ESPN

Matthew Berry

  (3:02 PM)

'Sup kids? Let's get to it - as always, all subjects answered...

Cheshire (NC Go Pack!!!!!)

Would you use Matt Schaub if he can go instead of Thigpen or Pennington?

Matthew Berry

  (3:03 PM)

No, not over either of those guys... Think he will have a decent day but not great. By the way, you can see my rankings on all players so I won't answer any start sit unless it's a flex question

kyle, connecticut

should i or should i not start bush this week, i have a flex spot open ad could start him or devroy henderson, who should i start

Matthew Berry

  (3:04 PM)

I actually think Bush will be all right against ATL - they are home, ATL 21st vs run and Bush had a rec td last tim ehe faced them. Def. go with Bush

Brian (Lackawanna, NY)

Hey Matt, line-up strategy question. I'm probably going to start Zach Miller at tight end tonight against the friendly Chargers defense. This will leave me with a flex-decision on Sunday: Kevin Smith vs. Vikes or Jeremy Shockey vs. Philly. Am I losing my mental faculties for thinking about starting 2 middle of the road tight ends this week? I would be greatly honored by tour response. Thanks.

Matthew Berry

  (3:05 PM)

Yes, you are. Love Zach tonight and you gotta go w/ K Smith. Esp if the Williams are out...

shawn (oak)

After what Pitt's D did against NE, would you take them in the snow at home against Dallas over Indy's D vs. Cincy?

Matthew Berry

  (3:06 PM)

still go INDY's D but I like both this week

Brooks (Duluth, MN)

If the Williams twins don't suit up this weekend does K. Smith's value increase at all?

Matthew Berry

  (3:07 PM)

yes

Alan

Too cute thinking of starting Ferrotte vs Det over McNabb vs NYG?

Matthew Berry

  (3:07 PM)

I have Gus ranked higher this week and I like him vs DET

john atlantic city

hello matt, start 2 of these 3. mcfadden,bess or ginn. thank you

Matthew Berry

  (3:08 PM)

I'd sit Ginn - he has moreupside - Bess is safer play

Bart (Iowa City, Ia)

TMR I saved this question for you! In a PPR league who gets the start at flex? FWP vs Dallas, M Jones @ Chi or M Bradley @ Den?

Matthew Berry

  (3:10 PM)

Jones. I wouldn't touch parker

Frank (NYC)

TMR, I just read Brendan Roberts' column where he says to trust your studs and not to bench them in favor of a marginal player with a strong matchup. I see the wisdom there, but it looks like you and the rest of the ESPN.com staff have ranked Hillis over Barber this week. Does MBIII's injury make this situation an exception, if you have an option like Hillis available? And do you think Selvin Young will steal any of Hillis's touches against KC this week?

Matthew Berry

  (3:12 PM)

Yes... I think there can't be a hard and fast rule. Based on match-ups and Barber's injury, yes, I would start Hillis over Barber. Hillis has a score in 3 straight games... you can argue he's a stud right now and you shouldn't bench him.

Joe (NY)

Love the Podcast Sir! I too hate the start this guy or that guy when you have already done rankings! However, it does not account for PPR- In that format does Welker start over Bowe or Colston?

Matthew Berry

  (3:13 PM)

Yes

Jesse (Minneapolis, MN)

Your mom sounded hot on the podcast, is she available? why do you love Sammy Morris so much, I am debating between him and Pierre @ flex

Matthew Berry

  (3:17 PM)

Thanks, I'll tell her. And too bad for you but my Dad is still around. I think the Pats get up big, run the ball on the road and Morris gets the goal line carries. Like Pierre this week but like I've said i think Bush is much more involved this week and NO could easily be down

Scott (Lincoln, NE)

Does the Rashean Mathis injury make Orton a safe play?

