Matthew Berry, ESPN Senior Writer 8y

Love, hate and celebrity

Fantasy NFL

Maybe you're not a gamer, but at the end of this year's Draft Day Manifesto, I wrote the following.

If you've read this far, you're a gamer. You get it. You know how much fun, how awesome, how addicting fantasy football is. You know how it brings people together. So why keep it all to yourself? Make it your goal to convince one person in your life who has never played before to try a league this year. We need more women playing, more kids, more senior citizens. Fantasy football is something everyone can enjoy, so ask your parents, your kids, your neighbor, co-worker, someone. Just one person. Come on. Help me spread the word.

I hope people took me up on that. If every single one of us invited just one person who had never played before to enjoy the game, taught them about it so they feel like they know what they are doing and won't be intimidated by phrases and slogans they haven't heard, then we will be pretty close to my goal of getting every man, woman and child playing fantasy football.

These weren't empty words. I meant them, and I also wanted to practice what I preach. So for my one person who has never played before, I chose Chelsea Handler.

I've read a lot of her books, watched her on TV for years. She's always great on Howard Stern's show. She's so smart and funny. Her books really are terrific. I've been a big fan of hers for a long time. So when a producer of her new show, "Chelsea," reached out and invited me on as a guest, I jumped at the chance. One of the segments on the show is Chelsea learning about things she knows nothing about, and she wanted to learn what the hell fantasy football was.

In addition to being fun for me and good promotion for ESPN Fantasy, I had an ulterior motive. I wanted to not just explain our game, I wanted to convince her to play. In a league. With me. She was going to be my one newbie this year.

The segment was fun (you can find it on Netflix if you'd like to see it). Chelsea was great in person, and when we were done, I made my pitch. She smiled and said ... you bet. Let's do it.

And so, Chelsea Handler is a part of the second annual ESPN Fantasy Focus Podcast Celebrity Fantasy Football League. In fact, she enjoyed the draft so much she set up a second league and is playing with the staff of her show. And while she has been slow out of the gate in the podcast league, she leads the league in trash talk. As you might imagine, she's hilarious. As I write this, she has been going back and forth with Dale Earnhardt Jr. (no slouch himself in the trash talk department) via email.

I can hear some of you complaining already. "All he does is name drop celebrities." "That podcast spends way too much time talking to famous people." "He's so self-centered and egocentric."

Look, I've got no answer for the third one. Guilty as charged. But as the second year of the ESPN Fantasy Focus Podcast Celebrity Fantasy Football League is now underway, I wanted to mention Chelsea and talk about the league for a very specific reason.

Every single person reading this column, playing their league out for FREE on ESPN.com, checking their scores on the free app and spending the next few months enjoying the greatest game ever invented, should sit there and thank these celebs. Support their projects, follow them on social media and when the subject of a celebrity league comes up -- or just celebrities in general playing fantasy football -- can it already with the holier-than-thou sneer.

We are a country that places a great deal of value on celebrity. You don't have to like it, you can say it's what's wrong with our country and that it is warping our values, and you'd find a ton of support for that opinion. But it is what it is. We pay attention to what celebrities say, do, wear and date. An inordinate amount of attention. It's the true national pastime.

And so when a celebrity does something like, say, play fantasy football, people notice. And they think ... oh, maybe I should do that. Chelsea Handler has an enormous fan base, including tons of women. If Chelsea has a fun experience playing fantasy football and says something on her show or tweets about her fantasy team once or twice ... that's amazing. That will do more to spread the word about the fun and ease of fantasy sports than any ESPN commercial we could air.

And it's not just Chelsea. It's every celebrity, be they in our podcast league or not. The more people who play it, the more advertisers want to be associated with it. And the more advertisers who want to be associated with it, the more free games, tools, fantasy football marathons and fantasy columns there will be.

That's why the celeb league is among my favorite things we do on the podcast, and while it is very popular, I have heard some podcast listeners and readers of this column say that they wish it were pure football and to stop it with the high jinks and the drops and the celebs. While I certainly understand that point of view, I disagree with it. I have a more open worldview. I want everyone to play, not just the people who think they are the smartest and most competitive people in the room. And to me, this is a great way to expand our game.

