Matthew Berry

  (2:01 PM)

'Sup? Thanks for stopping by. Let's get to it - as always, all subjects answered.

Greg (Bishop, CA)

Hey Matt, A lot of you at ESPN seem to like Phillip Tanner for the ROS. As far as Sunday goes, do you think I may be able to get 10 points out of him in a PPR?

Matthew Berry

  (2:04 PM)

That's tough. Not convinced he's a gets a lot of receptions, but close to ten points. I will say that I don't believe in Felix Jones long term and that at best this will morph into a time share. Felix can't hold up for 20 carries a game. Also feel this Murray thing will linger... I picked up Tanner in my 16 teamer, for example.

David (SEA)

If I am going to the SEA-SF game tonight, and start Crabtree over W Powell at Flex, does that make me a traitor? Or are the points close enough that I should start Powell and root for SF to fail, fail, fail!

Matthew Berry

  (2:05 PM)

Read my column today. All will be answered. In a vacuum, I like Powell over Crabtee anyways

Matthew Berry

  (2:05 PM)

Column has just been posted: http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/football/ffl/story?page=TMR121018

Kevin (Akron, OH)

With Stafford going up against the Bears and Weeden going against a banged up Colts D, is this the week I finally start Weeden over Stafford?

Matthew Berry

  (2:06 PM)

My weekly reminder that questions like this can be answered by looking at my rankings: http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/football/ffl/story?page=12ranksWeek7QB

Dave (SC)

Flex: Rudolph, Wright, Avery, or Tanner?

Matthew Berry

  (2:07 PM)

Kind of have a sneaky suspicion on Avery. Haden all over Wayne, Luck averaging 44 pass att a game, home vs CLE... He'd be my call just ahead of Wright.

Mike (Boston)

Matthew, I know you'd need to know more about the league I am in - but would you swap McGahee for Dez - if you were weak at WR and had Ray Rice and SJax? PPR League

Matthew Berry

  (2:08 PM)

Hard to say without knowing rest of your roster, but yeah, that's a fair deal.

Jose (California)

Emergency Hard Justice question!! I just realized that I set up the scoring incorrectly for our league, totally an oversight on my part. Fumbles are being charged double what the league agreed upon. I went back to see how the scoring error affected the outcome of the games (W or L), one game will be affected. I definitely want to change the scoring to reflect what we agreed upon from this point on. Should I go back and adjust the scoring for the previous weeks also?

Matthew Berry

  (2:12 PM)

You can only retroactively do that ifA) Everyone agrees to it andB) Your waiver pickups are done by total points or FAAB or waiver order and NOT by W-L record. If either thing is even slightly a no... you need to not change it back in the past AND you need to keep it as is for rest of the season (double negative points). Can't change rules midseason, too much has happened, even if rules are an honest mistake.

Jose (Miami)

Is McFadden worth holding on to in a PPR, or should I trade him for someone like Desean Jackson?

Matthew Berry

  (2:12 PM)

Hang tough

Mike (Chicago)

Hey Berry, just wondering, do you venture out of the realm of baseball/football for fantasy sports? Hockey, golf, basketball? Per sports you enjoy in real life? Thanks big man

Matthew Berry

  (2:15 PM)

I play fantasy hoops and in fact, spent two years at NBA.com doing fantasy basketball for them before coming to ESPN. I also do a bunch of pick'em games and things like Streak for the Cash, Gridiron Chllange, Primetime payoff etc.As for real life sports I enjoy that I don't do fantasy analysis for... NBA - love my Lakers, college hoops, college football is fun, I'll watch the big matches in things like soccer, golf or tennis... and the Olympics, of course.

Anthony Micheletti (Providence RI)

Tim Hightower to Arizona...Any truth to it?

Matthew Berry

  (2:17 PM)

No idea. But who cares? Would just further cloud situation on a team that doesn't run ball that well to begin with.

Sean (Seneca, SC)

Speaking as the Brady owner who was gonna start Ponder last week, never imagined that being the push it almost worked out to be. This week's dilemma- gimpy Jimmy Graham or healthy Kyle Rudolph?

