Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry

Episode: Sleepers + Deep Sleepers: Ricky Pearsall, Chris Olave, Emeka Egbuka highlight the list
Release Date: August 13, 2025
Hosts: Matthew Berry, Connor Rogers, Jay Croucher

Overview

This lively episode is all about sleepers and deep sleepers for the 2025 fantasy football season. Matthew Berry, Jay Croucher, and Connor Rogers break down players being overlooked in drafts, provide their signature analysis, compare notes, and banter through the hour. The show is packed with actionable draft advice, insights into player situations, historical context, and plenty of quick wit and running jokes.

Key Discussion Points

[03:01] Sleepers: Who’s Flying Under the Radar?

Ricky Pearsall (SF WR)

• Matthew Berry: “Ricky Pearsall leads my sleeper list.” Pearsall faced a life-threatening injury last year and now, with injuries to other 49ers WRs, “he’s someone whose target share is about to skyrocket.” (05:14)
• Kyle Shanahan quote: “He’s got such natural hands, such natural route running ability… not too big for him. Ricky’s biggest thing is just being out there and trying to stack days.” (03:12)
• Stats: Five games with 15%+ target share, ~16 fantasy points/game, nearly 70 yards/game in late 2024.
• Berry ranks him “about two rounds ahead of consensus.” (06:00)
• Quote (Berry): “I’m definitely stacking days. I’m a day stacker. Everyone knows that.” (05:13)

Chris Olave (NO WR)

• Jay Croucher: “When he’s been healthy, he’s been an elite wide receiver… some of his underlying stats are the best in the NFL in terms of yards per route run.” (06:38)
• Olave’s talent and upside are not in question; health and Saints’ QB play are the concerns, but both issues are ‘baked in’ to his ADP, giving him massive upside at a discount. (07:47, Berry)
• Berry: “Assuming health, he’s going to earn a massive target share on a team that should be throwing with not very much target competition.” (07:47)

Tyler Warren (IND TE)

• Connor Rogers: “Rookie tight end who is kind of quarterback-proof because of the style he plays… win down the field or after the catch.” (08:18)
• Warren on his game: “Being bigger bodies, being able to break tackles is expected ... I think it’s important to embrace it or deal with consequences.” (08:44)
• Shane Steichen’s offense and uncertainty at QB could funnel volume to Warren regardless of who’s under center.
• Berry: “I love the call. …They will be able to get him the ball. I’m not saying Tyler Warren is Brock Bowers, but he’s not that far off either.” (10:07–13:22)

Rasheed Shahid (NO WR)

• Berry: “I have a need for Shaheed… prior to injury, WR29 in points per game, with a 24% target share.” (14:02)
• Team-high in yards per target since he entered the NFL. ADP is 137, but Berry ranks him ~111, “two rounds higher than consensus.” (15:13)
• Compared as the “Alex Caruso of the NFL—low usage, high impact.” (15:34)

Tony Pollard (TEN RB)

• Jay: “His path to more snaps has gotten easier with Tyjae Spears’ injury, plus improved O-line and QB. …Last year, 3.4 yards after contact per attempt, top 10 among RBs.” (15:58)
• Berry ranks Pollard RB23, above consensus (RB28). (17:13)

Emeka Egbuka (TB WR)

• Connor: “This Bucs rookie is pro-ready… If Chris Godwin is ramped up slowly, Egbuka will have significant early target share.” (18:00)
• Berry: “I have him 76th overall, currently going 114… huge gap in my confidence for Egbuka.” (19:41)
• “Not terribly shocking if he becomes the number one guy in Tampa Bay by year’s end.” (19:09–19:41)

[22:16] Deep Sleepers: Late-Round and Undrafted Targets

Brenton Strange (JAX TE)

• Berry: “I’m high on Jacksonville… at least nine fantasy points in seven of his nine career games with double-digit target share. I have him as TE16, ADP is TE21.” (22:33)

Hollywood Brown (KC WR)

• Jay: “If Rashee Rice is out or the Chiefs need someone to step up, Brown could be the de facto No. 1 for Mahomes in some games.” (24:25)
• Berry: “Once you display a skill, you own it. He’s produced at a high level before, and there’s upside with Mahomes.” (24:48)

Josh Palmer (BUF WR)

• Connor: “Right now Palmer is 184th by ADP, but he could be Josh Allen’s No. 2 wideout with Khalil Shakir banged up.” (25:42)
• Berry: “Josh Allen’s number two WR cannot be WR70.” (26:04)

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS RB) (aka “Bill”)

• Berry: “Showed out in camp. With both Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler having injury histories, JCM could see real opportunity.” (27:24)
• Context from Connor: “Due to a weird NCAA eligibility issue, he was overlooked, but I had a fourth-round grade on him.” (29:10)