Matthew Berry

  (3:17 PM)

I actually like Orton regardless

Marc (Toronto, Canada)

Part sit/start questions, part strategy. In his flex rankings today, Karrabel commented that he doesn't set his lineups differently because it is the playoffs. Do you agree. I've been struggling with this issue all week and finally have to make a decision today. I can start the reliable, 50-60 yard Zach Miller, or the boom and bust Scheffler who can get me 90 yards, or 10. If this was the regular season, I'd be going for the boom in Scheff, but since this is the playoffs, I'm thinking I want to get the safe points. Thoughts? Who do you play?

Matthew Berry

  (3:18 PM)

I play it a bit more conservative in the playoffs but it also depends on my team... If I'm a top seed and rolling everyone... then I play my nomral team. If I lucked out and shouldn't even be in the playoffs, I go upside. I like both of those TE so you should be good either way

Dan (PA)

IF Champ Bailey is back does that knock Thigpen out of your top 10, enough so that Big Ben becomes a better play?

Matthew Berry

  (3:19 PM)

Bailey will be back and no

Dave (Tampa)

TMR, Given your experience with 'challenging' girlfriends, do you lower your expectations for ARod if he is, in fact, dating Madonna next year?

Matthew Berry

  (3:20 PM)

Absolutely. Guy Ritchie hasn't made a decent movie since they hooked up.

Rebecca (St Louis)

How's the new season of 90210 treating you? My wife loves it!

Matthew Berry

  (3:21 PM)

This is hilarious.... Rebecca's wife.... poor Rebecca. I like the 90210 quite a bit. It's terrible but oh so watchable. Which is exactly what the old one was

Kevin (Bethlehem, PA)

Yo Yo TMR!! Flex question...Portis against Bmore D, Fargas vs. SD, Faulk vs. SEA??

Matthew Berry

  (3:21 PM)

Gotta go Portis

Brandon (OKC)

After reading Roberts' column and taking into account Shanahan's shenanigans (Super Trooper!!!), Hillis being banged up and Selvin Young expected back - I am having a tough time starting Hillis over Gore (especially after what Hillis did to NYJ). Thoughts?

Matthew Berry

  (3:22 PM)

You'll see in my LOVE HATE - Gore is much better at home... go with Gore

Brook (NH)

Who wins in a fight? TMR or Sports Guy? and i am forwarding your answer.

Matthew Berry

  (3:23 PM)

I would totally take Bill.

Jared (SC)

Hi Matthew. Am I being cute starting Ryan over Romo this week?

Matthew Berry

  (3:24 PM)

No, you aren't... Not against NO and with Romo on road at PIT. Ryan is a stud

Sean

I don't get the desire to drink the Hillis Kool-Aid. He still plays for the fantasy killer Shanny doesn't he? Are you sure it's good to bank on a Bronco RB in the playoffs?

Matthew Berry

  (3:25 PM)

Except they don't have anyone else.. Selvin ins banged up and Hillis has been pretty consistent. And 15 tocuches against KC might be all he needs.

Greg (New York)

Matt you sound pissed, everything OK?

Matthew Berry

  (3:26 PM)

Do I really? Huh. Not at all...Just not getting nearly as many "fun" questions so it's a bit more serious. Playoff time and all that - makes sense

Where is the Love Hate?

you seem bent on giving advice to start Portis, but I think there is a high probability that the Bal D just beats him up. 1 or 2 really hard hits cause he is moving slower and its hello Betts. I can play Santana Moss in his flex spot - at what point will we hear for sure whether he is starting? Will it be minutes before the game starts?

Matthew Berry

  (3:27 PM)

I don't disagree but Portis is really tough. the Redskins need this game bad so my guessis Portis plays unless he's dead and Portis has been productive against other good run defenses as well...

FOP (Seattle)

Would you give J Gage the start over K Curtis. Curtis has a tough matchup, and hasn't been great, but I'm not sure if Cleveland can stop the run and make the Titans air it out to make Gage relevant.

