel vs Cowboys
  • Jackson: “Cowboys defense ranked dead last in pass defense...He only had a 19% target share in Week 6, but had a target in the end zone. Over/under is 54.5—the highest in Week 7—so you want Deebo Samuel in there.” (25:21)
• Chris Olave vs Bears
  • Berry: “At least 10 targets in all but one game, 32% target share (fourth in NFL)...of the four WRs with at least seven targets against the Bears, three have scored a TD.” (26:18)
• Mike Evans injury watch
  • Croucher/Berry: If Evans plays, start him immediately against Detroit’s decimated secondary. If he’s out, boost Sterling Shepard and Tez Johnson. (27:44–28:28)

6. Other WRs and TEs to Love

• Rasheed Rice returns for Mahomes:
  “Last year, in the three full games, Rice played, he had almost a 34% target share...the Chiefs will target him early and often against a bottom-5 Raiders pass defense.” (32:05)
• Harold Fannin Jr. (Browns TE) as a sleeper:
  "78% route participation, utilization score 90...David Njoku did not practice and is rumored to be on the trade block." (29:24)
• Other Options (Matthew Berry):
  • Travis Hunter: Increased routes; play volume up.
  • Tez Johnson: Deep threat vs Detroit’s vulnerable secondary.
  • Cade Otton: “26% target share last week, averages almost 15 fantasy points per game when over 20%.”

7. Notable Hate/Players to Sit

• Tony Pollard:
  "Unfortunately, we don't like the timeshare that he's in—only 42% of the snaps last week, season low, in the first game that Taje Spears was back. Not a great matchup, Patriots allow the second fewest rushing yards per game." (15:41)
• Michael Pittman Jr.:
  "Chargers allow the third fewest fantasy points to WRs...Pittman, only one game over 41 receiving yards since Week 2. His TD pace is unsustainable, so touchdown regression is coming." (35:14)
• Keenan Allen:
  “Trending down, not hot since Week 1...just a flex-type operator now.” (36:30)
• Xavier Worthy:
  “Only a 15% target share. Chiefs are 11.5-point favorites, likely not a ceiling spot.” (37:05)

8. Quarterbacks: Week 7 Love/Hate

LOVE

• Dak Prescott at Commanders:
  "Four of the last five QBs to face Washington have scored at least 18 points and thrown for at least 250 yards. Dak is playing as well as anyone." (42:59)
• Patrick Mahomes at Raiders:
  “This is the best set of receivers Mahomes has had since Tyreek Hill...all trending up, and the Raiders are a bottom-five pass defense.” (44:17)
• Baker Mayfield at Lions:
  "If MVP were voted today, Baker would get my vote...Lions have allowed at least three passing TDs to each of the last four QBs they've faced. Bucs–Lions will be a shootout." (46:24)
• Spencer Rattler at Bears:
  “The Bears have allowed multiple TDs to QBs every week except one; Rattler gets you some yards on the ground, too.” (47:41)
• Others:
  • Caleb Williams (vs Saints)
  • Jared Goff (vs Buccaneers)

HATE

• Jackson Skywalker at Broncos:
  "Second-fewest fantasy points allowed to opposing QBs, only 7.7 rushing yards per game to QBs—Broncos defense smothers running QBs." (49:15)
• CJ Stroud at Seahawks:
  “Quarterback 21 in fantasy points per game; only one good week vs depleted Ravens D. Seahawks DBs getting healthier.” (49:53)
• Matthew Stafford at Jaguars (in London):
  "Without Puka, Rams offense loses explosiveness; Stafford a weak option this week." (50:24)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Notable Quote / Moment | |-----------|-----------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:10 | Matthew Berry | “Since Braylon Allen went on IR, it’s basically been the Breece Hall show. 80% of the Jets' running back touches in the two games since Allen went down...”| | 09:49 | Matthew Berry | "Judkins...Dolphins’ D gives up 150 rushing yards per game, the most in the NFL." | | 23:30 | Matthew Berry | “No Puka Nacua, Adams should get a massive target share...Three different WRs have had at least 30% target share against the Jags and posted at least 22 fantasy points.”| | 25:21 | Lawrence Jackson | “Cowboys D ranked dead last in pass defense...over/under is 54.5—the highest in Week 7—so you want Deebo Samuel in there.”| | 26:18 | Matthew Berry | “Lobby’s a top 10 play for me this week. Bears both away giving up 15.3 yards per reception to wide receivers. Most in the NFL.”| | 32:05 | Matthew Berry | “[Rasheed Rice] had almost a 34% target share...the Chiefs will target him early and often against a bottom-5 Raiders pass defense.”| | 46:24 | Matthew Berry | “[Baker Mayfield] If they held the vote today, he would get my MVP vote.” | | 47:30 | Lawrence Jackson | “The Bears have allowed multiple touchdown passes to quarterbacks in every single game except one.” |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:14] Start of Love/Hate: Breece Hall, Jets offense woes, and Carolina matchup
• [08:34] Jaquori Krosky Merritt & Commanders–Cowboys backfield breakdown
• [09:49] Quinson Judkins vs Dolphins, Kareem Hunt, and TD vultures
• [17:13] Cardinals backfield: Bam Knight, Michael Carter confusion
• [23:30] Davante Adams, Jaguars matchup, London game impact
• [25:21] Deebo Samuel/Cowboys secondary breakdown
• [26:18] Chris Olave vs Bears & WR target/TD stats
• [32:05] Rasheed Rice returns, Chiefs passing game
• [35:14] Hate list: Michael Pittman Jr., WRs to sit
• [42:59] QB Love: Dak Prescott’s red-hot play vs Commanders
• [44:17] Patrick Mahomes: elite status & Raiders D
• [46:24] Baker Mayfield: MVP candidacy, Detroit as ideal fantasy matchup

Lighthearted Banter & Pop Culture Moments

• Multiple ongoing gags about backup producers “Pete” and “Steven;” producer Pete’s questionable joke suggestions (03:48)
• Recurring jokes about Lawrence’s neck brace: "You're wearing a camouflage hat and a neck bracelet on national television." (11:00)
• Discussion of "fallen jerseys"—fantasy darlings whose popularity on the set has faded (14:09)
• “Stop trying to make Jalen Tolbert work” Mean Girls reference by Berry (43:46)
• Baker Mayfield’s MVP polemics, celebratory for his career resurgence—all hosts praise his leadership and fantasy value (46:24)

In Summary

• Running Backs to start: Breece Hall, Jaquori Krosky Merritt, Quinson Judkins, Kareem Hunt, Jalen Warren
• Wide Receivers to start: Davante Adams, Deebo Samuel, Chris Olave, Mike Evans (if healthy), Rashee Rice
• Quarterbacks to start: Dak Prescott, Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield, Spencer Rattler
• Clear Fades: Tony Pollard, Michael Pittman Jr., Keenan Allen, Arizona backfield, Jackson Skywalker and CJ Stroud at QB

Final Thoughts in Berry's Words

• “If you had been told at the beginning of the season that (Rashee Rice) wasn’t being suspended, he’d have been drafted inside the top 15 among wide receivers.” (33:36)
• “Love/Hate isn’t about extremes. It’s about context and matchups, especially in bye-heavy weeks.” (throughout, paraphrased Berry-ism)

This episode delivered high-level fantasy football insights, sharp matchup analysis, and the panel’s signature humor—essential listening for managers chasing a playoff spot as bye weeks hit in full force.