It's higher on the list than you'd think.
The list, of course, of the most soul-crushing things about fantasy football.
Oh, make no mistake: We love fantasy football. We crave its highs, we obsess over it, can't live without it.
But there is no pleasure without pain, no high without lows, no last-round draft pick turned into superstar running back without the first-round pick going bust.
Our star player leaving a game early due to injury, deciding to bench a player only to see him go off while on your bench, going to bed thinking you won your game only to wake up to a loss on a stat correction.
Annoying and frustrating, to be sure.
But, and maybe it's me, there's nothing quite as soul-crushing as the self-inflicted wound. You had a good player. By draft, by the waiver wire, by trade, by impressive research or just dumb luck, somehow, some way, you wound up with a gem. A fantasy rock star, someone who could lead you to the promised land.
If only you would leave well enough alone.
But no. You couldn't help yourself. Oh sure, it made sense in your head at the time. It was totally logical then. So you did it. You dropped the guy, you made the trade and then ... you get the feeling.
Maybe it's the Sunday after you do it, maybe it's a few weeks later, but still the feeling comes. That pit in your stomach, that sick feeling, the slow burn that makes your face red and creeps over you. That "OH NO, WHAT DID I DO??" feeling.
It has happened to me. It has happened to you. And man, oh man, has it happened to a lot of you. Which means, with my annual apology to the band Oasis, it's time for the 13th annual edition of "Don't Look Back in Anger."
I asked my followers on Twitter (@MatthewBerryTMR) and on the Fantasy Life App (where I'm @MatthewBerry) to post their most regrettable move. So as you contemplate your worst move this year, hopefully you feel better that at least you're not one of these folks.
(Note: Trust me, I saw all of these screenshots, and these are actual moves by actual players).
Sometimes it's just bad luck, like @highdesertRon (Twitter), who traded Kyler Murray and Robby Anderson for ... Jonathan Taylor and George Kittle.
That was always gonna be a bad one given Kyler, but Kittle getting hurt was impossible to predict. Kittle's injury has played a large part in a lot of regrettable moves, I'll bet. But at least for Ron, that was the only injured guy he dealt for.
@wdlzfrz (Fantasy Life) traded Dalvin Cook for Kittles, Dak Prescott and Le'Veon Bell. Imagine trading your first-round pick for three guys and the only healthy one is Bell. Yeesh.
Trades are tough. Especially when there's an injury right after. Like @EmbryStemCell (T), who traded away DeAndre Hopkins and Kareem Hunt for Saquon Barkley and Michael Gallup. Or like @bodie (FL) who traded Tyler Boyd AND James Robinson for ... Odell Beckham Jr. Wow. A two-fer. But sometimes it's just a bad trade, period. Like @brendanhaz (T), who, after his league's draft, traded DK Metcalf for ... Cam Akers. Man. That's bad. Speaking of Metcalf, @jb51397 (FL) traded him in Week 2 for ... Cam Newton. Speaking of underperforming Patriots, @BarishJulian (T) dropped Robby Anderson before the season for ... N'Keal Harry.
But how do you think @aaroncharles18 (T) feels? He traded Chris Carson AND James Robinson for ... Jonathan Taylor.
That would be awful even if it was just Robinson, but adding Carson, even with his injury absence? Ooofa.
I have to say, Robinson showed up a LOT, as it's clear people didn't initially think much of the undrafted rookie for a bad Jaguars team. As we enter Week 11, Robinson is the third-highest scoring running back in total fantasy points. And yet, @TLasher4 (T) dropped him for Scotty Miller. But at least Miller had a few usable weeks. @ezmacncheese23 (T) dropped Robinson for Darrel Williams.
Seems like people were impatient with rookies all around, not just Robinson. @babydave13 (T) dropped D'Andre Swift for Justin Jackson. @robhiltbrand (T) dropped Tee Higgins for Scotty Miller. And this one really hurts, as @Jagerdom (T) dropped Justin Jefferson after Week 1 for ... Parris Campbell.
It goes from bad to worse. @stacheallen (FL) tells me he dropped D'Andre Swift for Logan Thomas. And this one is a double whammy: @spartan_sox (FL) dropped Joe Burrow for Tyrod Taylor in Week 1, then picked up Justin Herbert ... and then promptly dropped him for Daniel Jones in Week 3.
I mean, there's not trusting rookies and then there's NOT TRUSTING ROOKIES.
If there's one silver lining, though, it's that all these moves were made for "skills" players. Oh, no. You don't mean ... yep.