I will take one paragraph to indulge in blatant promotion and say that this year, we managed to not only get a great cross section of celebrities, we also got celebrities who hadn't done (as far as I know) public fantasy leagues before. And all of the celebs actually play fantasy football competitively, except for our two newcomers (In addition to Chelsea, Anna Faris is playing for the first time with her podcast co-host, Sim Sarna. So one of you out there is off the hook for getting one person to play this year, I got you covered). This is the second year of the league, and because it was so successful last year, we actually had celebs asking us to play in it; so much so that we expanded to a 14-team league with PPR scoring. Here's who is in it (in alphabetical order):

1. Ike Barinholtz
2. Kevin Durant (our defending champ!)
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
4. Zac Efron
5. Chelsea Handler
6. Evan Longoria
7. Phil Lord & Chris Miller (directors of "22 Jump Street," "Lego Movie," and currently filming the new Han Solo movie)
8. Jim Parsons
9. Darius Rucker
10. Miles Teller
11. Unqualified podcast (Anna Faris & Sim Sarna)

Plus, Field Yates, Stephania Bell and I round out the 14. It's a great group -- a cross section of people, interests, level of experience -- it's got movie stars, pro athletes, musicians and some of the biggest TV stars around. It's got married folks and single people, parents and party animals, young and old, from all different parts of the country and all different backgrounds. It's everything a fantasy league should be. We've been having members of the league on the podcast once a week and will continue to do so, so hopefully you'll check it out. Or if it's not your thing, just click on it. We don't care if you listen, we just want the downloads.

But the most important thing about the league is that it's promoting fantasy football. Something we should all do. Because our game is not free from attacks. There are still naysayers. There are still those who don't get it. There are still those who are negative and only like "for-real football."

That's why I desperately hope folks took me up on the "just one person" idea, and if they didn't, I hope they will in the future. Because it's not just on celebs, it's on all of us.

So if there's someone in your life who hasn't tried it yet, I will bet anything that person is a fan of at least one member of our league. And that might just be enough.

"Come on, try fantasy football. Kevin Durant plays it! Try it once. For KD. And me."

Let's get to it.

Quarterbacks I love in Week 4

Matthew Stafford, Lions: I'm running out of ways to make puns out of Jim Bob Cooter's name. Coot-tastic! Coot-some! Supercooterfragilisticexpialidocious! (Too much?) I may have run out, but JBC has not run out of ways to get the ball to Marvin Jones. Stafford is locked in as a top-10 QB for the season, and I don't expect the Bears to generate much of a pass rush (Chicago has blitzed the least in the NFL this season, and Stafford is completing 70.4 percent of passes when not blitzed), so he should sit back and pick apart a decimated Bears secondary.

Kirk Cousins, Redskins: Told you. Look, his play still has some head-scratchers (what WAS that final sequence at the end of the first half last week?), but the recipe continues to be there: poor defense, inconsistent running game and high-volume passing attack with talented pass-catchers. Facing a Browns squad that has allowed multiple passing scores and at least 275 passing yards in each game this season makes Cousins a legit top-10 play this week and an obvious target for Aaron Rodgers owners if somehow he is still available in your league (his ownership rate was 76 percent as of this writing).

Andy Dalton, Bengals: An inconsistent defense traveling on a short week versus Dalton, who is terrible in prime time. Something has to give here. Cody Kessler had almost 250 yards against the Dolphins last week, and prior to facing the tough Denver defense last week, Dalton had been terrific. It's a bit of a gut call here, but gimme the Red Rifle as a top-10 option at the position this week.

Others receiving votes: Even after last week's solid showing against the Titans, the Raiders are still last in passing yards allowed per game. The Ravens can't run the ball, and I expect the Raiders to be able to score here, which means Joe Flacco will have to throw. He'll be a viable fill-in this week. ... Look, I certainly don't expect Trevor Siemian to do what he did last week. This is still a run-first offense, but similar to last week, I could see the Broncos' ground game struggling here, forcing Siemian to pass against a Bucs defense that has allowed the sixth-most points to opposing QBs and has allowed multiple touchdown passes in 13 of its past 16 games, including last week to Case Keenum. I repeat, Case Keenum. Siemian is useful this week for the deeper-league desperate. ... Extra time to prepare and no love lost between Rex Ryan and Bill Belichick. If Jimmy Garoppolo is out there, I like him to have a decent game here against a Bills team that's giving up 285 passing yards a game and won't be able to pressure him the way they did Carson Palmer last week.

Quarterbacks I hate in Week 4

Russell Wilson, Seahawks: If he were healthy, Wilson would be a no-brainer for the other list. While I love and admire the guy's toughness, it's hard to see him as a top-10 play this week. He scored 13 points or fewer in all three games so far and has yet to throw multiple touchdown passes in any of them. (Incidentally, he started slowly last season too). If his mobility is limited because of injury, so is his upside on any fantasy points from rushing. The Jets' defensive weakness lies in the secondary, not the run defense, so if you have to start Wilson, you can hang your hat on that. But on the road, I'm expecting a heavy dose of Christine Michael and a solid but unspectacular game from Wilson, landing him outside the top 10 this week.