Matthew Berry

  (2:18 PM)

Answering this one b/c it's about health... If Graham is active, I think you have to start him. Luckily, it's a 1pm game so we'll know in enough time

Roy (Dallas)

Leshoure or Mendenhall ROS?

Matthew Berry

  (2:18 PM)

Mendenhall

Colin (Ithaca)

Hi Matt, love the column, and I appreciate that someone is speaking out about the idiocy that's going on wrt hating on athletes on twitter/facebook. I have a trade question. I've been holding onto Matt Ryan in a 1 QB league while I start Drew Brees. Now that Brees's bye week is up, I'm looking to shore up my RBs with a trade. I'm planning on asking for either Beast Mode or MJD from the guy who's starting Vick right now. Who's the better grab over the rest of the season? I'm leaning toward Beast Mode, especially with his playoff week matchups (aside from SF). Am I reading that right?

Matthew Berry

  (2:22 PM)

Thanks for the kind words. I was amazed and impressed by the amount of love I got from that column, with many echoing your sentiments. Your thinking is correct in order to trade. Frankly, I might shoot for another RB. Lynch only has BUF in wk 15 as a good macthup. AZ in week 14 isn't a cake walk and SF in wk 16.... MJD has NYJ, MIA, NE in wk 14-16. Only NYJ is a good matchup

Derrick (New Jersey)

Any sell high or buy low candidates on in your sights?

Matthew Berry

  (2:24 PM)

McFadden. Still a health risk, but GREAT schedule coming up. 9 of next 11 games are poor run defenses. McCoy will be better than this. Romo too. Sell highs.. Turner and Gore.

Tim Herlihy (Stankonia)

What are your thoughts on Vincent Brown? Worth picking up now & holding out until he comes back?

Matthew Berry

  (2:24 PM)

Yes. He'll be the best WR on SD when he comes back (looking like Week 9)

Chris (NYC)

Also what happened to the twitter feed on the Fantasy sites here?

Matthew Berry

  (2:25 PM)

No idea. I'll ask.

Taco (Unknown)

Whoa crazy crazy! Ppr league. Would you trade bowe for Antonio brown?

Matthew Berry

  (2:25 PM)

Nice reference. Yes, I'd rather have Brown

Chris Staico (Philadelphia PA)

Love the FF podcast. You guys should do a "woah crazy crazy" of the week or something along the same lines like a weasel of the week award. Anyway, My question is simple. Have you met RG3 yet and does he know about your man crush?

Matthew Berry

  (2:27 PM)

Ha! We've talked about it... we'll see. Yes, I met him briefly at ESPN the Magazine's Pre Draft party. He was awesome, very nice and amazingly humble. He knows I'm a big fan, I don't think he realizes how big a fan (thank goodness.)

Jake (ME)

What is your opinion on the Giants backfield? If Bradshaw's feet give him too much trouble which backup would you rather have?

Matthew Berry

  (2:28 PM)

Brown still. Wilson would get work - they like him now - but he's not an every down between the tackles kind of guy

Matt (Rutgers)

Dear Mr. TMR,I have a huge problem. Prior to this fantasy season I realized I would have an abundance of free time on Sunday's so I joined as many fantasy football leagues as possible. This amounted to five leagues (before this year I had only been in one league) and I was happy that I could say yes to multiple groups of friends when they asked if I would join their league. After each draft I felt like I drafted a fine team and was excited. Yet, once the season started I realized I wasn't very focused on any league in particular and it diminished my enjoyment of fantasy football as a whole. As it stands, I have a record of 4-2, 3-3, 2-4, 1-5, and 4-2 in each league (listed in order of importance). As an analyst that joins multiple leagues each year, what advice can you give me to try and salvage my fantasy season? Should I focus on the leagues where I'm doing well and forget about the rest? Any advice would be appreciated!Sincerely, An (overly) concerned fantasy owner

Matthew Berry

  (2:31 PM)

Believe me, I get it. I deal with the same issue, sort of. On Sundays, I mostly just root for my picks - hope my "loves" go off, my "Hates" tank, etc or that my rankings come close.... but I also have 2 leagues (of the 8 I play in) that I really care about. Find the one or two you care most about and focus on them. don't abandon the other leagues - play them out - but don't sweat the small stuff. And now you know. Next year, join just 1 league

Sun Eo (Austin, TX)

Hey Mr. Berry! Longtime listener of the podcast here. I'm in a ppr league and trying to choose between Torrey Smith or Randall Cobb?

