Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:07 PM)

Sorry I am late...

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:08 PM)

Taping my Fantasy Minute for NFL Live... ran a bit long. My bad. I'll stay late. Let's get to it. All subjects answered, as always

Adam (Denver, CO)

Flex player that will win my playoff game for me: S. Alexander (v ARI), J. Fargas (v GB), J. Galloway (v HOU) or L. Coles (v CLE). Help!

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:10 PM)

I'd probably go with Fargas here, but all except SA are good plays here. By the way, I'm not gonna answer start / sit questions - you'll be able to rread my rankings on Wed and my FLEX Thursday morning

Krishna (chicago, il)

What's the deal with MBIII? There does not seem to be any rhyme or reason to how many carries he gets in a given game. Pick 3 for this week: MBIII, B Jacobs, Fred Taylor, or Edgerrin

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:11 PM)

MB3 is a #2 RB in a 12 team league - nothing more. I agree, he's inconsistent and it's because he is in a time share and the Cowboys are pass first.

Bernard (Princeton, NJ)

You were taping a Fantasy MINUTE!!! Doesnt that mean ONE minute? How many takes to get it right? You are better than that.

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:16 PM)

Well, it takes a lot longer than that ... script has to be written, i need a lot of make-up (A LOT), then you go, they mic you up,, they adjust camera angles, lighting, etc, then you do it. I actually got it on the second take but between all that and walking there and back it's about a half hour every day, not counting the script writing which is another 10 to 15 depending on research. And it has to time out to 60 second exactly.

BJ Carmel, NY

Ok TMR...Fantasy story I gotta share. I got in the playoffs last night when all 3 of these scenarios happened (and I needed all 3 to happen to get in and none involved my team) PPR League -Wes Welker and Tom Brady score less than 45 points -Derrick Mason scores more than 17 -Ben Watson and NE's D scores less than 10 points combined... can you believe that?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:17 PM)

I can... you never know. Nate lost a game because he was up 2 going into MNF, he was done, his opponent had Clayton. a) who starts clayton in week 13 vs NE? and b) he won because of that stupid hail mary at the end of the game....

Jeremy(Los Angeles)

What receiver is a better waiver wire pick-up in case Fitzgerald sits again this week? This week and for the playoffs; Gage, Bryant Johnson, Sidney Rice or someone else? Currently have Housh, Fitz, Steve Smith and Isaac Bruce on the bench.

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:18 PM)

Gage actually. Not sure Rice remains consistent and worried Johnson might face #1 coverage if Boldin is also out. It's between gage and bj but Gage has been solid last month

Don, Dallas

Matt, Please dont tell me you arent answering start/sit questions. Why do you guys refuse to do that? People don't mind reading that. Its insightful. Trade deadlines are over and there are too many fantasy ethic and keeper questions. People need advice man!! This is playoff week buddy!!!Who would you start this week between The Other A.P in Chicago vs Washington or Travis Henry vs KC at home?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:20 PM)

I know... but if you just read my rankings, then you can do that for yourself and I'd rather use limited time to answer strategy or longer term questions about players..... like this next one

Steven Jackson (STL)

So Matt. Do you now say I'm a "no brainer" start for the rest of the year? Or do I need to do even more?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:20 PM)

No brainer.

Sam (NYC)

How, as a coach, would you deal with Bart Scott after his two ridiculous penalties last night??

brook (atlanta)

Is it not possible to have a hot chick read the fantasy minute? You can keep doing all the work but let a hot chick do the taping, come on.

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:24 PM)

Well, there's a lot of debate there, actually. Would you guys (I'm asking seriously now) LISTEN to a hot chick that was clearly reading. Obviously, men enjoy looking at attractive women, but from an information standpoint, are you listening to anything they say? Trusting it? Just curious from an overall view point.... because some feedback we get is folkl s just want info - they can get babes elsewhere. And others, well, they share your opinion. ALSO: That's not how ESPN operated, by the way. Erin Andrews gets a lot of attention for how she looks but trust me on this, she knows her sports backwards and forwards.... to get on air at ESPN you have to know your stuff cold.