Eli Manning, Giants: The email I just got telling me I have a large inheritance, the idea that I'm not losing my hair, the Vikings defense -- at least one of these things is totally legit. The Vikes lead the NFL in sacks and are third in number of blitzes, whereas Eli struggles against pressure (fifth-worst QBR against the blitz this season). With just one touchdown pass in the past two weeks, Manning doesn't have a lot of momentum to face a defense that already has stopped Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton. Not a strong option this week.

Marcus Mariota, Titans: Even without J.J. Watt chasing him around, Mariota is not a start this week, even in deeper leagues. While some of the numbers are inflated by that weird Patriots game, the fact is that the Texans have allowed just one passing touchdown and just 151 passing yards per game this season. Sure, they've played the Bears, Chiefs and a third-string Patriots QB, but they've also had extra time to prepare. I expect the Titans to come in with a run-heavy offense (yes, even more than normal), especially if Delanie Walker misses another game. Mariota is simply not a top-15 play this week.

Running backs I love in Week 4

DeMarco Murray, Titans: You knew the Titans wanted to run the ball this year, but the surprising thing is how much they use Murray in the passing game. He has five or more catches in three straight games. You'll win a bar bet with this one: Murray has more catches this season than Allen Robinson. A struggling run defense -- the Texans have given up a rushing touchdown or 100 yards rushing in all three games this season; did you SEE what LeGarrette Blount did to them? -- that just lost J.J. Watt should see a lot of Murray (at least 18 touches in each game), who is an easy RB1 for me this week and someone who will probably be under-owned in daily.

Jeremy Hill, Bengals: Oh, the joy of having a Thursday night player in one section and then he does the opposite of what you expect. Oh yeah, those Fridays are fun. Hill is one of the more inconsistent players out there and he just had a huge game, which means you know he's going to tank this. But here I am, on Hill this week. Miami gets run on A LOT (second most in the NFL at 34 attempts a game) and they're getting gashed too, coughing up 147 yards per game on the ground. When the Bengals run, it's Hill most of the time (71 percent of RB carries this season), so expect to see a lot of him. Traveling on a short week to face an angry Bengals team, I don't like the Dolphins' chances of containing him. Top-20 play for me this week.

Jordan Howard, Bears: As I often say, you don't have to be the best-looking guy in the bar, you just have to be the only guy in the bar. Meet Jordan Howard, fresh off your waiver wire and into your lineup. No Ka'Deem Carey or Jeremy Langford, which means Howard should get the majority of work against a Lions team giving up a league-high 5.1 yards per carry this season. Detroit hasn't given up a touchdown to an opposing running back this season and I expect Chicago to be down a decent amount in this game, but Howard does have six receptions on the season (compared to 12 carries). Because of the Bears' willingness to dump it off to him when he has been in the game, I'm not scared of game flow here. Howard is a top-20 play for me.

Isaiah Crowell, Browns: There is something to be said about consistency. Washington has given up two rushing touchdowns to running backs in each of its three games this season. Whether inflated by big runs or not, Crowell has averaged better than 5 yards per carry in each game this year, and the use of Terrelle Pryor in a prominent role opens up the entire offense. Expect another healthy workload and a top-20 day.

Others receiving votes: Cameron Artis-Payne got four carries before Fozzy Whittaker got one last week and touched the ball on better than 48 percent of his snaps. Game flow killed his opportunity against the Vikings, but with an easier opponent, I expect Carolina will lead, helping CAP's cause. I like him as a flex this week. ... Denver doesn't scare me as it relates to Charles Sims, as he'll be on the field a lot. He's part of the Bucs' passing game and so far this season, Denver hasn't been any good against the run. ... Matt Jones is getting 70 percent of the Redskins' RB carries through three weeks, including 19 touches last week. The Browns are giving up 103 rushing yards per game to running backs so far. ... Gut call, but I think Dwayne Washington has a strong game Sunday. The Bears have given up four RB touchdowns the past two weeks and if there's a rushing score in this one, Washington is the most likely to get it.

Running backs I hate in Week 4

Latavius Murray, Raiders: Today in numbers going the wrong way, Murray's touch count for his past five games, dating to last season: 24-15-15-14-11. He's in a three-way time-share, you just haven't noticed because he keeps scoring TDs. And he could easily get in the end zone this week too, but I'm nervous. The Ravens are decent against the run and last week Murray had an eight-point touchdown run and then 10 other touches that totaled one point. If I said you were going to start a RB that might get only 11 or so touches, would you be excited about that? Murray is a flex play at best this week, not the top-15 guy he has been so far.