Matthew Berry

  (2:33 PM)

I'd go Cobb in a PPR... he's been outscoing Smith in PPR the last few weeks and it's a better matchup

Dan (Toledo,Oh)

Like any new york jets this week?

Matthew Berry

  (2:33 PM)

Not really.

Juan Castillo (Buffalo Wild Wings)

Do you know much about Todd Bowles? Any idea what will become of the Eagles DST from here on out? I play in a league that limits free pickups (to add an extra tactical element... you add a jellybean to the bowl for every pickup you make after a certain number) so we don't stream based on matchups. Any idea at all how they'll do ROS?

Matthew Berry

  (2:34 PM)

Think they'll do better. More pre snap siguises, people will be more accountabe. Good move.

Matt (Philly)

I listened to the PODCAST today and am reading your article now, PLEASE answer my questions haha. Would you start Palmer over Cutler if you were also starting Forte and D Moore?

Matthew Berry

  (2:36 PM)

I have Cutler at 14 and Palmer at 15. go Cutler. Rest of your tesm doesn't matter

Brad (90210)

Whats your Halloween costume? You guys should dress up as the cast of 90210!!Witten or Gates ROS?

Matthew Berry

  (2:36 PM)

Gates for me... Haven't thought about that. 90210 seems a bit outdated for a costume. Accepting ideas

james (dallas)

cowboys -2.5 seems easy. trap?

Matthew Berry

  (2:37 PM)

Might be... CAR at home off a bye... but yeah, I'd probably take that

Bill (FLA)

So buy McFadden? Would trading Miles Austin and Fred Jackson be too much for him? .5 PPR.

Matthew Berry

  (2:38 PM)

Yes, think that's too much

Kevin (Chicago)

Thoughts on DHB ROS? Would you rather own Josh Gordon or possibly Vincent Brown when he returns?

Matthew Berry

  (2:38 PM)

Brown, DHB, Gordon. Gordon good by very raw. Will have like three more big games and a bunch of 2 for 30 type games surroundng them.

Brett (DC)

I have gotten into this arguement so many times with my peers. Do you correlate football knowledge with how well you do in fantasy football? What percentage would you say is luck, and what percentage is skill? If you were to join a league of 11 people who are casual football followers, would you expect to win for sure?

Matthew Berry

  (2:41 PM)

I think it's abpout 70/30 skill/luck. My basic take is that you need skill to get to the playoffs, it takes luck to win it all. There are variables on both sides... I've seen many people have the highest scoring team in a league and be 4-12... or the reverse. And you could make a great call / pickup etc in a championship game to swing it in your favor. But in general, I feel it's 70/30 ish. If I entered a league with 11 casual football followers and that was my only league I played in? I'd win 99 out of 100

big lebowski (log jammin)

first time listener , long time caller. how awesome is it to sit around and talk fantasy all day long. id imagine its amazing

Matthew Berry

  (2:42 PM)

It's a lot of fun, but that's not what I do all day. I mostly write, research, read, do TV/radio/ranks/interviews/podcast/column etc... which is also fun, but I suspect my job, while great, is very different than most people think it is.

Adam (Chicago)

MBIII - Any thoughts on Jennings? Own him in 2 of 3 leagues and have Jones in both. I've been trying to deal the 2 as a package but no takers. Will he get back to his old form?

Matthew Berry

  (2:43 PM)

I'm a bit down on Jennings rest of the year as anything more than a low end WR2. Injuries, loota weapons on that team, has had bout of inconsistency in his career before...

Scott (SoCali)

You got flex appeal Matthew Berry, I'd like to get some of it. You like Kendall Wright or Vick Ballard this week?

Matthew Berry

  (2:44 PM)

I like both guys. Probably go Wright. Ballard still unproven.

Draft Trade Help (War Room)

You probably don't get many draft trading questions, and I need help! I can send a 1 next year for Alfred Morris and Colston in a PPR. Is that good enough for me to trade that pick?