Rashod Bateman (BAL WR)

• Jay: “Advanced stats darling… 16.8 yards per reception (3rd highest among qualified WRs)… Don’t forget, he’s 25, a former first-round pick.” (31:57)
• Berry: “Never a question of talent, just health. Among WRs with 50+ targets, he was 3rd in fantasy points per target last year.” (32:01)

Kyle Monangai (CHI RB)

• Connor: “If Swift misses time, Monangai could be Bears’ starting RB. …Ben Johnson loves using two RBs and Monangai seems to be ahead of Roschon Johnson already.” (32:57)
• Berry: “Over 1,200 yards in the Big Ten each of last two years, doesn’t fumble, and could pass DeAndre Swift at some point. Clearest path among late round RBs.” (33:26–34:42)

[37:02] Injury & Camp Updates

• Matthew Stafford (LAR QB): McVay admits Stafford’s back isn’t cooperating; “flexibility and fluidity” in planning, but concern about sustainability and impact for Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and Kyren Williams if Garoppolo plays. (37:02–42:26)
• Landon Dickerson (PHI G): Minor knee procedure, could return Week 1; hosts note risk increase for Eagles' unit after a healthy 2024. (43:22)
• Torrey Horton (SEA WR): “Day 3 WR already playing ahead of MVS,” could actually matter in Seattle’s weird, still-promising offense. (44:41–45:42)
• Jordan Love (GB QB): Minor left thumb surgery, expected to be fine for Week 1, but noteworthy for a team with “every WR already banged up.” (47:41–49:31)
• Packers WR update: Jokes about plugging in “10 different six-and-a-half out of 10 receivers,” as injuries pile up. (48:35, 49:02)

[54:27] Final Bets: Who Leads the NFL in Receptions?

• A (Jay): “Drake London at 17:1. London’s target share was huge with Kirk Cousins, even bigger with Michael Penix under center.”
• C (Connor): “Malik Nabers at 12:1. Total target hog and improved QB situation.”
• B (Berry): “CeeDee Lamb at 9:1. Total focal point of Dallas offense, expect volume to spike.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Slot receptions and hips. Neither of them lie.” – Matthew Berry (02:18)
• “Once you display a skill, you own it.” – Matthew Berry, quoting Ron Chandler on Hollywood Brown’s upside (24:48)
• “Josh Allen’s number two wide receiver cannot be WR70.” – Matthew Berry on Josh Palmer's deep sleeper value (26:04)
• “I have a need for Shaheed.” – Berry on Rasheed Shahid’s upside (14:02)
• “I’m definitely stacking days. I’m a day stacker. Everyone knows that.” – Berry, riffing on coachspeak re: Pearsall (05:13)
• “It’s Kyle monang guy time.” – Connor, advocating for deep sleeper RB, CHI (32:57)
• Friendly ribbing: “I was not on the Tonight Show.” – Connor when Matthew references prioritizing his TV appearance over sleeper picks (11:21)
• MVP running joke: “I am the fantasy golem.” – Berry, after a bit on red light therapy (38:52)

Tone and Entertainment Value

• Authentic banter: Inside jokes, TV award references (“Susan Lucci of the Emmys”), and warm ribbing keep the episode lively.
• Actionable insight: Despite the jokes, each player discussed comes with data, past results, and scenario-driven reasoning for how their value could spike.
• Relatable humor: “Stacking days” and other coach clichés are lampooned but discussed sincerely.
• Fantasy lens: Always tying real-life football news back to direct fantasy implications; eg. how injuries or camp reports shift draft board targets.

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Topic | Timestamp | |---------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|------------| | Sleepers List | Ricky Pearsall, Chris Olave, Tyler Warren, more | 03:01–19:41| | Deep Sleepers | Brenton Strange, Hollywood Brown, Josh Palmer, Bateman, more | 22:16–34:42| | Injury Updates, Camp News | Rams' Stafford, Eagles’ OL, Seahawks’ WR Torrey Horton | 37:02–45:42| | Packers WR injury stack | All WRs banged up, new targets emerging | 47:41–49:31| | Last Call: Reception Bets | Drake London, Malik Nabers, CeeDee Lamb for receptions leader | 54:27–56:09|

Summary for Those Who Missed It:
If you have a fantasy draft coming up, this episode arms you with creative, data-driven sleeper picks—and seasoned warnings—so you can steal serious value in the late rounds. From Pearsall in San Francisco to the buzz building around Emeka Egbuka in Tampa Bay, and deep shots like Kyle Monangai in Chicago or Jacory Croskey-Merritt in Washington, Matthew Berry’s panel finds hidden gems and articulates the compelling upside for each. Their advice is delivered with plenty of heart and humor, so you’ll not only walk away smarter but entertained.