Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry

Episode: Week 8 Love/Hate: De’Von Achane, Derrick Henry, Rashee Rice, Jalen Hurts
Date: October 23, 2025

Overview

This episode delivers Matthew Berry’s Week 8 “Love/Hate” analysis, focusing on crucial fantasy football choices with a special eye on running backs and wide receivers worth starting or sitting. Matthew, Jay Croucher, and Lawrence Jackson offer bold rankings, dig deep into player matchups, and share inside jokes and personal stories that keep the conversation light and entertaining for fantasy football fans looking to gain an edge on their lineups.
Main Focus: Week 8 Love/Hate lists for running backs, WR/TE, and QBs, with matchup breakdowns and best bets for Thursday Night Football.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Childhood TV Crushes & Show Banter (01:08–05:29)

• The team humorously reminisces about 90s TV icons as their childhood crushes: Jay Croucher confesses to Xena and Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Lawrence Jackson goes with JLo and Maya from Family Matters, and Matthew Berry vouches for Kelly Kapowski (Tiffany Amber Thiessen).
• Frequent asides and wisecracks highlight the show’s relaxed, conversational style.
• “[Kelly Kapowski] is the all time goat of childhood crushes. Spans many generations.” – Matthew Berry (03:26)

2. Week 8 Fantasy RB: Who’s on the Love List? (05:29–17:45)

Breece Hall vs. Cincinnati Bengals

• Despite underwhelming recent play, Berry doubles down:

  “Every single game this year, the Cincinnati Bengals have allowed at least 16.9 fantasy points to a running back... Breece Hall is a running back. Ipso, ergo facto. Ipso facto bingo bango. Obviously.” – Matthew Berry (07:12)

• Couches with context: six teams on a bye, many injuries, volume is key.

De’Von Achane vs. Falcons

• Jay: Falcons are fast but “can be run on”; Dolphins should try to reestablish ground game after rough outing.
• Lawrence: “Even when you go before that 49ers game... James Cook in the third quarter, nine carries, 53 yards against the Falcons. It was working. They just stopped doing it.” (10:44)
• Berry notes the Falcons’ secondary is strong, but their run D is 29th over last month.

Derrick Henry vs. Bears

• Berry expects a bounce-back: Bears’ defense gives up chunk runs & are a soft matchup for RBs.
• “Ravens actually have the third highest implied team total in week eight. So I have Henry as a top ten play. I know it hasn't been great. Believe me, no one knows it better than I...” – Matthew Berry (12:38)

Isaiah Pacheco vs. Commanders

• Lawrence: “It seems like they're shifting more to Pacheco as he starts to look more like himself. Commanders [are] the 12th worst rushing defense in the NFL.” (14:24)
• Berry: “Of course the only time this entire effing season that Isaiah Pacheco actually falls in the endzone is when he's against me on Lawrence's team...” (14:28)

Bonus Love List RBs (16:47)

• Rico Dowdle (Bills vs. Commanders): Buffalo allows rushing points; game script may favor Dowdle.
• Tyjae Spears (Titans): 40%+ snap share, negative game script vs. strong Colts.
• Tyler Allgeier (Falcons): In Falcons wins, nearly 15 touches/game; Miami giving up the most rushing yards recently.

3. Hate List - RBs to Avoid (18:13–22:26)

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Commanders)

• Berry: “[He] has a 5% target share... never had a game with more than two targets. If they're down big... he's just not going to be the field.” (18:31)

Quinshon Judkins (Patriots matchup)

• Lawrence warns: “Patriots have given up two [rushing TDs] this year. Ashton Genti, Devon Achane, James Cook, Jalen Warren, Alvin Kamara all held to under 50 rushing yards.” (21:19)
• Berry: “I'm turning down the [trade]... this week I need Derrick Henry over Judkins.” (21:33)

Woody Marks vs. 49ers

• “The Niners... tackle. They didn't let Bijan Robinson get free at all. And if [he] can't... I don't think Woody Marks will either.” – Jay Croucher (22:26)

4. Love/Hate: Wide Receivers & Tight Ends (23:14–34:23)

Rashee Rice (Chiefs vs. Commanders)

• Heavily targeted on limited snaps.

  “10 targets, four red zone targets, targeted on 52% of his routes. When he was out there, Mahomes was looking for him...” – Matthew Berry (23:51)

• Commanders are allowing most yards to slot WRs, where Rice lines up frequently.

T. Higgins (Bengals)

• Flacco at QB means “insane” volume. “He's had at least five receptions with eight targets in his two starts with Joe Flacco.” – Lawrence Jackson (26:11)

Zay Flowers (Ravens)

• 29% target share, faces Bears secondary that struggles with high-target WRs.
• “Wide receivers [with] at least seven targets against the Bears... averaging 18.9 fantasy points per game.” – Berry (28:48)

A.J. Brown (Eagles vs. Giants)

• Jay: "He just looks right again... The pass game has worked lately, I think they’ll continue to lean into that."

TE: Tucker Kraft (Packers)

• Pittsburgh a fantasy-friendly TE matchup: “Steelers have given up at least 14 points to a tight end in three of their past four games.” – Berry (30:36)

Additional “Others Receiving Votes”

• DeVonta Smith (Eagles), Courtland Sutton (Broncos), Quentin Johnston (Chargers), Dalton Schultz (Texans), Cade Otton (Bucs). (33:19–34:23)

Hate List – WR/TE to Fade

• Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins): “Bottom five implied team total... Waddle just merely WR25, he’s on the hate list.” – Berry (34:43)
• Kyle Pitts (Falcons): Run-heavy game script, reliance on TDs makes him a ‘meh’ TE play.
• Michael Pittman (Colts): Egalitarian offense, Colts are huge favorite, game script likely to limit volume. (36:17–37:08)

5. Quarterback Love/Hate (39:43–49:47)

Love List QBs

• Bo Nix (Chargers) vs. Cowboys: Cowboys allow 25.1 PPG to QBs (highest in league).

