Manchester United played out a 0-0 Europa League draw against a spirited AZ Alkmaar side on Thursday, to heap yet more pressure on under-fire boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

In a game in which many of United's regulars were rested, expectations were slightly dampened going in, with a number of the squad's younger members given a chance to shine. But it was to be a frustrating evening for the away side, who were unable to create many chances of note. It means that United remain unbeaten in the Europa League this season, with four points from two games. But the performance, and lack of impetus in attack, will surely be a worry for United, who may count themselves lucky to have left with a point following some late AZ pressure.

Positives

Defensively, United were much improved on the night, despite one or two hairy moments. Victor Lindelof looked composed while Marcos Rojo played a key role in denying a number of potential goal-scoring opportunities. Solskjaer will also be pleased by some good individual performances, with the likes of Diogo Dalot and Daniel James looking dangerous down the right-hand side.

Negatives

United were continuously poor in possession, giving the ball away far too frequently. The isolation of James and Mason Greenwood at times highlighted how United struggled to mount pressure with sustained periods on the ball.

Manager rating out of 10

6 -- Solskjaer came into the tie under pressure following a series of underwhelming results, but his rotation and faith in some of United's younger players may leave fans wondering how much the boss values the Europa League. That being said, the starting XI was a good blend of youth and experience, and the draw -- while not ideal -- isn't a terrible result given the team that was put out.

Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK David De Gea, 7 -- A fine performance for the Spanish stopper. He was forced into action with a few good saves to keep the score at 0-0, but aside from that, it was a trouble-free night between the sticks for De Gea.

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DF Diogo Dalot, 7 -- Was arguably United's biggest threat going forward in the first half, managing to get forward to provide width, whipping in a number of dangerous crosses in the process. A good return to form for the young right-back.

DF Victor Lindelof, 7 -- Was the more solid of United's centre-back pairing -- unsurprisingly. The Swedish international played a pivotal role in largely containing a dangerous AZ attacking trio.

DF Marcos Rojo, 6 -- An improved display from Rojo at centre-back, a position in which he has not looked entirely comfortable in on many occasions for United.

DF Brandon Williams, 5 -- A second ever first-team appearence for the 19-year-old left-back, who did struggle up against the skillful Calvin Stengs. He will have better nights ahead, with defensive duties limiting his ability to impact the game going forward.

MF Fred, 6 -- The Brazilian helped his side win possession back on a number of occasions, but once the ball was won, he struggled to stamp his authority on the game. Solid, if unspectacular.

MF Nemanja Matic, 5 -- Was responsible for a number of stray passes throughout the game, but otherwise it was an average night for the Serbian.

MF Juan Mata, 6 -- The former Spain star was United's biggest creator centrally throughout the first half, delivering a number of incisive balls in a game defined by frustrating passing. As the game wore on, his impact did diminish, especially after being moved to the right side once James was subbed off.

FW Angel Gomes, 6 -- Playing in his less-favoured position of left wing, Gomes had a mixed evening. Early on he looked a threat, drifting around the pitch in an attempt to find valuable space. But some frustratingly loose passing and a lack of composure in key areas keep his score down on this occasion.

FW Daniel James, 7 -- The Welshman has been one of United's best performers so far this season, and once again, he was lively going forward. James largely featured on the right side, and in doing so was able to link up well with Dalot. He was unfortunate to not have grabbed an assist in the first half, with Greenwood squandering a good chance from a James cross.

FW Mason Greenwood, 6 -- Missed a great opportunity to make it two goals in two Europa League games this season, having a shot blocked from close range in the first half. He cut an isolated figure at times as United struggled to maintain possession.

Substitutes

FW Marcus Rashford, 6 -- Replaced James with a half hour to go, but never appeared to get into the game, as United struggled to create chances late on. Went down in the box feeling he was tripped on 75 minutes, but no penalty was ultimately given.

MF Jesse Lingard, N/R -- Came on in place of Greenwood after 77 minutes, but couldn't alter the outcome of the match.

MF Scott McTominay, N/R -- Replaced Mata with a mere seven minutes of the 90 remaining.

Cricket's administrators love a good warehouse, don't they? From England's kit launch in the Tobacco Docks in May, to the arrival of the World Cup captains on the set of Dragons' Den later that month, and now back to that favoured hub of multiculturalism, Brick Lane, where the World Cup countdown had been set in motion back in 2018, the urban-chic metaphors were once again climbing the exposed brick walls as The Hundred took its most decisive step yet into existence.

Bedecked with funky lights and blocky fonts to fit the brutalist surroundings, the day's chosen venue was awash, quite literally, with snackable content. There were casually scattered team-branded helmets on the floors, and actual bowls of crisps and popcorn on every surface, as KP flexed its brand muscles and showed the gathered media that its sponsorship of the ECB's newest innovation wasn't merely a chance to have a very public giggle at one of the ECB's oldest betes noires.

But on this, the morning after the night before that was the PCA Awards dinner, England's icon players looked more in need of bacon than Butterkist - not least the heroically hungover Chris Woakes - as they rocked up to give their collective blessing to cricket's latest edge towards edginess.

The timing of this event was cruel but apposite for the players, for Woakes' eyes in particular bore testimony to the japes that had carried on into the small hours at the Roundhouse in Camden, where cricket's glitzy end-of-season bash had had more than your average summer to celebrate in 2019.

And thus, as he fronted up in his new team's garish orange-and-red kit - a "grower", as he obligingly put it - Woakes and his partied-out team-mates were already galloping gamely into the brave new world that awaits in the transformative summer of 2020.

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The Hundred. It Is Coming. And that is a fact will continue to cleave the sport like a Brexit referendum. For some, this morning's unveiling was the opening of a new portal to hell; for others (mostly, but not exclusively, in the ECB high command) it was the most concrete development yet in a project that is as exciting as it is agenda-setting and, as some would claim, essential for the long-term health of the game.

As for the rest of those who know and love the sport in its current guise, the whole shebang remains deeply and uncomfortably conflicting - like the feeling I got as a kid, when Angus Fraser and Robin Smith were dropped for the 1994-95 Ashes tour and I briefly found myself wishing unspeakable and damning ills to befall a team that I could no longer call my own.