Matthew Berry

  (3:28 PM)

CLE better on pass D than you think

Matthew Berry

  (3:28 PM)

Go with Curtis

Bob (Need a championship badly)

Fargas or Driver at flex. Your boy KBizzle says Fargas? Your thoughts?

Matthew Berry

  (3:30 PM)

Fargas is safer, Driver has more upside... depends what you need. I'd probably go Fargas too but not be happy about it

Matt (Chicago, IL)

Is it weird that I watched Fringe the other night and saw them transport that guy through time, and the first thing I thought about was transporting forward to see how my fantasy matchups do so I can then come back through time and adjust them as necessary?

Matthew Berry

  (3:31 PM)

It would be weird if you didn't

Steve (Baltimore, MD)

Will Chester be a Lion molester this week??

Matthew Berry

  (3:31 PM)

I think he could be... he's scored a few straight games and I could see them getting up big and resting AP

CD NY

Pick two PPR league (Gore, Berrian, Hines Ward)

Matthew Berry

  (3:36 PM)

Gore and Ward since it is PPR

Matthew Berry

  (3:36 PM)

But I love Berrian this week too

Kevin (Detroit)

Everyone but Karabel has the Bucs waaay above the Chargers. Are the Bucs that much better or the Chargers that bad?

Matthew Berry

  (3:37 PM)

both

Kevin (Newtown, PA)

TMR - Do you have a better chance of beating up Simmons, or dating Anne Hathaway?

Matthew Berry

  (3:38 PM)

Simmons, no question.

Felicia (OH)

Rosters are being frozen this week. Which two QBs would make your roster out of Orton, Schaub, Pennington, Garrard or Hill?

Matthew Berry

  (3:39 PM)

Chad and Orton in that order

big mike (Denver)

Hey TMR. Does Sjax rejoin your list of "start no matter what" guys? I mean, of course, if he's healthy...

Matthew Berry

  (3:41 PM)

No, I don't think so. I actually have him on my "hate" list this week. AZ much better run defense at home

Anne Hathaway (NYC)

I'll date you if you answer my question. Manu Ginobili or Gerald Wallace for the rest of the year?

Matthew Berry

  (3:42 PM)

Wallace

Stewart, CA

I'm starting the Chargers D/ST and Hightower over PORTIS. Am I taking too many risks in the first round?

Matthew Berry

  (3:45 PM)

Yes - go Portis

Travis (Annapolis, MD)

Mr. Berry, the ESPY award winning author of "Hoping Against Hope to Get Lucky," what's the deal with Portis? Am I right to bench him in favor of Hillis and Addai? By the way, I thought it was strange you bagged on the ESPY's...being the company man that you are.

Matthew Berry

  (3:48 PM)

Didn't bag on the ESPY's - just that it's not a "real" awards show the way the Oscars are. I love the ESPY's.... I would not have a problem benching Portis for those two...

Tim (Towson)

I don't have to start Santana Moss this week, do I? I know everyone says "the way to attack the Ravens is through the air", but that's not really true ... it's hard to throw deep on them because their front seven always gets pressure. And if Moss doesn't catch a long one, he's gonna end up with 3 catches for 23 yards. Would you buy Dominik Hixon over him this week??

Matthew Berry

  (3:48 PM)

I agree that Moss is not a good start but no, I'd still play him over Hixon

Donna Martin (Graduates)

Kelly Kapowski or Kelly Taylor, in their respective primes? who ya got.Romo or thigpen?

Matthew Berry

  (3:50 PM)

See, I'd argue Tiffani A.T. was better on 90210 than SAVED... And I'd say Tiffani on 90210, Kelly on 90210, Kelly on Saved in that order... Check my rankings for the other answer

Celine Deion (Canada)

Heard you been talking bad about my singing. We'll be cool if you solve my fantasy football dilemma (or else i'll come to your house and sing live): I've read what the other writers had to say about playoff strategy. On one end is Brendan saying he would play the consistent RB on a bad matchup (Portis) rather than the unproven one on a better matchup(Hillis). Karabell says the whole opposite, that it's all about the matchup. What's your take? And don't say "what better fits you". That's the easy way out.