Jerick McKinnon, Vikings: The Giants have given up only one rushing touchdown this season, they're allowing just 3.2 yards per carry, McKinnon is splitting carries and the Vikings can't block. Bleagh.

Any Dolphins, Giants or Ravens running back: Unsure workload, bad matchup and, in general, not a lot of talent. Hells to the no.

Note: I know, I know. Kind of a weak running back list. Here's the problem: The position is so ugly that it's hard to hate anyone with a pulse. I mean, I am lower on Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman this week than I ever have been, but my guess is you don't have better options.

Wide receivers I love in Week 4

Marvin Jones, Lions: Not that you were ever considering benching him, but I'm putting him in here because he's in my top 10 this week, and that's not a fluke. It's legit. Super Cooter Duper! No? OK, I'll show myself out. Thanks.

Demaryius Thomas, Broncos: The "No. 1 wide receiver" facing the Buccaneers has scored every week: Julio Jones, Larry Fitzgerald and Tavon Austin. This is a secondary that has not stopped anyone, allowing seven scores to wideouts in three games. Per my friend Mike Clay's invaluable WR/CB matchup chart, Thomas, who is 6-foot-3, should spend a lot of time facing off with the struggling Alterraun Verner, who is 5-10. DT has increased his reception total each week thus far, and that should continue this week in Tampa.

Jarvis Landry, Dolphins: He needs a slogan. Something snappy. "Jarvis, not just for PPR leagues!" The Bengals have given up a slot touchdown in each of the past three games, and I can't imagine the Dolphins being able to run the ball here, so through the air is the only way they'll move the ball. Expect another heavy target day for Landry.

Travis Benjamin and Tyrell Williams, Chargers: Do you want a lot of stats here, or do you want me to just point to the schedule where it says "vs. New Orleans"? Williams, by the way, is quietly one of only eight wide receivers with at least 60 receiving yards in every game this season. I continue to really like him for season-long leagues. This might be your last chance to buy semi-low.

Terrelle Pryor, Browns: I am so mad at myself. Podcast fans know I have been talking about Pryor for a while now, ever since the preseason. And I liked him last week, talked him up enough on the podcast and elsewhere. I could have sworn I wrote about him in Love/Hate last week. At 10:07 a.m. ET on Sunday morning, I sent this tweet:

Anyway, this isn't bragging. OK, it's a little bragging, but believe me, I got plenty of calls wrong last week, and always do and will. But I'm just so mad I didn't put him in this column last week. Regardless, he's all sorts of legit. The quarterback play will continue, the running ... all of it. He's the Browns' most talented playmaker, and there is a connection between Hue Jackson and Pryor going back to Oakland. Hue is a great coach and will continue to find creative ways to get the ball in his hands. So I'm putting Pryor here to say that (A) he's not a fluke, he was on the field for 82 snaps last week, and (B) I'm not worried if Josh Norman shadows him this week; they will line him up all over. Top-20 play for me.

Others receiving votes: In two games versus Indy last season, with Vontae Davis shadowing Allen Robinson, Hurns went burns -- as in he burned the Colts! Ha! It's getting late. I'm a bit loopy. At any rate, he went over 100 yards and had a score in each game. While the Jags' offense isn't clicking like last season thus far, Davis should be on A-Rob again, making Hurns a strong play this week. ... Same game, gimme some Phillip Dorsett, who led the Colts in snaps played last week and should spend a good chunk of the game being guarded by Davon House, currently Pro Football Focus' 96th-ranked cornerback out of 104. ... You know I am on Kirk Cousins, so DeSean Jackson and Jamison Crowder should continue to be WR3s with upside.

Wide receivers I hate in Week 4

Sammy Watkins, Bills: I'm not even convinced he plays, but even if he does, he has never had more than 60 yards receiving in four career meetings against Bill Belichick and has just one score. It depends who else you have on your team, of course, and Watkins is talented enough that any one play can make your week, but in the two-WR, one-flex, 16-team PPR league that I own Watkins in, I am starting DeAndre Hopkins (obviously), Terrelle Pryor and Willie Snead over him this week. And if Snead can't go, I'll probably play Tyrell Williams over Watkins. I expect a lot of Malcolm Butler on Watkins in this one, and at less than 100 percent, he is outside my top 20.