It didn't last, of course (my antipathy, that is, not English cricket's ills - those cracked on for another decade of Ashes misery) and that is the hope, or rather expectation, in and around the sport at this critical juncture.

The ECB's fervent belief is that, once the angst and the anger has subsided by this time next year, all that will remain is a top-class cricket tournament that gives some TLC to a sport that truly does need it - whatever you think of the existing merits of the county structure, and no matter how extraordinarily successful England's overworked elite players were in framing the zeitgeist this summer.

For the hosting of the World Cup was a once-in-two-decades opportunity, and the manner in which the trophy was won was a once-in-a-lifetime miracle. As in 2005, on the eve of cricket's disappearance from terrestrial TV, the sport got extraordinarily lucky at precisely the moment it needed it the most, and then as now, the ripple effect will be sufficient to sustain the game for the next five years at least.

But after that, where does the sport's next adrenalin shot come from? For, as the administrators have clumsily tried to explain for the best part of 18 months, this really isn't about those who already know what they like about cricket. It's about those who might not otherwise engage with it, but will stumble upon the odd match when they are expecting to see Homes Under The Hammer on the BBC next summer - or who might find themselves listening with unexpected interest to what Eoin Morgan has to say when he pops up on The One Show or Newsround.

And, in due course, it will be about those who pop out to the corner shop, or get the round in at the pub, or open their packed lunch on a school outing, and see cricketers being marketed on the backs of their packets of Skips, or Tyrells, or McCoys, or Pom-Bears (the toddlers' gateway snack). Without wishing to pay undue homage to a corporate giant (or to gloss over its contribution to childhood obesity) it has been easy to overlook quite what leverage The Hundred's title sponsor can offer to the fledging competition. With that calibre of stable-mate, and regardless of what else happens as this brave new world takes root next summer, it is not going to pass unnoticed.

Does any of the above justify the "massive punt", as Wisden put it, of shredding the fabric of the game to hand over the plum weeks of the English season to eight untested teams, and a format that has been played at a professional level in just a handful of trial runs? Self-evidently not. The only thing that is going to justify The Hundred's creation is the quality of the competition. On that note, the condensation of eighteen teams to eight, and the who's-who of international talent (India excepted for the most part, of course) that will make up the draft next month will form the truest means to whet the appetite.

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That is not to say, however, that the animosity that already exists will be easily glossed over. I know colleagues who simply will never forgive the betrayal that has brought the game to this point, and as for the gaffe-ridden shambles that has been The Hundred's PR, it simply beggars belief that so many errors can be made so often by so few. Even Thursday's pre-announcement "sizzle reel" couldn't help but join the catastro-shambles, spluttering into three false starts like a petrol-starved Trabant as the assembled media arched those habitually cynical eyebrows once more.

But, once again, it's necessary to stop and breathe, and remember. It's not about us. It's not about people who will read this take of The Hundred's latest developments, and sigh. It's about people who don't yet know what they want from a game that has never previously appealed to them, and who won't instinctively know, for instance, that the Nathan Barley-esque hipster-wibble that screeches out of The Hundred's vapidly awful website is contrived nonsense.

Or is even that another observation that misses the point? Perhaps, as they announced on Thursday afternoon, Welsh Fire's "hunger will prove the haters wrong" (even those from Somerset and Gloucestershire?). Maybe Manchester Originals are able to "laugh in the face of limits", maybe Trent Rockets' "volume [is] up, ready for launch", whatever TF that means.

It's scary to look at such witterings objectively and realise that the sport has no option but to wish this new enterprise well, but it seems also that it is a vital part of the process. According to the American social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, interviewed on the BBC's Politics Live show on Thursday morning, the world has become so polarised in the social media era that we will "never again" have a shared sense of what is good, bad or downright ugly.

And if Haidt's analysis had in mind global events rather more weighty than a salty-bar-snack-themed cricket competition, then the fury that The Hundred has generated is an interesting test case - and certainly a telling rejoinder to the sort of unequivocal joy that this country felt when Jos Buttler whipped off those bails at Lord's, or when Ben Stokes belted that drive through the covers at Headingley.

We can only hope to feel that sort of communion again, and we surely will given half a chance. But it will not happen if the sport's relevance in the interim dwindles to vanishing point. That is the point of The Hundred. You can disagree with the solution the ECB have come up with, but you can't fault the realisation that the status quo is unsustainable.

Well, obviously, you can… and you can point out until you are blue in the face the strategic errors that holed the sport beneath the waterline in the early 2000s, and left it relying on miracle matches to keep the sport's fires burning in the interim. But it's probably time to start gargling the kool-aid, and accepting that what will be will be. Because this is the chosen path to a brighter future, and there is genuinely no going back from here.

Netherlands are set to host Pakistan for the first time ever in 2020. Comprising three ODIs, to be played between July 4 and 9 in Amstelveen, it will be their longest series against a Full Member country - outside of the newly inducted Ireland and Afghanistan. Pakistan will then visit Ireland for a two-match T20I series before moving on to England to play three World Test Championship games from July 30 to August 20.

"We have a long and strong relationship with KNCB [Netherlands Cricket Board] and Ireland Cricket and I think it's important that we provide these countries much-needed opportunity to compete against Full Members," a PCB spokesman told ESPNcricinfo. "We had an empty window and there isn't a better way to support them in their growth by playing them more frequently. The PCB has a long history of helping and encouraging associate members and the tour to the Netherlands is part of that tradition.

"On our previous trips, we have received tremendous public support who have thronged the stadia to not only watch cricket but also appreciate and encourage the players. I am confident the upcoming tours will further strengthen the bonding and service the purpose."

Pakistan have never played a bilateral series against Netherlands though the two teams have met in the ICC events - the 1996 and 2003 World Cups and the 2002 Champions Trophy. Pakistan won all three games comprehensively.

"Pakistan is one of the most exciting and followed teams in the world and they will add further flavour and context to our domestic season," Betty Timmer, chair of KNCB, said. "This series will contribute significantly in our endeavours to put together a strong and formidable side for the 13-team ICC ODI League, which commences next year. It will provide the much-required exposure and experience to our talented men's side and will also help in the promotion and development of the game in our part of the world."