Matthew Berry

  (3:52 PM)

Overall, I side more with EK - I put a lot of stock in the match-up. That said... it depends on who we are talking about. Hillis or Slaton are much more "sure things" than, say Pierre Thomas or LeRon McClain...

Kool-Aid Man

OH, YEAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Dan (NY)

Vanessa Marcil is better than all the Kelly's you can offer.

Matthew Berry

  (3:52 PM)

True dat

Frosty

Come'on dude no 90210 on playoff week! Do I bench people in the snow for guys playing warmer weather games? The forecast for Dallas @ Pitt is straight up nasty

Matthew Berry

  (3:53 PM)

Again, depends who you have. You'd be surprised at how many high scoring fantasy games are layed in bad weather... depends on the weather and who else you have

Ryan (Houston, TX)

Romo vs Pitt's ridiculously awesome D or Cassel vs Seattle's ridiculously dismal D? I'm pulling my hair out trying to decide. I'd kind of look like you if i did.....

Matthew Berry

  (3:53 PM)

Well played. I'd go with cassel actually

Lynn (IL)

You don't have a QB ranked 8th in the rankings. Does that mean Tig is 8th instead of 9th? ;-)

Matthew Berry

  (3:54 PM)

Yes, Thigpen should be 8th

joe

Berry, you gotta help. I've been waiting to ask YOU (what can I say... I like your work)... Rivers tonight or Big Ben Sunday?

Matthew Berry

  (3:55 PM)

Yeesh. I say Rivers tonight

Bill

TMR, if you were dating Anne Hathaway, what you get her for Xmas?

Matthew Berry

  (3:55 PM)

Something in a box.

Bobby, NY

Is there any particular decision you are debating with yourself for this weekend? Do you consult your coworkers in those situations or stick straight to your rankings?

Matthew Berry

  (3:56 PM)

No, none really for me this weekend... Sometimes I'll talk about it with Nate or someone but generally no, I'll just do what I think

Will (STL)

TMR, how you can accuse anyone of "getting cute" when you rank Lance Moore over T.O. and don't even have the Baltimore defense in the top 10?

Matthew Berry

  (3:58 PM)

Read my love hate when it gets posted... TO has under 50 yards in his last 5 road games. Moore has a TD in 5 straight. BALT's D will be better real life D than Fantasy this week - WSH doesn't turn ball over that much

Mike (Richmond)

Woo hoo, bumping of your rankings puts Orton in the top 10...needless to say I'm hurting at QB.

Matthew Berry

  (4:00 PM)

Jags have given up 19 passing touchdowns this year, 4th most in the NFL

Matthew's naked stuffed bear

Hello my longtime friend--PPR - Please pick 3: Santana Moss, Welker, Bowe, Bess

Matthew Berry

  (4:01 PM)

I actually would sit Moss

Bert (Omaha)

Is there somewhere on ESPN.com where you can look up how defenses do against positions? IE. Dallas is X against giving up points to opposing (positions)? I hear you quote them all the time but I want to look them up for myself.

Matthew Berry

  (4:01 PM)

go to the fantasy football home page. At the top is a link that says "points against." There you go

Andy (Phoenix)

Teddy has a shirt, dammit.

Matthew Berry

  (4:02 PM)

Thank you!

Andy (Ohio)

Speeking of love/hate... When will it be posted?

Matthew Berry

  (4:02 PM)

turned it in a while ago

Aaron- Mpls

Do you like TO or Hightower as a flex?

Matthew Berry

  (4:03 PM)

Think you gotta go TO... but I understand the dilemma...

Matthew Berry

  (4:03 PM)

ok guys I gotta run. Take care and good luck this weekend!