@mahlersam96 (FL) dropped Tee Higgins for the Buffalo D, and @kylebrenn (FL) did the same thing, except he dropped Chase Claypool for the Bills.
I mean, that's awful, but fear not, guys, because there's something worse than a defense. And that's what @ibcnu2222 (T) did when he dropped Justin Jefferson for ... kicker Joey Slye. But that's not the worst one I've heard. I think the worst one I saw this year, non-injury related, was @OtherKevinHart (T), who, in the preseason, dropped Aaron Rodgers for ... Younghoe Koo.
So I just want you to know that no matter how your season has gone, it can always be worse. And for every starting RB you drop for a kicker, there's always a chance the next guy you pick up will be a stud. So here's to happy hunting and no more moves that make you get that sick feeling in your stomach.
Remember ... we are looking forward.
Speaking of looking forward, I just want to say that I really appreciate everyone's passion for Love/Hate, and all of your comments last week on social media meant a lot to me. More than you'll ever know.
Thanks, as always, to The Fantasy Show on ESPN+'s Stat-a-Pillar Damian Dabrowski and "Thirsty" Kyle Soppe of the Fantasy Focus 06010 for their help at various points in this column. Let's get to it and hope no decisions you make this week force you to look back in anger.
Quarterbacks I love in Week 10
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers, vs. Jets
"You guys are so brutal, I can beat you with a terrible haircut!" -- Justin Herbert, probably. Make no mistake: I am the last guy to make follicle fun of someone. Herbert can do whatever the hell he wants. With his hair and with the Jets. Over the past four weeks, New York gives up a league-high 338.7 passing yards per game. They're allowing the third-most fantasy points per game in that span as well (26.1), and given the Jets' lack of a pass rush (they are bottom 12 in pressure rate this year), Herbert will have a lot of time in the pocket to pick apart the Jets' secondary and consider other, alternative haircuts. I expect an elite quarterback performance in this game, but it won't be from Joe Flacco.
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers, at Jaguars
Roethlisberger didn't exactly light it up out of the gate this season but now that we've hit midseason, well ... he's appropriately in midseason form. Over the past two weeks, Roethlisberger is QB3 overall thanks to throwing seven touchdown passes and averaging 319.5 passing yards and 44 pass attempts per game. I like his chances of keeping it up as the Steelers look to stay undefeated and the Jaguars look to tank for Trevor. The Jags allow the second-highest completion percentage, the third-most fantasy points to opposing QBs and have the fourth-highest rate of touchdowns allowed. Big Midseason Ben is a top-five quarterback for me this week.
Cam Newton, New England Patriots, at Texans
Newton's 2020 fantasy production continues to be tied entirely to his legs. Newton's mere three passing touchdowns his year have him tied for 36th in the NFL, just behind ... wait for it ... Dwayne Haskins Jr.! But he's also tied for third in rushing touchdowns with nine, behind only Dalvin Cook and Kyler Murray. Reliance on rushing scores makes him a risky play, but I'm far less worried about him against the Texans. Teams facing Houston average a league-high 6.7 red zone carries per game, while Newton is tied for the most goal-line carries in the NFL over the past three weeks. Odds are Cam will get in the end zone this week, which means Cam also gets on the Love list.
Others receiving votes
Over their past four games, the Bengals are allowing 310 passing yards and 3.5 touchdown passes per game. That means the latest step in Alex Smith's comeback is returning to the Others Receiving Votes section of the Love list. ... In the first Raiders-Chiefs matchup of the year, Derek Carr put up 347 passing yards, three touchdowns and 24 fantasy points in an upset win. "Fine, but the Chiefs are coming off a bye and will be bent on revenge." Agreed. But get this: Carr is averaging 18.4 fantasy points per game in losses this year, almost three full points more than he does in wins. ... As of this writing we don't have full clarity on Teddy Bridgewater's health, but if he's in the lineup against the Lions, those with streaming needs should consider putting him in the lineup. Four of the past five quarterbacks to face Detroit have scored at least 17 fantasy points, while Bridgewater has at least 19 points in three of his past four games. (Editor's Note: This section has been updated to reflect the latest news on the New Orleans Saints QB depth chart. Jameis Winston is no longer receiving a vote.)
