Revisiting The Talented Mr. Roto, and Why ESPN Loves Him
ESPN, Fantasy Sports, NFL September 4th. 2007, 12:43pm
This is a fantasy football war room. We’ve got our draft tonight, so we’re pretty stoked. It’s a keeper league, so we won’t bore you with details (except that we’re keeping Reggie Bush and not Jamal Lewis).
The war room is also a bridge to our follow-up post on ESPN fantasy football guru Matthew Berry, a man the WWL supposedly wants to make a star. We told you that we had heard Mr. Berry brought his dog into the Bristol offices earlier this year and let it crap all over the place; a slew of emails later confirm that this definitely happened. Several of the tipsters, though, say that Berry was contrite about the incident.
How is Berry destined to become a star at ESPN? Easy – a source tells us he’s got a powerful backer at the network, and that would be John Kosner, Senior Vice President of ESPN.com. The word you’re looking for here is protection, people. Berry can step on all the toes he wants to in Bristol, Kosner has his back.
Some of you wondered ESPN would want to turn a fantasy writer into a star, and that’s easy: ESPN can hire up all the ‘talented’ fantasy guys on the web, and make readers pay for their ‘intel.’ Think about it – almost any story on the front page of ESPN.com can be found on blogs or other news outlets; fantasy information, though, cannot. And millions of desk jockeys spend all day at work preparing for their draft, so what’s $10 to get a leg up on your friends and potentially win a pot of hundreds? When you watch ESPN news and see these fantasy guys talking about x, y, or z, the obvious move is to check them out online. And pay.
Though we’ve never really so much as perused Berry’s fantasy thoughts (we’ll put our fantasy skills up against anyone’s dammit), we decided to read up on his August 29 insider piece on guys he likes and hates. After the jump, a breakdown. We’re curious about your thoughts.
He used to hate the following players, but now, he loves them:
JP Losman – Why, because he finished strong? Disagree with Berry, unless he’s talking about Losman as a backup.
DeShaun Foster – Have him and his injuries.
Adrian Peterson – Completely disagree here as long as the QB is a bum.
Willie Parker – When did he hate this guy? When Fast Willie was at UNC?
Big Ben – Our mechanic told us this.* In June. He’s healthy and Holmes looks good. (*He would have. If we had one.)
Caddy Williams – Will get goal line carries with Alstott gone. What about the fact that Garcia loved Westbrook and he’ll love Williams? Duh.
He used to love the following players, but now, he hates them:
Travis Henry – Other than his nine baby mamas, who likes him?
J Norwood – Might as well list every Falcons offensive player.
DeAngelo Williams – Hating backups? Harsh.
Daunte Culpepper – When did you love him? 1999?
Matt Jones – Loveable at the combine … in an actual game, not so much.
Derrick Ross – Who?
Reche Caldwell – Serious foresight there. He was cut this weekend.
33 Responses to “Revisiting The Talented Mr. Roto, and Why ESPN Loves Him”
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September 4th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
His podcast with Nate Ravitz is a must-listen every day.
For the record, he also hates Cedric Benson and thinks everyone is way way too high on Vincent Jackson.
September 4th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
He hates players that already suck? That is some insight I’m willing to pay for.
I’ve never understood the whole fantasy journalism business. These cats don’t know anything more than I or anyone else that pays attention does.
Derrick Ross is the Chief’s 3rd or 4th string RB. Fantastic information there, ESPN dude.
September 4th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
sr1weeze- totally agree..that daily fantasy podcast is fun to listen to also..
September 4th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Derrick Ross was released.
September 4th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
and yeah, it’s “Derrick” which might be why you weren’t finding him on your cheat sheet
September 4th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
hmmm…i could have sworn it read “Derek” a minute ago.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
I’m with KC, I think all the fantasy news is pretty pointless, especially for people who pay attention to games. It doesn’t take a genius to a) know an RB is only as good as the line who blocks for him and b) look at the defense your players are facing every week to see who will have a chance at racking up points. That being said, I’m not paying any money to get Berry’s Insider articles when I can read fantasy-obsessed Bill Simmons for free. Not that I think Simmons is a genius or anything, but he’s just as knowledgeable as any other fantasy guru out there with a pay-for-use site.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
I haven’t listen to one podcast – well, one from Simmons, when an intruder stuck a gun to my temple – but perhaps i should start giving more of them a chance.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Maj -
I swore I read over the weekend that he made the 53 man roster. Alas, he’s not on the roster…
http://www.kcchiefs.com/players/
That being said, the fact someone thought it even needed mentioning that he woud be a bad fantasy pick makes me a little wary of the supposed genius of this Berry cat. The guy was out and out a fraud (too many fumbles).
September 4th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
“Not that I think Simmons is a genius or anything, but he’s just as knowledgeable as any other fantasy guru out there with a pay-for-use site.”
I’d be willing to wager large sums of money that Bill Simmons reads Football Prospectus and other works by fantasy experts.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
BigLead – if there’s one thing ESPN does well, its their podcasts. I listen to Baseball Today and the Fantasy Baseball and Football podcasts religiously. The BS Report is even sometimes decent. And if you want your dose of unintentional comedy, check out Jeremy Green on Football Today, and listen to him starch the inside of his pants over the Jets 3-4 defense or something.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Ross was getting love from some other fantasy guys because of LJ’s workload and Michael Bennett’s proclivity for foot injuries.
If you’ve read The Talented Mr. Roto you know that Berry is far from a hack.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Also, Bill Simmons’ “Top 50″ fantasy players article from last week was just awful. His logic is based on his intuition (which he has of course proved time and time again to be worthless) and just irreverent nonsense (like what he said about Rudi Johnson… he’s only been guaranteed for 1200+ yards and 11+ TDs every year). When he calls himself an idiot, people should actually LISTEN.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
KC- I’m pretty sure that he did make the roster at which point they cut him to pick up a cornerback (who was probably a late cut by another team).