Pakistan will also play two away T20Is against Ireland, on July 12 and 14. Both countries have previously featured in a one-off T20I, with Pakistan winning the game by 39 runs on their way to lifting the 2009 World T20 in England.

The two teams have already been woven together in history after Ireland - a nation that was only an Associate in 2007 - beat the former champions in a World Cup game and knocked them out of the tournament. Since then Pakistan have toured Ireland for bilateral series and had also invited them over in 2014, but just as that tour was coming close to reality, Ireland had to pull out due to a terrorist attack at the Karachi airport.

"Ireland and Pakistan have a close affinity, both across men's and women's cricket, and we are delighted to welcome the top-ranked T20I side to Ireland for what will be an action-packed series," Richard Holdsworth, Performance Director at Cricket Ireland, said. "This year we have seen a number of great performances by Ireland and some exciting young talent emerge in the T20 squad. The way to further improve our players is to pit ourselves against the world's best, and in Pakistan we have that opportunity. The fixtures will be part of a big home season for Ireland, where we are hosting a number of Full Member teams. It is yet another big year to look forward to in Irish cricket."

EAGAN, Minn. -- Wide receiver Stefon Diggs said he hasn't requested a trade from the Minnesota Vikings, but he did not lessen any speculation about his future with the team by saying there is "truth to all rumors."

"I haven't communicated anything," Diggs said Thursday when asked whether he has formally requested to be traded. "The conversations I've had [with the Vikings] have only been about team and trying to have success on the field."

Diggs did say, however, that he is unsure whether his agent has asked the Vikings to trade the star receiver.

"I haven't spoke to him about it," Diggs said. "You've got to talk to him."

Diggs addressed growing speculation over his dissatisfaction in Minnesota, which was compounded by his absence from Wednesday's practice. While the receiver said that a cold kept him from participating, he was listed on the daily injury report with a "non-football injury" designation.

Diggs was back in practice Thursday and said he hopes to play Sunday against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.

"We'll see how it goes," offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski said when asked about Diggs' availability in Week 5. "I think our focus is on today and on practice. We'll see how it goes."

Sources indicated to ESPN that despite Diggs' frustrations with the Vikings offense, which have been stemming for weeks, Minnesota has no intention of trading its star wideout, who signed a five-year extension in July 2018.

Diggs' target share has declined 4% in the first four games of the season from where it was at last year. The receiver has caught 13 of his 19 targets for 209 yards and a touchdown. In the Vikings' first four games of the 2018 season, Diggs had 44 targets, 27 catches and 311 yards.

"I can't sit up here and act like everything is OK," he said. "It's obviously not. But what I can say at this point; just trying to work through it."

Diggs did not elaborate when asked what would make him satisfied in an offense where he's appeared obsolete at times as the Vikings have shifted towards a run-first approach with Dalvin Cook, the second-leading rusher in the NFL.

"It's not one thing," Diggs said. "It's not one specific thing that would make me more satisfied. I feel like at this point, I've been here for a while. I've been here for a couple years, so just kind of getting through it and going through the motions and acting like I've been in this space for a minute. We are where we are right now, and I'm saying a lot to say nothing right now, so you can get where this interview is going to go.

"If you want to win and you're not winning, of course you'll be frustrated. That's my answer."

The receiver said he's had conversations with "everybody" in the organization, from teammates and coaches to general manager Rick Spielman about his frustrations with the offense. Whether he feels like he's being heard is a different story.

"I don't know," Diggs said. "I don't know at this point. With the way things are going, with the trend that we're at right now, I'm not 100% sure. Everybody has known me to be three things. That's one, a team guy -- I've always put the team before myself. I've never made it just about me. I've never been that kind of guy. My resume and my persona kind of speaks for itself.

"I've never been a guy to be like, 'Me, me, me.' Wanting to have success and wanting to have team success is always what I've pushed. So my language will stay the same whether I'm given many opportunities or not a lot. That's where we are. I know as a man who I am, what I bring to the table. That's what I'm going to ride with."

Earlier in the week, quarterback Kirk Cousins issued a public apology on his podcast to receiver Adam Thielen for missing him on a handful of wide-open throws in the Vikings' 16-6 loss at Chicago.

Cousins said he hopes to get more opportunities to both Thielen and Diggs going forward.

While Diggs' content with his role is in question, the receiver reiterated that, while he loves "everything about my team," whether or not he'll remain in Minnesota going forward is a question of "whether they want me here."

"I mean, everybody has a role," Diggs said. "I've been here for a while. I don't feel like I don't have a role. But I also feel like, given the situation and what's going on, I'm just trying to do the best of my ability to do my job. At the end of the day, all I can say is if I'm doing my job, I'm doing what's asked. Whether it's enough, it's kind of on them. But given opportunities, I try to make the most of my opportunities."

You know, the very first fantasy league I ever played in was in 1984. (I was a kid). And I've never stopped. Which means I have been wheeling and dealing in multiple fantasy leagues in multiple sports for 35 years, which, now that I just actually did the math and wrote that out loud made me freak out a bit.

Good lord.

It also occurred to me that while I had written about trades a decent amount over the years, it had always been certain slices of trading. One column about etiquette, one about strategy, another about funniest or regrettable trades and another that was just a long anti-veto rant. But what I hadn't done is put it all together in one column.

Anyway, you do something for three-plus decades, and you have a very specific point of view on it. So, here, now, is the Definitive Matthew Berry Guide to Trading in Fantasy.

1. Assess your team.

So you've decided to make a trade.

Let's say you need a running back, and the waiver wire is dry. Great. But you need to understand not only what you need, but what you can trade away. A good exercise is to rank (at least mentally) the players on your team so that you truly understand how you value everyone.

2. Assess everyone else's teams.

Don't target one specific player. Yes, you'd like to have Dalvin Cook. Everyone would. That's too narrow a window. It's much better to find teams that might have an extra running back to deal. Or conversely, a team that needs what you have a surplus of; good tight ends or a quarterback, for example. Ideally you'll identify a few teams that are potential trade partners.