Quarterbacks I hate in Week 11
Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, vs. Rams
Congratulations on becoming the NFL's all-time leader in fantasy points last week, Tom Brady! You are now officially the GOAT in all forms of football, real and fake. An incredible accomplishment. So, you know, (stares at the ground, kicks dirt with his foot, whispers) I, uh, have to put you on the Hate list this week. Look! I know! I hope I'm wrong too! You were amazing last week. But it's hard to pass when you're on your back and I'm fearful of what Aaron Donald and crew can do with an offensive line that has struggled recently. L.A. allows the second-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks on the season and, over the past four games, the Rams have yielded just 11.4 FPPG to quarterbacks, including single digits to the much more mobile Russell Wilson last week. I absolutely love Brady's late-season schedule and he should be a trade target in every league before next week's fantasy trade deadline ... but I'd advise waiting to trade for him until after this game.
Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles, at Browns
In Wentz's past two games, Week 8 versus the Cowboys and Week 10 versus the Giants, he's averaged just 8.67 fantasy points. However, he managed to get pretty close to that number in his Week 9 bye, so that's something, right? I mean, most quarterbacks don't maintain a consistent fantasy output sitting at home. Unfortunately for Wentz managers and Eagles fans, I expect that consistency to continue this week against a Browns team that has held three of the last four quarterbacks they've faced (Ben Roethlisberger, Derek Carr and Deshaun Watson) to less than 15 fantasy points. Now, the weather in Cleveland had something to do with it (as did the fact Ben didn't need to throw against the Browns because they were killing them, but still!). This game will once again be in Cleveland and honestly, if Wentz can't get it done against the Giants, how confident are you he can against a better-than-it-gets-credit-for Cleveland D? The Browns are top 10 in sacks and no team in the NFL has allowed more sacks this year than Philadelphia. I have Wentz outside my top 15 this week.
Running backs I love in Week 11
D'Andre Swift, Detroit Lions, at Panthers
Finally. We can put away the #FreeD'AndreSwift signs. The Lions finally decided to hand their RB1 job to their explosive rookie back. Now, is it too late for the Lions, since they're below .500 and in last place in their division? Probably! (Sorry, Daniel Dopp.) But it's not too late for those of you who drafted Swift to make a fantasy playoff push with him leading the way. Swift is coming off a season high in snap rate (71%) and touches (21). That matters, because among running backs with at least 75 touches this season, Swift ranks third in fantasy points per touch. Give Swift the ball and he produces. It's simple math. I expect another RB1-type performance this week against a Panthers defense that is tied for the most receptions allowed to running backs and the fourth-most fantasy points per game to running backs. Swift is a top-10 back for me this week and if, the touches continue to come, he'll stay there for the rest of the season.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs, at Raiders
Even looking through a fogged-over faced shield you can see that CEH is an attractive play this week. During Andy Reid's tenure in Kansas City, Chiefs backs have averaged a combined 27.1 fantasy points per game in the week following a bye. They've had two weeks to prepare for a Raiders defense that allows the fifth-most fantasy points per game to running backs this year and gives up the fourth-most receiving yards per game (as part of a league-high 8.8 running back targets per game given up). And those numbers were before a lot of their defense was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. I know CEH's lack of scoring has been frustrating, but I believe it turns around in the second half here and it starts this week with CEH putting up a top-10 week.
Mike Davis, Carolina Panthers, vs. Lions
The news broke Wednesday that Davis is happening for at least one more week. Yes, he had only 8.4 fantasy points last week without Christian McCaffrey in the lineup. Not very McCaffrey-esque, it's true. But that was against the Buccaneers. Whereas this week's opponent, the Detroit Lions, are not very Buccaneer-esque. Detroit allows the most fantasy points per game to running backs this season and, over the past four weeks, has given up an unbelievable 43.2 points per game to the position. Not the mention, the Lions are also allowing the most receiving yards per game to running backs this season. I get it. Trust me ... I get it. Davis has been disappointing in his past few starts for CMC. So I understand that you might be reluctant. But I'm in on him this week once again as a top-10 play. And if it makes you feel better, if Davis fails again for you, at least you weren't seen recommending him on national TV and in a column on the largest sports website in the world. Let's say it one more time (and probably for the last time): Mike Davis is a must-start.