Dez Bryant, Cowboys: I don't think he plays, and if he does suit up for the Cowboys, he's not suiting up for me. I feel he'd be out there just as a decoy.

Tajae Sharpe, Titans: He has cooled off after a hot start, and you know I think this game leans run-heavy. Sharpe has seen his targets decline after a big Week 1, and it's worth noting, Marcus Mariota struggles when under pressure. And while there's no J.J. Watt in this one, I still expect Houston to bring pressure here and the Titans to run a lot to counter that. There are likely better options on your team.

Julian Edelman, Patriots: Wake me when Tom is back. Anything is possible, but I am expecting a run-heavy game script that takes some shots to Rob Gronkowski. Edelman has just one red zone reception in three weeks, which makes him more a WR3 this week and not the automatic start he normally is.

Jordy Nelson, Packers: He's on a bye this week. Just making sure you're paying attention.

Tight ends I love in Week 4

Dennis Pitta, Ravens: The past two weeks, Joe Flacco has eyes for Pitta only. At least it seems that way. Almost 30 percent of Flacco's completions in the past two weeks have gone to The Peach. (Get it? The Peach? Peach Pitta? No? What? Am I still here? I'm still here. I shouldn't be. Excuse me. I'll leave now.) The Raiders got destroyed by the Falcons' Jacob Tamme, and I expect a good game for Pitta here.

Jimmy Graham, Seahawks: With Russell Wilson immobile, the Hawks will want to use Graham to control the middle of the field, and they'll be successful at it. The Jets' pass defense is their weakness, allowing opponents to complete a league-high 71.3 percent of passes this season. The Chiefs' tight ends just gashed New York last week, so I like Graham this week to continue his strong start.

Zach Miller, Bears: Can Brian Hoyer stay the Bears' QB forever? Asking for a friend. Who happens to own Miller. And is actually me. Hoyer kept looking his way last week (nine targets), and he should do it again in a matchup he can win. The Lions have allowed a touchdown to a tight end each week this season, coughing up 216 yards and five TDs to TEs on only 19 catches (50 fantasy points, most in the NFL).

Others receiving votes: Kyle Rudolph has scored in back-to-back weeks and is getting targeted on 28 percent of all Vikings passes, behind only Stefon Diggs. ... Cameron Brate is getting all the love now that Austin Seferian-Jenkins is no longer on the team, and while it's not a great matchup, you're better off attacking the middle of the field with your tight end against Denver than you are going after their corners. ... It doesn't look like Antonio Gates will play this week, so Hunter Henry gets another shot after running a route on better than 65 percent of his snaps played last week. Bad fumble aside, he looked good and now gets, ahem, the Saints.

Tight ends I hate in Week 4

Clive Walford, Raiders: The Ravens have been strong against tight ends this season, and with 50 yards or fewer in three straight, Walford is a touchdown-dependent TE2.

Jesse James, Steelers: Here's Jesse's target count by week: 7-5-4. In their past 13 games, the Chiefs have allowed just one touchdown to an opposing tight end. One. How lucky do you feel?

Defenses I love in Week 4

Cincinnati Bengals: At home on a short week, the return of Vontaze Burfict should give a lift to a defense that is allowing the fourth-lowest completion percentage this season.

Minnesota Vikings: How am I the only guy with them in the top three?

New York Giants: They've allowed just one rushing touchdown this season, and their front is for real. I see Big Blue getting up for a game on a national stage, and that Vikings offensive line will struggle against the Giants' front.

Others receiving votes: So Bill has had extra time to prepare for Rex, and the game is in New England? OK. ... The Rams are fourth in blitzes this season, and pressure is one thing Carson Palmer struggles with, ranking 26th of 31 qualified passers in QBR versus the blitz this season. The Rams will get after Palmer in this one, and a few sacks and a turnover are strong possibilities.

Defenses I hate in Week 4

Buffalo Bills: Even after last week, even with a banged-up, backup QB. I want no part of Rex's defense against Belichick.

Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys have allowed the second-most yards before contact this season, which should allow the 49ers to run the ball and control the clock, limiting the number of potential turnovers.

That's all we have this week. A reminder to tune in to see Fantasy Football Now on Sunday morning, 11 a.m. ET on ESPN2. Thanks to Kyle Soppe of ESPN Fantasy for his help with this column. Good luck in Week 4!

Matthew Berry, The Talented Mr. Roto, is trying to figure out how he can get Anne Hathaway to play fantasy football next year. To, you know, just pick a name out at random. He is the creator of RotoPass.com, a paid spokesman for DraftKings.com and one of the owners of the Fantasy Life app.

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