3. Establish the market.

Don't just send a bunch of cold trade offers out of the blue via the league website. This has a high probability to just get turned down. You want to start a conversation, and there are many ways to do that: via the site messaging system, social media or email; or if it happens to be your significant other, taking them to dinner and, over dessert, casually bringing up the fact that their team is one good tight end short of unbeatable ...

In general, I also don't like the trade block or announcing to the league "so-and-so" is on the block. I always feel that devalues the player, like you've already announced you're getting rid of him. The exception to that is if the player is truly elite and there are no questions about him. And even in that scenario, you need to be selective. The message is "I hate to do this but my RBs have been ravaged by injury and I gotta do something. Patrick Mahomes is on the block. Make your best offer."

I would not send that leaguewide. Send it just to the top 3 or 4 teams in the league, all copied on the same Snap or text. This creates a competition where the league leaders may or may not want Mahomes, but they sure don't want their rival to get him. So you can play people off each other.

One final marketing trick, with a hat tip to my friend Yasin Abbak: Set the lineup on your team so that the player you hope to deal is listed as a starter. Makes him seem more valuable than if he's on your bench as surplus rather than a valued member of your starting lineup.

4. Connect with your potential trading partner(s).

It's now all out in the open, and time to talk to specific teams to see if there's mutual interest. If they responded to your feelers, great -- you have a good starting point. If it's a colder approach, make it loose and casual at first. "You open to talking trade?" or some such. You can be specific about your motive if you want. "I need a running back - you open to a deal?" Because if they aren't, why waste your time?

Let's say Cook is on one of the teams you think has RBs to spare. Play it cool. Ask if they are open to dealing one of their running backs, rather than asking straight up for their top pick and best player. Work up to Dalvin in the negotiation.

Now, if you are on the receiving end of a query like that, you are welcome to say no, of course. But answer. Ignoring a reasonable and polite inquiry is rude. And also, what are you doing? You in this league or not? Say yes or no -- just say something.

I am perfectly fine with multiple negotiations going on just so long as everyone is upfront. If, when you make an offer you say, "FYI, I sent offers to two other teams tonight" no issue. Or, "I'm only talking you about this but I need to do a deal by Saturday, so if we can't agree tonight I'm reaching out to others." Whatever it is, just be clear about who else you're talking to.

I sometimes like making it an offer that could either way so as to open up negotiations. Earlier this week I sent a text saying "You open to dealing Damien Williams? Or are you interested in Darrel Williams? We should get these wacky kids together." We ended up not doing a deal, but the idea was to open a dialogue where he had a choice of giving someone up or acquiring someone of mine that, in theory, would have helped his team. You never know what will pique someone's interest. Your goal is to get them to talk to you. Then you can negotiate.

5. The Negotiation.

Now that you've got a potential trade partner talking, your first question should be "What do you need?" You already know what he/she can do for you. Let's find out what you need to do for them so you can craft a deal that helps them.

It's important to phrase that request as a way to help you help them. As a guy named Crosby Spencer put it on Twitter: "Someone says, 'I'm interested in Player X, what do you want for him?' Great. So now you want me to research your team to find a POTENTIAL match that MIGHT make you interested in acquiring a player I wasn't looking to trade, all so you can turn me down if it's not a Godfather deal?" Try to make it as easy for your potential trade partner as possible. Not everyone has the same amount of time to obsess over it like we do.

Listen to what the other player needs. Really listen. The only way this will work is if it's a two-way conversation about what you both need and want. Hearing their concern and enthusiasm about players is the best way to get something done and give you an advantage in negotiation.

Ask the potential trade partner to rank their players at the position you're looking at. This allows you to a) get a sense of how they value certain players, which might be different than how you value them and b) Has inherently put them in a position where they have subconsciously devalued some of their players (whoever they rank lowest). Be prepared to reveal your rankings as well. Ideally, line up your players to match the player you want to trade to "equal" the player you want from them.

When negotiating, don't treat your potential partner as if they are stupid. They are not interested in trading their underperforming Week 1 star for your Frisman Jackson (Google it, kids). Don't try to talk down the player you want to acquire and don't oversell the guy you are dealing. Don't lie about injuries or changes in value. Better to be honest, because they already know it (or will soon enough) and they will trust you more in negotiating.

Don't be afraid to lay out why you want to make a deal, help them understand what's in it for you. "Yes, this player is in a RBBC but he'll get the majority of goal-line work. However he'll never play for me because I have this backup that popped. And the difference between him and your top 15 WR is clearly someone, so how can I fill in the gap?"

Except in rare circumstances where I desperately need depth, I want to be the one getting the best player in a deal. I try not to do 2-for-1 deals unless I am getting the one. But not all 2-for-1 deals need to actually be 2-for-1. If I am the one offering the two players, I will ask for a throw-in. These two guys for your stud and whoever you want to throw in. Or the worst WR you have, etc., etc. The 2-for-2 is weirdly more palatable than a 2-for-1, because there is a perception that they are "getting" something for their worst player.

You obviously want to accentuate the positive but don't sell it as a steak if it's a hamburger. Better to sell it as the best hamburger available for the price.

Everyone is available. Never say "Sorry, Mahomes is untradable." If someone offered you Lamar Jackson and Dalvin Cook, Julio Jones and Travis Kelce for him and some roster depth, you're obviously doing that deal. You can say it would take quite a lot to get Mahomes, you value him highly, but everyone is tradable in the right deal.

Being willing to talk about your best player has the added benefit of getting them to talk about theirs. If they think they can get Mahomes and get them talking out loud about the idea of dealing Kelce, Cook and Julio, they've started to accept the idea of trading those players and you can dial the deal back to a way where you keep Mahomes but still acquire Julio. "That's not enough for Mahomes, but what about X and Y for Julio?" And now you're discussing Julio, not Mahomes. Make sense?

Put a time limit on it. "OK, well let me know by 10 p.m. tonight." Otherwise too many trades sit in limbo. It puts some urgency on the deal and lets the other person know you mean business. Also, the longer a deal takes, the less likely it is that it gets done. Doubt sets in and the excitement is lost.

No is no. If you make an offer and the other person says no, you're allowed one follow-up to say "Well, is there something else you'd consider for so and so? Could we keep talking?" But if the answer is still no, then you gotta move on.