Others receiving votes
Damien Harris has cracked 100 rushing yards in three of his six games this year and, over the past four weeks, the Texans have allowed a league-high 140 rushing yards per game to running backs. That sets up for a huge game from Harris unless, you know, Bill Belichick decides to pull a Bill Belichick on us and suddenly cuts a productive fantasy back's touches simply because he hates us. Always a possibility! But game script should work in Harris' favor here to provide high-end flex play viability. ... So what that you never heard of Salvon Ahmed until a few days ago? You'll roster any rando back who gets 75% of his team's running back touches, which is what Ahmed got last week and looked great doing it. That sort of workload puts him in line for another nice game this week against a Broncos defense giving up the second-most rushing yards per game to running backs over the past four weeks and is tied for the second-most rushing touchdowns allowed in that same stretch. With Jordan Howard released, at least one more week before Myles Gaskin is back and the idea that Miami does not think of Matt Breida as a full-time solution, there's a chance that with another strong performance that Ahmed keeps the right side of this job for the rest of the season. ... Since Week 5, J.D. McKissic is RB16 in total points. I knew he'd have a role this year; I didn't think it would be as significant as this. But consistent production matters, and McKissic, who has 29 targets in his past two games, is a legit flex option in PPR leagues, especially this week against a Cincy team that the Football Team should be able to move the ball against. ... Kalen Ballage has 40 touches in his past two games, including 11 red zone carries. I'd call this a "revenge game" for Ballage against the Jets, but it's much more fun to call it a "Ballage Barrage."
Running backs I hate in Week 11
Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys, at Vikings
Since Dak Prescott's injury, who has been less helpful to fantasy managers, Prescott or Elliott? Yes, Dak hasn't scored points but at least you know to replace him. But since Dak's injury, Zeke is averaging just 8.8 fantasy points per game, which is RB35 on a points-per-game basis. Or, just one spot better than RB36 in that stretch, Texans mostly backup Duke Johnson. Yeesh. Now the hope is that they figured some stuff out over the bye, that Zeke's hammy feels better, that with Andy Dalton being back that maybe he and the Cowboys' offensive line play better and with two weeks to prep, maybe the entire offense just improves overall. But still. That's a lot of maybes and suddenly there's risk now with Elliott that has never been there before. No touchdowns and no passing-game usage over the past four games (two or fewer catches in three of the past four), Elliott now has to face a red-hot Vikings defense. Minnesota hasn't coughed up a rushing touchdown since Week 5 and over the past four games, the Vikings have allowed the sixth-fewest rushing yards per game. Because of the volume you probably still have to start him, but I have him outside my top 15 this week, the lowest I have ever ranked him.
Todd Gurley II, Atlanta Falcons, at Saints
Gurley's fantasy value relies on rushing scores. If you took away just five of his nine rushing touchdowns this season, he'd drop outside of the top 20 running backs. Obviously, you can't take those touchdowns away. But the Saints? They do take touchdowns away. New Orleans has allowed just three running back rushing touchdowns all season, tied for the fewest in the league. The Saints also give up the second-fewest fantasy points per game to backs on the season and over the past four weeks are giving up just 43 rushing yards per game. Gurley is outside my top 20 at the position this week.
Melvin Gordon III, Denver Broncos, vs. Dolphins
Over the past four weeks, the Dolphins have allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points, just 3.6 yards per carry and zero rushing touchdowns to running backs. That's an especially bad matchup for a running back whose workload has fallen off a mile-high cliff (Denver reference!) in recent weeks. Gordon is averaging just 10.7 touches and 6.3 fantasy points over his past three games, which makes his status as a fantasy asset this week very rocky (another Denver reference!).
Pass-catchers I love in Week 11
Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints, vs. Falcons
The good news for fantasy managers who spent a first-round pick on Ezekiel Elliott? At least they didn't draft Thomas. Last year's top-scoring wide receiver in fantasy has a total of 19.5 fantasy points in his three games this season. Last year, Thomas had 10 games with at least 19.5 fantasy points. Ouch. But I say this is the week we see things turn around. Yes, even with Drew Brees out. The Falcons are allowing the second-most yards per game to wide receivers as well as a league-high 14.9 yards per reception to the position. Atlanta also has allowed a league-high 10 touchdowns to the slot, where Thomas has seen 55% of his targets this season. With Jameis "Yolo" Winston under center and less familiar with Sean Payton's playbook than Brees, my expectation is Winston will lock on Thomas as his No. 1 read and will get him a ton of targets. I'm by far the highest on him this week among the ESPN rankers, and I'm calling my shot that this is the week you get the Thomas you drafted.
Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers, at Jaguars
The Steelers' receiving corps is crowded, it's true. But in every game Johnson has stayed healthy this year, he has produced like a WR1. In all five games this season in which he has run more than 30 routes, Johnson has at least 10 targets and has averaged 19.9 fantasy points. As you saw in the Roethlisberger write-up or if you've watched, like, five minutes of football this year, the Jaguars are officially #notgood. Here's one more stat to illustrate that. Jacksonville allows the third-most yards after the catch to wide receivers, which might be an issue considering Johnson is eighth among qualified wide receivers in yards per catch after the reception.
