Tag: Matthew Berry

Ex-ESPNer Matthew Berry has found a new home and fantasy football fans are pumped

The Talented Mr. Roto has landed.

Matthew Berry shocked the world last month when the longtime ESPN Senior Fantasy Sports Analyst announced — along with the network — that he was leaving after 15 years with the Worldwide Leader.

Where would he go? Was he going to start something from scratch? Would he leave for a rival? Get out of the fantasy sports game altogether?

If you chose Door No. 2, then you would be correct.

NBC Sports announced that Berry will join the network and will appear on Football Night in America, NBCsports.com and NBCSportsEdge.com.

“This is truly a full circle moment for me,” Berry said in the release. “I started my career at Rotoworld, spent many years there, and not many people are lucky enough to get the chance to come home. I’ve spent my entire life talking fantasy football to anyone that would listen. So when I was offered the chance to join the highest-rated studio show in all of sports, I couldn’t say yes fast enough. Please remind me of this quote the next time I realize millions of people just saw me get a prediction wrong. In the meantime, know that I am incredibly honored and humbled by the opportunity not just to join the FNIA family but also to help build something special on Peacock.”

Check out the reaction from fans:

Matthew Berry shockingly announced he’s leaving ESPN, and fans everywhere paid tribute

The man known as the Talented Mr. Roto is leaving ESPN.

The Talented Mr. Roto is leaving The Worldwide Leader.

Matthew Berry, who joined ESPN in 2007 and became their Senior Fantasy Sports Analyst surprised fans everywhere by announcing that, after 15 years, he was leaving ESPN.

It comes as a shock as another fantasy football season — in which fans would read his takes, picks, listen to his podcasts and devour his Thursday “Love/Hate” columns that were about more than just who to start and sit for the week — is coming soon.

ESPN released its own statement (see below) saying that Berry “expressed a desire to explore new opportunities beyond ESPN” and that the network “agreed to support it.”

Fans everywhere paid tribute:

Russell Wilson top’s ESPN’s list of Fantasy Football QBs to love in 2021

Despite a rough finish to the season, Wilson is still one of the most enticing options at QB in fantasy footbal heading into 2021.

Russell Wilson looked as good as he ever has in the first half of the 2020 season. Had he maintained that pace he easily would have won the NFL MVP award and the Seahawks likely would’ve gone a lot further in the playoffs than they did.

Despite a rough finish to the season, Wilson is still one of the most enticing options at QB in fantasy footbal heading into 2021. In fact, he’s No. 1 on ESPN’s list of fantasy quarterbacks to love this year. Here’s what Matthew Berry had to say about No. 3.

“I’m a believer in new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, and I know we have heard this before, but I do actually think … they let Russ cook this year. . . Wilson not only has massive upside but also an extremely high floor. He is the only QB with 30-plus TD passes in each of the past four seasons, and he has finished top 10 at the position in total points every season since 2013 (and top six in three of the past four campaigns).”

If the Seahawks really do commit to a more up-tempo attack under Waldron – allowing Wilson to get into rhythm and abandon the establish the run nonsense – it could lead to a previously unseen ceiling in fantasy production.

Running back Chris Carson also made Berry’s list of players to love.

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ESPN lists Antonio Gibson as ‘sleeper candidate’ for 2020 fantasy football season

With a lack of playmakers on the Washington offense, many think that Antonio Gibson could play a major role, boosting fantasy football stock.

Are you staying optimistic that there’s going to be a 2020 NFL season this fall, just like any other year? Good, optimism is never a bad thing. If you’re getting set for the season, that likely means you are also taking a look at your future fantasy football team, and potentially doing some summer research on who you might like to draft this year. In years past there may not have been many players from Washington who would find their way onto your team,

This year, and the coming five years or so, may be different though. With an abundance of young talent on the roster and a set of increased expectations for the defense, there’s a chance that Washington has a number of players who find themselves on fantasy football rosters in 2020. Just recently, ESPN’s fantasy leader Matthew Berry — who is also a noted Washington fan — listed rookie Antonio Gibson as a sleeper pick for the upcoming season. 

Before you call me a homer, hear me out. Washington lacks any reliable playmakers outside of Terry McLaurin, and Gibson is a versatile offensive weapon (last season he was the only FBS player to have more than 700 receiving yards and more than300 rushing yards). Yes, it was a limited sample, but Gibson averaged more than 14 yards per offensive touch. Coach Ron Rivera recently said Gibson has “a skill set like Christian McCaffrey.” Not saying he will be CMC or even used as much as him, but OC Scott Turner knows he will have to be creative on offense, and Gibson’s versatility will allow him to create mismatches all over the field.

This opinion is also buoyed by the fact that ESPN has Derrius Guice listed as one of the top ‘bust’ candidates in the 2020 season, likely due to his injury history and fear of missing time.

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