September 4th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Alright, then maybe I’m just lazy and would rather read someone’s free perspective of Football Prospectus than going out and buying it myself.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
I’d be willing to wager large sums of money that Bill Simmons reads Football Prospectus and other works by fantasy experts.
Considering he had Schatz on his podcast, I’d be willing to wager that too.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
S1rweeze- I didn’t read the column but the one reaction i heard referenced Rudi. That is a pretty ludicrous placement
September 4th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
“Ross was getting love from some other fantasy guys because of LJ’s workload and Michael Bennett’s proclivity for foot injuries.”
Still doesn’t make sense. Drafting a 3rd (sometimes 4th, Chief’s seem somewhat in love with Kolby Smith) string RB? Oh well, doesn’t affect me. I am the smartest man in the world so I do not need Berry’s advice on hyoptheticals that would result in a chronic fumbler getting actual NFL game time. That being said, if I had to take advice, I’d take this cat’s sight unseen over PK.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
“Considering he had Schatz on his podcast, I’d be willing to wager that too.”
well there you go.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
He’s also way off about Maroney… I followed him at Minnesota, where he only got hurt once, with a hamstring issue that kept him out a couple weeks. So he got a little banged up a hit a wall late last year, what rookie RB DOESN’T? He’ll be the main back on one of the best teams in football, so they’ll be playing with the lead a lot, so they’ll be running the ball a ton to kill the clock.
I could go on and on… whoops, looks like I already have.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
In my Fantasy Draft, some guy who obviously reads Simmons picked Selvin Young in the 8th round…this was Simmons superduper sleeper..I have never laughed so hard in my life.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
I read alot of his stuff in the past with regard to fantasy baseball (oddly, I played in fantasy baseball and basketball for years, but never football). He’s actually pretty useful in those kinda leagues, because he sums up the entire day’s worth of action into his daily posts; he can tell you which closers are getting replaced, and by whom; which players to keep an eye on, and who is getting an increase in playing time.
Point being that fantasy experts aren’t bad in those two sports. But I never understood the need for them in football – aren’t games once a week? Should that allow any fan enough time to keep up with the crucial information?
September 4th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
SML makes a valid point. There’s a big difference between MLB fantasy analysis and it’s NFL counterpart.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
The comments bring up a question to me; how many web readers of sports blogs like this one listen to podcasts? I’m with TBL as well on this one; I listen to very few, personally.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
I listen to the Basketball Jones whenever I get a chance, that’s about it.
September 4th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Clearly, i need to get up on my podcasts. But as Jesse Spano said, ‘No Time! There’s never any time!”
September 4th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
I’m so excited! I’m so excited! I’m…so…scared!
September 4th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
“Clearly, i need to get up on my podcasts. But as Jesse Spano said, ‘No Time! There’s never any time!” ”
You could always cut back on the high school drama reruns from twelve years ago. That should free up a few minutes.
September 4th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
I listen to The Basketball Jones podcast, and that’s it. I tried the Simmons podcast twice. If anything, this should really illustrate how much efficient TBJ’s cast is to any other one out there – it’s short enough to keep it worth your while to listen to at your computer (10-15 minutes is optimal, in my opinion). It’s fun and dynamic. It’s it keeps moving briskly, so you don’t get bored quickly (Simmons).
Also, podcasts and v-casts are the same. So which v-casts do I listen to? Not really so much to Mottram’s Blog Show, but I have been enjoying those Bleacher guys….
September 4th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
I am surprised it has taken ESPN this long to try to corner the market. Fantasy FB is a billion dollar industry and it still barely gets respect. Just in the last 2 or 3 years has Fox and CBS shown any kind of stats on their halftime shows and NFL.com just came around in the same time frame and started to offer it on their website.
I don’t know anything about this Berry guy, but the funny thing is that most of the Fantasy FB guys on the big channels/sites suck balls. CBSSportsline is the worst. It might as well be Deep Thoughts by 13 year old girls about football. Every time I finish reading another wonderful article on the obvious, there I say the same thing to myself….No Duh
September 5th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
I don’t understand how u can call the ESPN FF podcast a “must listen to. ” I’ve listened to maybe 3 or 4 of them…and there were some pretty good points made from time to time…but they spend way too much time trying to come off as funny…and the “crappy promo” is the stupidest segment ever thought of…i will intentionally never buy coke zero or maybe even a coke product again just b/c of it…both Berry and Nate are absolute dorks
September 8th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
Matt Berry and Nate Ravitz have more intellect, raw humor and overall fantasy knowledge in there little finger or even Matt’s hair or lack there of than all of you people that bash them and the podcast put together, and for those who knock Coke Zero listen to this true story… I was recently found myself in a small village located in a third world country (haven’t we all) when I first entered the village I noticed horrible famine like conditions, no running water and no understanding of western culture. I popped open a can of Coke Zero with the village people(insert your own joke) and the next day everybody in the village had a clean bill of health, there were beautiful waterfalls flowing and they had a stock market up and running…oh and I had a little bit of cancer, rubbed a can of Coke Zero over it, and now it’s gone.
Patton Dietz
(i know you read this Matt gimme a shout out)
September 8th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
What am I saying? I wrote in to ESPN radio with at least 15 entries to the ‘Soderberg listener’s league’ under as many assumed names and they picked becky, a 13 yr old and even ‘vocal Jenn’ over me… You people are right down with Berry and Ravitz and even Coke Zero up with Anderson Cooper and the insufferable Jeremy Green!