Fantasy Football Guru Matthew Berry Leaving ESPN
Matthew Berry, ESPN’s senior fantasy football analyst, will be leaving the company, he announced in a tweet on Monday.
Berry is probably the most recognizable fantasy football person in the business. He is to fantasy football what Mel Kiper is to the NFL Draft: the face of that sports niche. Berry was very important to fantasy football in a lot of ways, helping it become a staple of the football season. He was the main fantasy football guy at ESPN, grew the division to incorporate other fantasy football personnel people on the staff, and established fantasy football marathons at the company. However, all good things must come to an end.
Berry said this on his departure from ESPN:
“Here is a sentence I never thought I’d write. I can confirm that after 15 amazing years, I am leaving ESPN,” Berry said. “When I came to the company in 2007, fantasy football was a niche of a niche, and ESPN was way behind the market leader. And now, many years later, I am so incredibly proud of all the work we have done together to bring fantasy football into the mainstream and, specifically, make ESPN the leading game and content destination for fantasy players everywhere.”
Quote via Matthew Berry/Twitter
He continued:
“On a professional level, ESPN gave me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to write and talk fantasy sports on every possible ESPN platform. On a personal level, ESPN is where I made lifelong friends, met my wife, and started my family. I am forever indebted to ESPN.”
Quote via Matthew Berry/Twitter
This is a huge shot to the heart for fantasy football fans and those that love to watch ESPN as it just lost one of its best personalities. Besides being very intelligent when it comes to fantasy, Berry’s biggest positives were his passion for the sport and his fun personality. He was great entertainment and he made fantasy football fans want to tune in to his shows.
Berry even gave a thank you to the many fantasy football fans who followed him in his tenure at the company.
“I am so very grateful to every single one of (the fans). May your Flex plays always hit, your trades never get vetoed, and your Monday Night miracles all come through.”
Quote via Matthew Berry/Twitter
He was a great ambassador for fantasy football at ESPN and is one of the reasons it is at the level it is today. While his chapter has closed at ESPN, he is now open to taking on new challenges and adventures. Fantasy Football fans will be waiting to see what the fantastic Matthew Berry will do next.
Matthew Berry’s advice on fantasy football rules
Matthew Berry has been in the fantasy football game for a long time and he has developed some strong stances throughout his time in fantasy. Here, are some of his notable fantasy football stances on some of the constant fantasy football rules debates.
First, Berry believes that no fantasy football trades should be vetoed. In fantasy football, either the commissioner signs off on trades between managers or the league as a whole will vote on the trade. However, this does not matter to Berry because according to him, trades should be final once the managers in the trade are in agreement.
Another aspect that Berry has publicly discussed throughout the years is that kickers should be removed from fantasy football. A lot of people do not see the position as necessary in fantasy and they think that it ruins the fun and strategy of the main skilled positions. Berry was one of the leaders of this school of thought in expelling kickers from fantasy football.