Adam (Miami)

What kind of fantasy chat could we have without start and sit discussions???? Hmm...Is Roddy White for real? Will a QB change affect him? Should I start him over Santonio Holmes this week?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:27 PM)

yes on White - he'll be great vs NO on MNF. And yes, I'd start him over Holmes - not sure Holmes plays

brad (harrisburg, pa)

plain and simple: do you still feel as strongly about Delonte West now as you did 1 month ago? and what do see out of Nene once he returns (H2H standard)?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:28 PM)

sadly, no... Delonte seems to be struggling and I don't see more than 8 and 8 out of Nene

Brandon Jacobs (Manhattan)

Am I a #1 option throughout the fantasy playoffs?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:29 PM)

Yes, you are. Health is the only issue, not talent

Mark (STL)

Is it worth holding onto Javon Walker for the playoffs?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:31 PM)

Depends who else you have and who else is available .... but even when he was 100%, he wasn't the #1 option. He's a #4 WR in a 10 team league right now

Bizzy(philly)

I havent heard much on this....is Cotchery done for the season?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:31 PM)

YES

Paul (MD)

Dude there's a game in the ESPN arcade called 'Cornhole'. How awesome is that!

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:32 PM)

It's a fun game. ESPNArcade.com

Tim, Detroit

Congratulations on becoming the first NC 17 Fantasy Sports Writer! That said, as a Roy Williams Owner, should I go after McDonald or Furrey?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:34 PM)

Haha. Thanks. Furrey is the guy I like there...

Sheik(Charm City)

I know Rudi has a nice playoff schedule, but would you trust him enough to start him in a playoff game?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:35 PM)

Again, depends on your other options... but yes, as a flex, I would trust him

Cole (Kansas City)

Is it time to kick Eli to the curb? (Garrard is my backup.)

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:36 PM)

YES

Jeff (Vegas)

TMR - Let's play the assume game - assuming Bulger is cleared to play this week, would you use him over Hasselbeck? Thanks

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:37 PM)

NO

Peter Griffin, Quahog

This chat is worse than that time I hooked up with some chick who said that she was seeing a fantasy sports expert.

Carson Palmer (OH)

We host an annual cornhole tournament in Cincinnati every year...

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:38 PM)

I know

Phil (DET)

I'm not sure how you like Furrey more than McDonald. Furrey: 46 rec., 522 yds and 1 TD vs. McDonald: 59 rec., 704 yds and 4td. McDonald's been the #2 receiver in Detroit all year. Furrey might be the better pick-up only because McDonald is owned.

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:40 PM)

Agree w/ Furrey being better pick-up, but I don't see them just all increasing theirn numbers.... Furrey being on the field more will mean Kitna looks for him more - almost 100 recpet last year

Physical therapist Bristol

I got your name from some chick, she said you could use a massage?

Jeff (Vegas)

If you were trading Santana to the Sox, would you rather have Lester or Ellsbury as the centerpiece?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:42 PM)

Neither. I wouldn't dso the deal unless Bucholz was a part of it. Lester is good and so is Ellsbury but neither will be a game changer..... I'd hold on, make a run at 2008 and see what happens around trade deadline time or see if we can sign him. The price will only go up at the deadline next year

Kevin (NJ)

If you had M. Harrison on your roster right now would you keep him or drop him? Also, would you rather have Kitna or Gerrard for the rest of the season?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:43 PM)

I'd drop if I needed the space. i think he's done. Garrard actually.