If the other person says they are negotiating with someone else, it's fair to ask "Well, before you agree to a deal for Cook, will you give me a chance to beat it? Maybe I can, maybe I can't but this way you know you'll get maximum value." Gives you one last chance, gives you info on what others in the league are offering and if it's a no, at least you know you gave it your best shot.

Evaluating offers

There comes a point in the negotiation where it's time to make a solid offer, or you have received one you need to accept or reject.

First, understand your goal is to improve your team with a focus on your starting lineup. You don't need to "win" the trade for it to be valuable to you. You may deal a top-10 quarterback for a decent flex running back which, on the surface, means you "lost" the trade. But if that quarterback was never playing for you, and this was the best available player to you, and your starting lineup is better for it, then you "won" too.

In addition to thinking about how the deal works for you if everything goes well, you also need to evaluate the floor. If everything turns horrible, how does the trade affect you? Did you deal too much depth? Are you now one random injury away from disaster? Everyone sees the upside; not enough people think about the downside.

As my late, great Uncle Lester used to say, "If you're in a poker game with five other guys and each guy has $100 and you've won $400, it's time to leave. You've already won most of the money." He would also say "If you can get 80 percent of what you want in a deal, take it. Most guys screw it up trying to get the last 20 percent." My uncle was one of the truly great negotiators who ever lived. Don't get greedy. And remember, it's only a good deal if both parties are satisfied. And if both people are happy but didn't get everything they wanted, it's probably as close to a perfect deal as you can get.

A deal is a deal as soon as both parties agree to it. I have been in negotiations where the person and I have verbally agreed to a deal, then I've gone to put it through the website and they turned it down. "I had second thoughts." No, man ... we agreed. We've been negotiating for two days. A deal is a deal. A person's word needs to mean something, and whether a deal was agreed to verbally, via text or email or through the website, it's still a deal. Don't weasel out on some technicality. All you have is your rep and your word.

A few parting thoughts

1. Understand people are often dazzled by name value. Which often is different than actual production. Try to sell names. Try to acquire production.

2. You should begin preparing for trades well before you need to make one. Take notes during the draft or auction. Who expressed disappointment or had the last bid on a player you acquired? That should be your first call if you are dealing that player.

3. Don't gloat. Even if you completely got the better of someone, say you think it was a fair deal. Assuming you are in a league with the same people year after year, the better you make someone feel about trading with you -- and that includes after the deal is done -- the easier the next negotiation will be. Plus, you never know when a deal will blow up in your face. Don't make it worse for yourself by having been a jerk about it.

4. Never veto. Unless there is provable collusion, every trade must be allowed to stand. Everyone should be able to run their team the way the way they want to. Even if it's not how you would do it. Even if it's badly. I've written extensively about being anti-veto for years, but seriously, the veto is the coward's way out.

5. Stop using any variation of the phrase "trade rape." It's a truly horrific and repugnant phrase and anyone that throws it around in something as trivial as fantasy football is beyond tone-deaf. Seriously. I don't get on my soapbox often, but I'm adamant about this.

6. One last Uncle Lesterism. "The best way to double your money is to fold it up and put it in your pocket," he would often say. Sometimes the best trades are the ones we don't make. Don't be afraid to walk away.

And with that, let's get to it. You get it by now. This is not a start/sit but rather whom I think will meet and/or exceed projections ("loves") and who I believe will fall short ("hates"). Thanks as always to "Thirsty" Kyle Soppe of the Fantasy Focus 06010 podcast and The Stat-A-Pillar, Damian Dabrowski, from The Fantasy Show on ESPN+ for their help at various points in this column.

Quarterbacks I love in Week 5

Tom Brady, New England Patriots (at Redskins; ESPN projection: 18.1 points): In front of what will be a half-empty FedEx Field, where the people who show up will all be wearing Patriots gear, Brady will work out the frustrations from last week on what could very possibly be the worst franchise in professional football. Hey, at least Miami has a direction. Make no mistake. I am still a fan of this team. It's in my blood, and I'll never get it out. But I'm also not blind. Just understand, for those who think this franchise can't sink any lower, wait until you see what TB12 does to a "defense" that has allowed at least three TD passes in three of four games this season, and has allowed all four starting QBs (Dak Prescott, Mitchell Trubisky, Daniel Jones and Carson Wentz) to complete better than 71% of their passes. This is going to be ugly and embarrassing, and I feel bad for Jay Gruden, who will be doing the best he can with what little he will have to work with on the field Sunday, with many talented players hurt, holding out or having escaped to other teams. Fun fact that has nothing to do with fantasy: Since 2010 (the first full season Bruce Allen was the executive vice president and general manager of the Redskins), Washington is 59-88-1, a .402 winning percentage, which is 28th in the NFL during that stretch. The only teams worse in that span are Jacksonville, Cleveland ... and the two other NFL teams on which Allen had a significant impact prior to joining Washington: Oakland and Tampa Bay.

Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Jets; ESPN projection: 17.8 points): In a game where, as of this writing, we don't know if Sam Darnold will play, Philly hosts a Jets team that is allowing 286.7 passing yards per game this season (fifth most) and has the third-worst red zone defense in the NFL. Wentz has had 10 days to prepare for a Jets team that is 28th against the pass and blitzes at the fifth-highest rate. (Against the blitz, Wentz is fifth best in the NFL in completion percentage).

Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Saints; ESPN projection: 18.9 points): I'm on him, I'm off him, instead of "Love/Hate" should I just call this column "Jameis Winston"? Pretty much means the same thing. But a week after I dumbly had him on the "hate" list (Yeesh), I'm back in on him in what Vegas thinks will be one of the higher-scoring games of Week 5. After back-to-back weeks as a top-five QB, he now gets a Saints team that is allowing 24.7 PPG to QBs this season (second most), allowing 6.3 yards per play (fifth most) and owns the 10th-lowest interception percentage.

Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts (at Chiefs; ESPN projection: 19.4 points): As of this writing (Wednesday), T.Y. Hilton and Marlon Mack have missed practice. Obviously their returns would certainly help, but even without them Brissett should be top-12 viable against a Chiefs team that is allowing 19.8 fantasy points per game to opposing QBs in a game with by far the highest over/under on Sunday's slate. The only QB in the NFL to throw multiple TD passes in all four weeks this season, and averaging 287.5 passing yards in his past two games, Brissett is still available in 53% of ESPN leagues.

Others receiving votes: In his past two games, Kyler Murray has 96 yards rushing and a touchdown. Now he hits the road to face a beat-up Bengals team operating on a short week and allowing opponents to complete better than 72% of passes this season, the fifth-highest rate in the NFL. ... Adam Thielen is yelling at him and he has a lot of familiarity with the Giants, so if ever there is a week Kirk Cousins is a top-20 play, it's this one. The G-Men have allowed 414 yards off play-action this season (second most in the NFL), and combined with Dalvin Cook, Cousins remains one of the NFL's best off play-action. ... In what should be a high-scoring game between two decent offenses and two bad defenses, I like Andy Dalton to rebound from Monday night to have a good fantasy day against the Cardinals. Did you know, even with the clunker versus the Steelers, Dalton is on pace for 4,600 passing yards? The Cardinals allow a touchdown on a pass attempt at the third-highest rate in the NFL.

Quarterbacks I hate in Week 5

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Packers; ESPN projection: 19.4 points): For his career, in games Prescott has played without left tackle Tyron Smith, his TD/INT rate dips, his TD% is nearly cut in half, his off-target rate nearly doubles, he takes fewer deep shots and he averages 12% fewer fantasy points per game. (In the nine games without him he averages 15.98 PPG. Now, those games are all without current offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, but still, it's not ideal that Smith will miss this game.) I'm taking the under against a Packers team that has had 10 days to prep, allows opponents to complete just 57.1% of passes (tied for third best in the NFL this season) and also coughs up 5.04 yards per carry. This is gonna be a huge Zeke game, making the need for Dak to go nuts unlikely.

Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns (at 49ers; ESPN projection: 16.1 points): "Hahaha Berry! You put Mayfield on your hate list last week and he blew up! He showed you, you ^$&%$ moron!" -- my Twitter mentions, I'm guessing. Believe it or not, Mayfield was actually a "win" for me last week, finishing with 15.7 points, below the 15.8 projection he had. Oh yeah! Below the projection! Tenth of a point, baby! All right, so he looked a lot better and I got lucky in that Nick Chubb went nuts and Mayfield had only one touchdown pass, but whateves, man. Still a win in the record book! So why am I doubling down and taking the under on 16.1? On the road at a much-better-than-you-think Niners defense that has had two weeks to prepare, this feels like a much slower game than folks might expect. (San Fran is fourth in average time of possession). Cleveland's success came from running the ball, and I expect another healthy dose of Chubb in this one, limiting Mayfield's upside and volume against a San Francisco secondary allowing opponents to complete just 57.1% of passes (third best in the NFL).

Gardner Minshew II, Jacksonville Jaguars (at Panthers; ESPN projection: 14.1 points): I'm as excited about Minshew Mania as the next guy -- he's an easy guy to root for. But the Panthers are a legit-good defense, allowing the second-fewest yards per pass attempt this season (5.16). In operating what is still a run-heavy offense, Minshew has been insanely effective when going downfield (a 133.3 passer rating on deep passes. For comparison, Patrick Mahomes has a 133.8 rating). The issue is the Panthers are awesome at defending the deep pass, especially if their secondary is fully healthy in this one. In fairness, Houston just missed two long passes against them last week. But miss they did, and opponents are 6-for-26 throwing deep against the Panthers (just 23.1%) with more interceptions (two) than touchdowns (one).

Running backs I love in Week 5

Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville Jaguars (at Panthers; ESPN projection: 16.4 points): Just insane volume (he's top five in the NFL in terms of the highest percentage of his team's rushing attempts and rushing yards), and I like the passing-game usage (at least 20 receiving yards in all four games this season after just three such games last season). Among the reasons I am down on Minshew is I think the way to beat the Panthers is on the ground, where they are the ninth-worst run defense this season and allow 4.89 yards per carry (fifth most).

Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Cardinals; ESPN projection: 14.6 points): This is the week. As Field and I talked about on the podcast this week, I am nervous about Mixon for the majority of this season given the Bengals' offensive line issues. So after this week, I believe he will be a prime "sell high" candidate because he should have a big game Sunday. With multiple catches in all four games this season and in 15 of his past 16 games, Mixon gets terrific volume. He's responsible for 75.3% of the Bengals' rushing yards this season, the fourth-highest rate in the NFL. The Cards are 28th against the run and just resurrected Chris Carson.

Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers (at Cowboys; ESPN projection: 15.1 points): Free Aaron Jones! Not the way we want it to happen, of course, but as of this writing I expect Jamaal Williams and Davante Adams to miss this week's game due to injury. With those two out, expect increased touches for the playmaker Jones, especially in the pass game, where Jones has seen at least six targets in two of the past three weeks, something only six other running backs can claim. The Cowboys, meanwhile, have allowed 25 RB receptions (eighth most) this season. Last season, they allowed the fifth-most RB receptions. With four rushing touchdowns in his past three games and a heavy workload, gimme the over on 15.1.

Sony Michel, New England Patriots (at Redskins; ESPN projection: 10.7): I know, I know, I know. He's been brutal this season. But he looked better last week, and if I had to pick one guy to score a touchdown this week, it's Michel, who New England knows (along with its offensive line) it has to get on track. In a game the Patriots should dominate from start to finish in front of a "home" crowd in D.C., Michel will get plenty of work (he has at least 15 carries in three of four games so far), especially in close. Michel leads the NFL in carries inside the 10-yard line this season, believe it or not. The Redskins have allowed the fourth-most rushing yards this season and just made Wayne Gallman look like Saquon Barkley.

