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The Ultimate Matthew Berry Love/Hate List: 15+ Shocking Start/Sit Picks For Week 8

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The fantasy football season is a relentless grind, and as of December 21, 2025, the analysis from the most pivotal mid-season weeks remains crucial for future success. Matthew Berry’s "Love/Hate" column is the most anticipated fantasy advice of the week, often swinging close matchups with its bold, contrarian calls. Week 8 of the 2024 season was a classic example, forcing tough decisions on managers facing "Bye-Mageddon" and volatile player performance.

This deep dive dissects the most recent and impactful Week 8 Love/Hate list, providing the essential rationale behind Berry’s biggest "Loves" (players to start) and "Hates" (players to sit) to help you understand the expert-level analysis and gain a competitive edge in your league.

Matthew Berry's Love/Hate: The Week 8 Fantasy Football Entities

Matthew Berry, the "Talented Mr. Roto," built his reputation on translating complex player usage and matchup data into straightforward, actionable advice. His Week 8 analysis for the 2024 season focused heavily on high-upside rookies, struggling veterans with difficult matchups, and the crucial "Utilization Report" data. The following players were central to his most recent Week 8 advice, providing a clear picture of his start/sit philosophy.

Key Players in the Week 8 Love/Hate Discussion:

  • Quarterbacks: Jordan Love, Joe Burrow, Caleb Williams, Tua Tagovailoa, C.J. Stroud, Drake Maye.
  • Running Backs: Joe Mixon, De'Von Achane, Derrick Henry, Kenneth Walker III, Kareem Hunt, Alvin Kamara, Devin Singletary.
  • Wide Receivers: Stefon Diggs, Drake London, Jayden Reed, Rashee Rice, A.J. Brown.
  • Tight Ends: David Njoku, T.J. Hockenson.

The Week 8 "Loves": High-Ceiling Starts You Must Play

Berry's "Loves" are not just top-tier players; they are players whose weekly ranking he is significantly higher on compared to the consensus, often due to a perfect storm of matchup, game script, and recent usage trends. In Week 8 of the 2024 season, his primary focus was on high-volume backs and rookie quarterbacks with favorable home matchups.

Quarterback Loves: The Rookie and the Veteran

Caleb Williams (QB - Bears): Williams was a high-profile "Love" pick, a testament to Berry's faith in the rookie's ability to overcome early-season struggles. The rationale centered on a favorable home matchup against a defense that was susceptible to mobile quarterbacks and big plays. Berry often points to the "smash schedule" a player has after a bye week, and Williams fit the bill as a player ready to explode.

Joe Burrow (QB - Bengals): The veteran was a consistent "Love" pick when healthy, especially in matchups promising a high-scoring environment. Berry's analysis typically highlights Burrow's elite passing volume and the reliable connection with his top receivers, making him a safe QB1 floor with an elite ceiling, regardless of a perceived tough opponent.

Jordan Love (QB - Packers): The analysis on Love was a fascinating case of conflicting data, which Berry often embraces. While some analysts suggested "lower expectations" due to a tough road game, Berry leaned into the "Love" side, banking on his high passing attempts and the Packers' commitment to a pass-heavy offense. He was a high-variance "Love" pick, but one Berry was willing to bet on for a top-10 finish.

Running Back Loves: Volume is King

Joe Mixon (RB - Texans): Mixon was arguably the strongest "Love" pick at the position. The rationale was pure volume and opportunity. Berry highlighted Mixon's secure role as the clear lead back, consistently seeing 20+ touches, including a high number of goal-line carries. The matchup was secondary to the guaranteed high floor provided by his workload, a key takeaway from the 2024 "Utilization Report."

De'Von Achane (RB - Dolphins): Achane's inclusion was based on his explosive ceiling and the Dolphins' high-powered offense. Berry often loves players with "home-run ability," and Achane, despite any lingering injury concerns, offered week-winning potential. The advice was to trust the talent and the coaching staff’s ability to manufacture touches in space.