Tim (Rochester, NY)

Does it bother you that they have your picture listed next to "Tools"? Is that just a coincidence?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:43 PM)

Haha. Not sure. could go either way

John (NYC)

Originally I had no question, but I just thought of one! So this was my first season playing Fantasy Football. At first I was clueless, but then caught on and managed my ass off. Seriously, I made awesome trades, took risks, and after starting the season 2-3, I ticked off four wins in a row. But then bad luck got the best of me, and I just lost my last four. I seriously feel like I got robbed purely by bad luck because each of those four losses was due to some weird stuff happening. So I have to ask, since I'm a much bigger Baseball fan, than Football fan; Is Fantasy Baseball as luck-dependent? I was thinking of playing in 2008, but I'll spare myself more heartache if I can.

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:44 PM)

Fantasy Baseball is much more skill based than FB because of format, length of season, etc

Chris (Evansville)

Why can I never get my questions answered at these chats, but people who want to talk about nothing to do with FFL get theirs answered? And many get on several times? Am I asking too much for a little help here?!

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:45 PM)

apparently, yeah

Mike

3 questions. a) Is Randy Moss a hyprocrite/baby? b) Do you want the Pats to go undefeated? c) I need a sleeper WR this week. YOU THE MAN

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:47 PM)

YES. NO. DEEP SLEEPR WR: Drew Bennett vs CIN; Michael Jenkins vs NO ; Brad Smith vs CLE ; Sidney Rice vs SF and Arnaz Battle vs MIN ;

The Missing Link (Parts Unknown)

I'll try to only post this every 5 minutes .. Here's a strategy question for you, TMR ... big assumption on my part, but we need to lock in playoff rosters this week and I need to look ahead at Week 17 (yeah, our Super Bowl is during that iffy week). Who should I have stashed away in case NE is not going for 17-0 and Brady sits? Cassell (@NYG), Tavaris Jackson (@ Den) or Grossman (vs. NO)? Thanks for any wisdom you can impart.

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:48 PM)

Go with Rex but don't think brady sits

BJ Carmel, NY

I play in a high stakes fantasy league and after this year I am beginning to take a liking to going WR-WR in the first round...What are your thoughts, generally speaking.

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:49 PM)

I know the league you are talking about and in a PPR league, this makes sense, though I'd probably go RB/WR or vice verse

Clinton Portis

I love when they whine that they can't get in, get in, and then fail to put a question after the end of their whine. Priceless. What's my value for the rest of the year?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:50 PM)

Me too, actually. You're a #2 RB in a 12 teamer... I'm concerned, yeah.

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:51 PM)

Bob in C-Town: Really good.

Your Cell Phone (Your pocket)

Whats up with all these text messages late at night?

Bob (long island, NY

Do you think Chester Taylor will be starting rb quality even with AP back? They both got a TD last week, but it seems to me He'd be a little sketchy to rely on. Your thoughts?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:52 PM)

No, I don't. I think Taylor goes back to what he was middle of the season.... handcuff for AD and a bit of a relief spell

Mike (Philly)

Drop Javon Walker for Roddy White???????

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:54 PM)

yeah, actually I would

Jon(AL)

Do they make you say "next email my friends" during start em sit em on Sunday's?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:55 PM)

No. They just it to be very high energy and to say something to cue the transition to the next graphics / footage

Alan (orlando)

don't go with a girl on TV unless she know's what she is talking about. This is ESPN not E!

Alan (VA)

Thoughts on Big Ben this week in NE?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (3:58 PM)

Well, AJ Feeley and Kyle Boller made them look pretty mortal last two weeks, no? I'd start him

geoff Minneapolis

Why do player rankings come out on Wed. when everyone has to make waver claims Tue. That's powerful information to have when determining who to pick up.

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (4:00 PM)

Rankings are weekly - designed for start / sit for that week's game specifically. We have a column (called "TMR," in fact) that is about free agent pickups

Tim (Rochester, NY)

If I send you my resume and say good things about you, will that get me anything besides Nowhere?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (4:06 PM)

It never hurts to send. Part of the problem is I get so busy I have a hard time sifting through all my emails... we're working on freeing up my time by givng other responsibilities to folks here... we post all jobs online - you can always check that out - there's a link at the bottom of the site that says jobs at espn... And anyone that has followed my career knows I have given more folks their start than anyone... Chris Harris, AJ Mass, Pete Becker, Adam Madison, Shawn Peters, Sean Allen... Brad Evans and Andy Behrens got their start on my old site as well.... so I'm very open to it. Just a numbers and patience game.