Others receiving votes: In an expected high-scoring game against a Colts team that allows 5.46 yards per carry (second most) and the eighth-most rushing yards per game and since the start of last season has given up the third-most receptions to opposing running backs, I like LeSean McCoy and whichever Williams gets the start (Damien or Darrel) to both return top-20-ish value this week. ... The Saints have given up six rushing scores this season (second most), and I'm on the RoJo > Barber bandwagon. Gimme Ronald Jones as a viable flex play this week. ... As a two-touchdown home favorite against the Jets, I like Jordan Howard building upon last week's breakout game and having a flex-viable game as the Eagles finish off New York in the second half. ... The truly desperate among us in deeper PPR leagues could probably do worse than Duke Johnson Jr., who has seen 13 targets to Carlos Hyde's six this season, against a Falcons team that has allowed the most receptions to running backs for four years running. I have Duke as RB38 going into the week, so don't go crazy, but if you're looking a guy with a bit of a pulse this week, Duke could be it.

Running Backs I hate in Week 5

Le'Veon Bell, New York Jets (at Eagles; ESPN projection: 18.6 points): Look, you still have to start him. Don't get cute. He is a must-start regardless of who is under center for the Jets. But 18.6 is a high number for a guy going against a defense that has yet to allow any opposing RB to reach even 50 rushing yards this season. Kerryon Johnson, Devonta Freeman, Aaron Jones and Derrius Guice against the Eagles this season have combined for 54 carries for 97 yards (1.8 yards per carry), with none of those 54 carries gaining more than 11 yards. The Jets are gaining just 1.16 yards per carry before first contact this season when there are seven-plus men in the box, and the way you attack Philly is working on its secondary. You have to hope for massive passing game usage from Bell (certainly a possibility!) because he ranks 42nd of 44 qualified RBs in yards per carry this season. But my feeling is Philly loads the box and takes its chances against Luke Falk or Sam Darnold in his first game back.

Josh Jacobs, Oakland Raiders (vs. Bears; ESPN projection: 11.8 points): Jacobs makes his London debut, but he has to face the Bears. With just three catches in four games this season, he hasn't been involved in the passing game as much as you'd like, and in what should be a slow-paced game on both sides of the ball and against the Bears' third-ranked run defense, I'm taking the under on an already-low projection of 11.8.

Wayne Gallman, New York Giants (vs. Vikings; ESPN projection: 14.9 points): You had me at Vikings. Last week's breakout is unlikely to repeat against a Vikings defense that has allowed just one rushing score on 103 opponent rush attempts. Allowing the fifth-fewest yards per carry after first contact, Minnesota should have no problem with Gallman, who last week, in a much easier matchup, gained just 0.83 yards per carry after first contact (third worst among 36 qualified RBs in Week 4).

Pass-catchers I love in Week 5

Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings (at Giants; ESPN projection: 13.6 points): It's one thing to apologize with words, but you know what truly makes up for it? Some deep throws. Expect Kirk Cousins to grease his squeaky star receiver, or something like that, with at least a few deep shots. (Thielen already has 61.5% of the Vikes' deep targets). He'll get chances and he'll be successful with them against a Giants team that has allowed the second-most deep TDs, second-most yards per deep attempt and third-most deep yards (568) this season. And if Case Keenum could have gotten the ball anywhere near Trey Quinn on a couple of deep attempts when he was wide open last week, those numbers would be worse.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers (at Cowboys; ESPN projection: 13.3 points): With Davante Adams unlikely to play, MVS should see the lion's share of the targets, and Aaron Rodgers will certainly have time to find him. The Cowboys create pressure at the third-lowest rate (only the Raiders and Dolphins have been worse). When Rodgers has not been under pressure this season, he has a 106.8 passer rating, 71.2% completion rate and 4.5% TD rate. When he is pressured: 59.2 passer rating, 34.3% completion rate and 2.9% TD rate. In his one game this season with at least eight targets, MVS put up a 6-99-1 line in Week 3 against Denver, and I like his chances of seeing that amount of targets this week.

Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Cardinals; ESPN projection: 14.8 points): After a brutal Monday night, I'm back in on him against a Cardinals defense that has allowed 10 touchdown passes in four games. He should have plenty of chances; prior to Monday night, Boyd had seen double-digit targets in three straight and now John Ross III is out for quite some time. Yeah, Auden Tate will get some love (and is an interesting play this week as well, especially in DFS), but as Mike Clay notes, in a plus matchup with Tramaine Brock, I want the over here for Boyd.

Sammy Watkins, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Colts; ESPN projection: 15.0 points): The impending return of Tyreek Hill and Watkins' inconsistent production recently may scare some folks off, but I like Watkins to rebound here in what should be a high-scoring game. Colts' opponents are completing a league-high 86% of passes when targeting the slot this season (league average: 67.5%) and to date, Watkins owns a 45.3% slot target share this season. While I am not sure how DeMarcus Robinson and Mecole Hardman's playing time will be impacted if Hill returns this week (which sounds unlikely as of this writing), I do know Watkins will be out there and, just like I do every week, I want as much of the Chiefs offense as I can get.

Will Fuller V, Houston Texans (vs. Falcons; ESPN projection: 10.2 points): Little bit of a gut call here, but Fuller is due. He could've had a touchdown on a long pass that Deshaun Watson just missed on last week, he has at least six targets in three straight games, he actually leads the Texans in routes run this season (141), and Kenny Stills is banged up. Against a Falcons secondary that let Corey Davis and A.J. Brown eat them up last week, I like Fuller as an upside play this week in a likely shootout with one of the five highest over/unders on the slate.

Others receiving votes: If Sam Darnold is under center, gimme some Robby Anderson against an Eagles secondary that has allowed a 100-yard receiver in all four games this season. ... Geronimo Allison ran 46 routes last week and with Adams likely out, expect him to get to that number again, at a minimum. In 11 career games in which he has run at least 30 routes, Allison has double-digit fantasy points in eight of them. ... Since Antonio Brown was released, Phillip Dorsett has a 20.3% target share, and as you may have heard, the Redskins have given up the second-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts this season. ... Will Dissly has scored in three straight games, his targets and receptions have increased each week this season and he's being targeted on 30.1% of his routes (fifth highest among TEs). ... Greg Olsen has run 130 routes this season (fifth most among TEs), he has at least seven targets in three of four games, and given how strong the Jags' corner play is, it's no surprise Jacksonville has given up the ninth-most receiving yards to TEs this season. ... This week's tight end who gets to play Arizona is Tyler Eifert, who saw a season-high six targets last week. The Cardinals have given up the most yards and TDs to tight ends this season, including at least one TE touchdown in each of their four games. ... Desperate tight end streamers looking for help could search for Jack Doyle. Especially if T.Y. Hilton doesn't play in this one, Jacoby Brissett will be looking around for help. Doyle ran a season-high 26 routes and had eight targets last week. The Chiefs have already allowed 32 TE receptions this season (tied in the most).