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings, vs. Cowboys
Jefferson leads the NFL in receiving yards on deep passes. The Cowboys have allowed a league-high nine deep touchdowns. As long as this isn't one of those games where Kirk Cousins throws the ball 11 times and Dalvin Cook runs it 95 times -- and let this serve as my official plea that it not be -- then Jefferson has an opportunity to put up big numbers as a borderline top-20 play this week.
Hayden Hurst, Atlanta Falcons, at Saints
It's too early to say the Ravens kept the wrong tight end, but it's definitely time to admit we all drafted the wrong tight end first. In Mark Andrews' past four games, he's averaging 7.15 fantasy points. Meanwhile, in Hurst's past four games, he's averaging 13.02 fantasy points and has at least 10 points in four straight. Just tell yourself Hurst is what we thought Andrews would be and get him in your lineups, especially this week against a Saints team that allows a league-high 8.7 tight end targets per game and has already allowed six touchdowns to the position, which is tied for fourth most in the NFL.
Others receiving votes
The Chargers allow the second-highest completion percentage and fourth-highest touchdown rate on passes to the slot. That means Jamison Crowder again gets to be the lone bright spot on Adam Gase's New York Jets. ... Bill Belichick has never had much success drafting receivers, so it makes sense that his most productive wideout is Jakobi Meyers. The undrafted Meyers is averaging 10.3 targets and 19.5 fantasy points per game over the past three weeks and has a great matchup with Houston. ... I'm a Jalen Reagor believer, both for the stretch run and this week, because he's the guy with the Eagles' highest target share (21%) in the two games since he returned from injury. Check the weather, of course, but he should find success this week against a Browns secondary allowing the sixth-most points to opposing wideouts. ... Over its past four games, Arizona is allowing the most points per game to wide receivers. That means David Moore is a viable flex play if Tyler Lockett is out. Moore has 17 or more fantasy points in each game this season in which he has seen four-plus targets. ... The Falcons allow the most fantasy points per game and the highest catch rate to opposing tight ends. That means that even I can't deny that Jared Cook has some upside this week. ... The Bengals aren't much better than Atlanta against tight ends, which means those of you who live the streaming-tight-ends lifestyle should take a look at Logan Thomas this week. ... It's a tight end! It's a quarterback! No, it's Taysom Hill! Double-digit fantasy points in two of his past three games, Hill has at least seven touches in each of those three games and six red zone carries the past two weeks. Those numbers will go way up with the news Hill will start at QB for New Orleans on Sunday. Now ESPN Fantasy will re-assess after this week's game but because Hill started Week 11 with TE eligibility, he retains it this week. And because you can use a starting QB in your TE spot this week, only Travis Kelce has an argument to be ranked above him. He's a must-start at TE this week. ... Those in deeper leagues looking for a bye week guy or cheap DFS play, I kinda like Cam Sims. He was on the field for 94% of snaps last week and ran a route on 93% of Alex Smith's dropbacks. With William Jackson shadowing Terry McLaurin, I could see even more looks going toward Sims, who has gone 7 for 164 over the past two weeks. (Editor's Note: This section has been updated to reflect the latest news on the New Orleans Saints QB depth chart)
Pass-catchers I hate in Week 11
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, vs. Rams
I love Godwin and Tom Brady as a stack this week if you would like to donate money to a DFS company this holiday season. The Rams allow the fewest fantasy points and yards per game to wide receivers and the fifth-fewest yards per game to slot wide receivers. They've given up only four touchdowns to wide receivers all season and even if Brady connects with one wideout, there are so many mouths to feed in Tampa Bay there's a very good chance it's not Godwin. I'm down on all Tampa receivers this week, but especially Godwin. I have Godwin outside my top 25 this week.
Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams, at Buccaneers
Woods has performed terribly from a fantasy perspective lately. Fewer than 40 yards in four of his past six games, Woods also has just a 15% target share in his past three -- well behind both my little Cooper Kupp (27%) and Josh Reynolds (23%). Considering that the Bucs allow the sixth-fewest yards per reception to wide receivers and Woods has a very tough matchup with Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean, Woods is also outside my top 25 for the week.
Noah Fant, Denver Broncos, vs. Dolphins
Fant missed practice Wednesday (when this was written), so he still may not be 100% healthy. Which would help explain why he hasn't had more than 47 receiving yards in a game since Week 2. If this kind of fantasy production keeps up, I demand he change his named to Noah Bench or at least Noah Streamer. Things as they are right now are bad for the brand. Also bad for the brand: playing a Dolphins team that gives up the fourth-fewest yards per game to tight ends.