  “They're not only bad [vs QBs], they're significantly worse than every other team.” – Berry (41:42)

• Jalen Hurts (Eagles) vs. Giants: Coming off stellar game, faces banged-up Giants secondary.
• Justin Herbert (Chargers): Consistent volume, faces susceptible Vikings pass D.
• Michael Penix Jr. (Falcons): Dolphins allow 5th most QB fantasy points. “Has averaged 268 passing yards in his last three games.” – Lawrence (44:46)
• Others: Caleb Williams (Ravens match), Jackson Dart (Eagles match); both recommended streamers in “byemageddon” week.

Hate List QBs

• Jordan Love: Faces Steelers, only one game all year with more than 31 attempts. “I have Jordan Love as more a high end QB2...” – Berry (46:35)
• 49ers QBs (Brock Purdy/Mac Jones): Texans allow fewest QB points, just 4 passing TDs allowed.
• Drake Maye: Faces brutal Cleveland defense, may not have necessary volume.

6. Notable Moments & Quotes

• “Every single game this year, the Cincinnati Bengals have allowed at least 16.9 fantasy points to a running back... Breece Hall is a running back. Ipso, ergo facto. Ipso facto bingo bango. Obviously.” – Matthew Berry (07:12)

• On Mahomes "padding" stats:
  “I don't have a stat to prove this...But I think Patrick Mahomes, after having the worst game of his professional career in the Super Bowl...came to the season with a chip on his shoulder.” – Berry (25:11)

• On fantasy tough love:
  “I put Breece Hall on the love list last week...He stunk...I was wrong. That was wrong. You guys were right...And yet here I am back again.” – Berry (07:12)

• “I have to pick a hate quarterback. I wanted to pick somebody you heard of, so I’m lowering expectations for Jordan Love, but...he’ll be fine as a QB2.” – Berry (47:10)

7. Thursday Night Football Best Bets (52:37–55:10)

• Jay: Aronde Gadsden OVER 44.5 receiving yards (“This man went seven for 164 last week—he can be 45 yards tonight.”) (53:04)
• Lawrence: Justin Herbert OVER 25 rushing yards (“He’s had at least 30 rushing yards and four out of his seven games...Minnesota has only played two QBs that run.”) (53:50)
• Matthew: Quentin Johnston OVER 49.5 receiving yards (“QJ is their deep threat...Vikings allow second highest completion rate on deep passes...I think QJ gets deep for one in this one.”) (54:31)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [05:29] – Love/Hate begins; Week 8 RBs: Hall, Achane, Henry, Pacheco
• [16:47] – RBs “Others Receiving Votes”
• [18:13] – Hate List – RBs to avoid
• [23:14] – Pass catchers: Rashee Rice, T. Higgins, Zay Flowers, A.J. Brown
• [34:23] – Hate List, WRs/TEs: Waddle, Pitts, Pittman
• [39:43] – QB Love/Hate: Bo Nix, Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert, Michael Penix
• [46:35] – Hate List QBs
• [52:37] – Thursday Night Football Bets
• [55:41] – Who to Start: Chargers/Vikings, Mason/Jones update

Top Takeaways

• Buyes/injuries create opportunities: Several bold picks hinge on volume due to bye weeks and injuries, elevating players like Allgeier and even marginal starting QBs into starter range.
• Follow matchups over names: Defenses that funnel targets (e.g., Falcons secondary vs. runners; Commanders vs. slot) shape who’s “love/hate.”
• Mahomes wants to “scorch the earth” for narratives/MVP, benefiting top Chiefs pass-catchers.
• Berry’s approach blends data and intuition (“I can’t prove it in a court of law... but I think [Mahomes] wants to win the MVP.” – 25:11)

Memorable Quotes

• “Every single game this year, the Cincinnati Bengals have allowed at least 16.9 fantasy points to a running back... Breece Hall is a running back. Ipso, ergo facto. Ipso facto bingo bango. Obviously.” – Matthew Berry (07:12)
• “If I'm throwing the ball up and it's T. Higgins versus Sauce Gardner, give me T. Higgins all day just on the strength.” – Lawrence Jackson (26:11)
• “In games that the Falcons win, Tyler Allgeier averages 14.7 touches.” – Matthew Berry (17:45)
• “If they're down big... [Croskey-Merritt] is just not going to be on the field. It's going to be Jeremy McNichols.” – Berry (18:31)
• “They blitz a lot, so they'll leave a guy on an island and you could see a scenario where QJ has a one-on-one, they bring pressure and Herbert just, you know, hits him on the fly.” – Jay Croucher (55:21)

Tone

• Fast-paced, fun, full of playful rivalry and jokes.
• Candid about fantasy calls—admits mistakes with self-deprecating humor.
• In-depth stats and actionable advice woven into the banter.

Conclusion

This episode is packed with actionable insights for navigating a tough, bye-heavy Week 8, balancing signature Berry humor with sharp matchup-focused fantasy advice. The team’s chemistry and candidness drive home the episode’s core point: fantasy success in a chaotic week comes from understanding trends, trusting volume, and leveraging matchups—not just clinging to big names.