Lenny (Salta Lake City)

Did you leave the chat and not say goodbye?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (4:06 PM)

Would I do that?

mark (chicago)

Geoff, because then everyone would complain that they come out too early, before injury updates or roster changes!

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (4:07 PM)

about the rankings... agreed. People complain my rankings then love / hate then updated rankings don't connect when it's an ever changing process throughout the week

Nick (Cleveland)

We all know you're busy and completely overloaded with stuff, so why do these chats? Personally, I'd prefer any of the other guys to hop on and answer questions over you paying partial attention and answering a question every ten minutes. No offense intended -- but I think with the number of people asking questions, we'd be better served by someone answering as many questions as possible.

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (4:10 PM)

Well, I like to pick and choose my questions - so that's why it takes a while sometimes.... and I like doing the chats and folks seem to like them as well. When I am too busy, I bail on them and someone else fills in... but we're not serving fast food here. We have increased the numbers fo chats - before the TMR acquistion and me coming on, we did 6 chats a week (one a day and then Sun morn)... now it's up to 13 - 2 a day and 3 on Sun... so we're getting there.

I don't want a job at ESPN

I don't think that anwser was worth 6 minutes of dead time.

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (4:13 PM)

I get that question more than almost any, so I humbly disagree. And instead of avoiding like a lot of folks, I decided to answer. But there are no promises or open jobs that are not listed so you have to answer that particular question with care.

Sean (Chicago)

TMR, regarding your 'Skins, would you play their D against CHI this Sunday, if it means sitting Steelers D vs. NE?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (4:14 PM)

No, I wouldn't. Go with PIT

Dan (RI)

You 're the best chatter here. Don't listen to him.

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (4:14 PM)

Aw, shucks

BJ Carmel, NY

I write for a fantasy site as well, and its interesting to see how large of an industry it has become as a whole...Do you see this dying down anytime soon or continuing to grow?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (4:15 PM)

It's only going to get bigger and bigger.

chris (tampa)

speaking of TMR column. When will it be up today? gotta make my pickup before i leave work. you da man.

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (4:17 PM)

Yeah, working on it - won't be up before you leave work, sadly.... here's the list of players I am talking about however: Garrard, Redman, Clemens, Boller, F Jackson if he's astill avail, Furrey, Bryanmt Johnson, Gus Frerotte, Chris Brown, Lorenzo Booker, JaMarcus Russell for keeper.... pretty light week actually

Dennis, NY

Hey Matthew are you trying to set the record for answering the most questions sent in by BJ from Carmel. Previous record was 4 by Karabel

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (4:19 PM)

No, like I've said before, I don't really read who they are from, just interesting questions... but it's intersting that a writer from a FF site is here, no? I take it as a high compliment

AC (FL)

Why so little information about portis' injury status for Thursday?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (4:20 PM)

We give it out as soon as we know... Stephania is digging as we speak

Tom (NC)

I'm trying to tell you guys.... He answers the most almost every week!!!

Alex (NYC)

Calvin's value goes how high with Roy out? WR1?

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (4:20 PM)

No, I don't think so. He's a rookie and still inconsistent

Joe

Could you get back to fantasy-related questions? How confident are you in Brandon Jacobs this week? I value your opinion the most of all the FF experts. (I hope that butt kissing gets questions answered...)

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (4:21 PM)

Aw, shucks again. If he plays, he's a #2 in ten team leagues

Dennis, NY

Your Funny....not Bill Simmons funny but, Carrot Top Funny.

Nick (IL)

Get ready for another exciting chat Thrusday, Berry.....We'll see you then!

Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto

  (4:22 PM)

Indeed we will, Nick. I'm 22 minutes over so I'll end it here. Thanks all!