Matthew Berry

  (2:46 PM)

It's fair. Depends what you need, rest of your team, is it a keeper league or no?

Tim P (NC)

Who's is a better "stash" ROS: K Hunter or David Wilson?

Matthew Berry

  (2:46 PM)

Hunter. They limited Gore's touches last year, Hunter has already been seeing time, Wilson has never proven he could do it and also has Brown to deal with

Tom (NYC)

You threw ME FOR A LOOP changing your chat day.....my fridays are ruined now!! What Gives?!?!?!

Matthew Berry

  (2:48 PM)

Sorry - just worked better with my schedule, allows them to promote my column and chat at the same time and this way I can answer questions before the Thurs night game.

Max (NYC)

Should I buy low on Demarco murray or is that too risky?

Matthew Berry

  (2:50 PM)

Definitely risky. Remember, McFadden had a "1 week foot injury" that lasted the whole year. Until we know more about the specific injury it's hard to say. Murray has had injry issues last year, in college... I would not be trying to trade for him unless price was really low

Randy (AZ)

what do you think of denarius moore ROS?

Matthew Berry

  (2:51 PM)

Really like him

Matthew Berry

  (2:51 PM)

More on Moore - hit submit too quick. Talented guy, they WILL throw a lot this year and he leads the team in targets. Suspect that continues with DHB back now

Justin (Wisconsin)

Is it crazy for me to be thinking of trading Foster before his bye and before they start to lighten up his workload a bit?

Matthew Berry

  (2:53 PM)

It's not a crazy. They are 2.5 games ahead of second. They could easily clinh and possibly rest during fantasy playoffs. Barring injury, he still ends the year as a top 2 RB, but if you got a crazy big package for him... I'm not opposed to it. Especially if you DON'T have Tate.

Spencer (ME)

I am trading for the incomprable RGIII and the other guy will take Matthews or Morris, who should I give up? I'm leaning toward keeping Morris, he seems safer.

Matthew Berry

  (2:54 PM)

I agree. You have invested in Washington and that makes me nervous... but Mathews is just as proven as Morris as an year long fantasy stud and he has an injury history

Dan (Shakopee, MN)

Why don't you answer Dynasty? Pead or Richardson (STL) for the long term.

Matthew Berry

  (2:55 PM)

Because I rarely get them. Richardson for me

Joe (Albany)

Rank these RBs rest of season...Sproles, Green-Ellis, Matthews, Ridley, Martin

Matthew Berry

  (2:56 PM)

Mathews, Sproles, Ridley, Martin, BJGE

Chris (Cincy)

Do you like John Calipari?

Matthew Berry

  (2:57 PM)

Never met the man. I went to Syracuse, so I'm a Boeheim guy and everyone else is an enemy. But no issue with him beyond normal college rivalry.

Rebecca (St Louis)

Since Dallas can be run on, should i take risk and play J Stew for big points? My other option is Redman or Powell?

Matthew Berry

  (2:59 PM)

Stewart has more upside because you never know - I have Powell ranked highest of those 3. Answering because it involves CAR RB... hard to trust any of them, probably wouldn't start either in a 10 tm league. But that's me. Powell the safest play

Calvin (BOise)

Do you fall to sleep between questions?

Matthew Berry

  (2:59 PM)

Ha. Trying to find good ones. And I type slow.

Josh (St. Pete FL)

TMR! Scott Chandler (safe) or Josh Gordon (boom/bust) for my last receiver position?

Matthew Berry

  (2:59 PM)

Depends on rest of team, but I'd probably go Chandler

ben (nj)

do I start R Cobb this week? and why did you rank the seahawks D higher than the packers D?

Matthew Berry

  (3:01 PM)

Because not that impressed with SF. Smith looked terrible last week, Joe Staley is very questionable for SF O line today - that would a big blow for SF... SEA avg 7 FP a game on road... GB is avg 3... like Pack vs Rams and their banged up O Line, but SEA is legit.

Matthew Berry

  (3:02 PM)

Ok gang, that's all I have time for. Thanks for stopping by. Will answer more questions on Facebook (www.facebook.com/matthewjberry) and on Twitter (www.twitter.com/matthewberrytmr). Good luck this week!