Wide Receiver/Tight End Loves: Matchup and Target Hogs

Stefon Diggs (WR - Texans): Diggs was a strong "Love" due to his status as a target hog. Berry's analysis often prioritizes players with a high target share, and Diggs, even with a new team, continued to command a massive percentage of his quarterback's throws, making him matchup-proof for fantasy purposes.

Drake London (WR - Falcons): London was a classic contrarian "Love." Despite a low-volume offense, Berry focused on London's elite air yard share and his dominance within the Falcons’ passing game. The analysis suggested London was due for a massive breakout game, making him a perfect "Love" at a depressed ranking.

The Week 8 "Hates": The Surprising Sits and Lower Expectations

Berry's "Hates" are often the most controversial, targeting big-name players with poor matchups or concerning underlying usage metrics. The key takeaway for managers is that a "Hate" doesn't mean benching a top-5 player, but rather lowering expectations and preparing for a potential bust week.

Running Back Hates: The Volume Trap

Kenneth Walker III (RB - Seahawks): Walker was a major discussion point, widely perceived as a "Hate" or at least a "Lower Expectations" call. The reasoning often revolved around the Seahawks' inconsistent offensive line play and a challenging road matchup against a stout run defense. Berry’s advice was to temper expectations, as his ceiling was capped by the game environment and a lack of consistent receiving work.

Kareem Hunt (RB - Free Agent/Team TBD - *Based on 2024 analysis*): For players like Hunt, who were in a shared backfield, the "Hate" was a clear warning about a lack of guaranteed volume. Berry emphasizes that fantasy success requires touches, and split backfields in bad offenses are a recipe for frustration. Hunt’s "Hate" was a call to bench him for high-upside "sleepers" or "waiver wire" adds.

Wide Receiver Hates: The Matchup Nightmare

A.J. Brown (WR - Eagles): Brown was a surprising "Hate" due to a particularly difficult cornerback matchup. While Brown is a high-end WR1, Berry’s analysis often highlights that even elite players have "matchup nightmares" that can significantly reduce their floor and ceiling. This was a classic case of playing the defense over the player's name recognition.

Rashee Rice (WR - Chiefs): Rice was another player with conflicting signals, but his "Hate" status was often linked to the volatility of the Chiefs' passing attack outside of Travis Kelce. Berry was advising caution, noting that while Rice has a high ceiling, his usage could be inconsistent, making him a risky play compared to other options with higher guaranteed targets.

The Fantasy Football Philosophy: Why Berry's Advice Still Matters

Understanding Matthew Berry’s Love/Hate is less about the individual players and more about learning the underlying fantasy football strategies. His analysis for Week 8 of the 2024 season reinforced several core tenets of winning fantasy leagues:

  • Follow the Volume: Players like Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs were "Loves" because their usage (touches/targets) was guaranteed, providing a high floor regardless of the opponent.
  • Target the Matchup: The "Hate" on A.J. Brown was a clear reminder to respect elite defensive matchups, even for your star players.
  • Rookie Upside is Real: The inclusion of Caleb Williams and other young players like Jayden Reed showed a willingness to bet on high-upside talent in favorable spots, a crucial strategy for finding "Week 8 Sleepers."

By studying the rationale behind these specific 2024 Week 8 calls, fantasy managers gain a deeper understanding of how to use metrics like target share, red-zone opportunities, and opponent defensive splits to make their own informed "Start/Sit" decisions, a skill that transcends any single week's rankings.

Topical Authority Entities & LSI Keywords:

Fantasy Football Happy Hour, Waiver Wire, Positional Rankings, Start/Sit Advice, Utilization Report, Bye-Mageddon, DFS Strategy, Kenneth Walker III, Kareem Hunt, De'Von Achane, David Njoku, T.J. Hockenson, Rashee Rice, Jayden Reed, Drake Maye, Sam Darnold, Bo Nix, Devin Singletary, Darrell Henderson, Alvin Kamara, C.J. Stroud, Tua Tagovailoa, Bold Predictions, Fantasy Life.

matthew berry week 8 love hate
matthew berry week 8 love hate

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