Pass-catchers I hate in Week 5

JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Ravens; ESPN projection: 12.3 points): I'm officially nervous. JuJu had the 76-yard TD in Week 3, right? His other 11 targets since Mason Rudolph became the starter in Week 2 have resulted in 20 yards. Total. That's not a misprint. Without the big play, that's 1.8 yards per target. Now, Rudolph had some success with JuJu in Week 1 when he came in for Big Ben, but still. At home in a great matchup last week, things should have gone a lot better. And now he potentially gets shadow coverage from Marlon Humphrey, who shut down Odell Beckham Jr. last week. Sure, Smith-Schuster runs a lot of routes from the slot and Humphrey doesn't always travel to the slot. And obviously Jarvis Landry absolutely crushed Baltimore from the slot last week, so this call could very easily blow up in my face. But my guess is that they allow Humphrey to follow him to the slot. JuJu is a big-play guy and he could take any pass to the house, so you may not have a better option than him in season-long leagues, but ... yeah. He's just WR39 on the season and I'm definitely a bit worried until we see Rudolph open it up a bit.

DJ Moore, Carolina Panthers (vs. Jaguars; ESPN projection: 12.1 points): If Jalen Ramsey misses this game, I'd take Moore off the hate list, but with just a 12.1% target share from Kyle Allen (compared to 27.9% from Cam Newton) you can't feel excited about this. Now, it's just two games, so this is a very small sample size, but a tough matchup and a lack of evidence in a connection between Allen and Moore makes you nervous, as does this stat: The Jaguars are sixth in blitz percentage this season. In Allen's two starts, Curtis Samuel has seen six targets to Moore's two when Allen has been blitzed.

Terry McLaurin, Washington Redskins (vs. Patriots; ESPN projection: 11.6 points): McLaurin is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise lost season for Washington. As of this writing, we have no idea who the QB will be on Sunday. Gut call here, but if he's healthy I'll bet it's Colt McCoy. That said, I also don't think it matters. Stephon Gilmore will shadow McLaurin, who may not even be 100% healthy. Even in expected junk time here, it's worth noting that no player has even 80 receiving yards in a game against New England this season, and opponents have two red zone completions against the Patriots for the season. Two. I love McLaurin like he is one of my kids, but he'll be on my bench in the 16-team league in which I have him this Sunday.

Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans (vs. Bills; ESPN projection: 10.3 points): The Bills have allowed just 11 TE receptions this season (third fewest), the fourth-fewest yards per TE reception (7.6) and no touchdowns to the position. This is a daunting matchup for the veteran in what Vegas expects will be the lowest-scoring game on the slate.

Matthew Berry -- the Talented Mr. Roto -- would like everyone in all his leagues to know he's open for business.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- From winning MVP of Ice Cube's Big3 league to suiting up for the Detroit Pistons during training camp, the past few months have been a whirlwind for NBA veteran Joe Johnson.

After sitting out the entire 2018-19 NBA campaign, Johnson, 38, revitalized his career through 3-on-3 professional hoops and is now fighting for the 15th and final roster spot with the Pistons.

"My body's feeling great. This is probably the toughest part of training camp," Johnson said following Day 3 of Pistons camp at Michigan State University. "It's a lot of running and conditioning, but if you come into camp already in shape, you can get through it. I didn't have any problems.

"It's been fun for me, but I haven't had a break in the last six months. But it's been fun. The process has been amazing for me and I'm just thankful for the opportunity."

For the seven-time NBA All-Star, the time away from the NBA has only strengthened his love for the game. He last suited up during the 2017-18 campaign, playing for the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets.

He has re-entered the NBA picture after a dominant effort in the 3-on-3 ranks, becoming the first Big3 player to land an NBA deal.

Whether he makes the team or not, that alone makes this training camp invitation a success from his perspective.

"That was another reason why I thought it was very important for me to take this opportunity because those guys in the Big3, a lot of them anyway, have hopes to at some point to be able to get back in the league," Johnson said. "So I just wanted to let everyone know that it's possible just to get to this point. I mean, I'm not even all the way on the roster, but to get to this point, get your foot in the door. Then whatever you do from that point, it's up to you."

Pistons coach Dwane Casey says conditioning hasn't been an issue for Johnson, who's also showing his teammates an even-keeled level of professionalism -- with minimal expressions, even after big plays.

For a Pistons team that finished 41-41 last season, with a first round playoff exit, that certainly helps.

"It's been really good. I don't even look at Joe for what his age is," Casey said. "He's getting up and down the floor, he doesn't miss repetitions, he's doing all the drills. So he's doing an excellent job."

Since the Big3 launched in 2017, numerous ex-NBA players and personnel have participated, including Jannero Pargo, who is now an assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers. Pargo sees Johnson opening doors for other BIG3 players that may been forgotten about to show that they still have what it takes.

Ice Cube also couldn't be any happier.

"Joe respected the game and found himself back in the NBA. He played in the Big3 for the love of high level competition on the highest stage in the summer," Ice Cube told ESPN. "I really enjoyed watching him play this year, and he's an example to all potential players what's really possible. It can happen if you do yo thang in the Big3."

NEW YORK -- Jose Berrios will start the American League Division Series opener for the Minnesota Twins against the New York Yankees.

Berrios was 14-8 with a 3.68 ERA and 195 strikeouts in 200 1/3 innings.

James Paxton (15-6, 3.82) will start Friday night's game for the Yankees.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli did not announce a Game 2 starter. Right-hander Jake Odorizzi (15-7, 3.51) is the most likely candidate.

Masahiro Tanaka (11-9, 4.45) will start Game 2 for the Yankees on Saturday, and Luis Severino (1-1, 1.50) will start Game 3 at Minnesota on Monday.