Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry

Episode: Week 1 Waiver Wire: Browns RBs, Hollywood Brown, Bryce Young among top targets

Date: September 2, 2025
Host: Matthew Berry (NBC Sports) with Connor and Jay

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off the fantasy football season by diving into Week 1 waiver wire priorities, focusing on high-value, widely available running backs (notably in the Browns backfield), receivers stepping into big roles (Hollywood Brown, Keenan Allen, Adam Thielen, Cedric Tillman), and some promising quarterbacks (Bryce Young, Michael Penix Jr.). The hosts also recap their own industry draft ("League of Assholes"), offering insights into draft strategy and team construction for various league formats.

Berry, Connor, and Jay bring an upbeat, irreverent, and conversational style, peppered with banter, fantasy football wisdom, and inside jokes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Opening Banter & Marathon Draft Recap (01:01–03:20)

• The crew jokes about wardrobe, spouses disinterested in fantasy content, and Clark Brady's marathon fantasy football viewing ("He just sat there for 12 hours watching!" – Berry, 01:57).
• The team draft is complete -- teasing they'll review teams later.

Week 1 Waiver Wire: Running Back Priorities (03:20–14:10)

Browns Backfield: Quinshon Judkins, Jerome Ford, Dylan Sampson

• Availability: Judkins (50%), Ford (54%), Sampson (52%).
• Judkins:
  • "If and when he signs, he's going to quickly establish himself as the best running back on the Browns." (Berry, 04:06)
  • Stash candidate for upside, but "you're not starting Judkins this week."
• Week 1 Value:
  • Ford: Most likely involved in passing downs; “if you need floor this week, I think it’s Jerome Ford” (Berry, 07:04).
  • Sampson: Better TD upside if you need a home run swing.
• Committee Risk: Preseason usage suggests a split; Browns are underdogs in a high-total game.
• Jay's Take: “Judkins is the guy who’s actually got the upside...RB2 guy that you’re starting every week.” (06:34)

Other Running Backs to Consider

• Trey Benson (61% available):
  • Premium insurance for James Conner, who is "on the love list this week" (Berry, 08:43).
  • Saints allowed most rushing TDs to RBs last year.
• Ali Gordon (65% available):
  • With Jalen Wright out, Gordon backs up an injury-prone Devon Achane in Miami. Strong stash and possible TD vulture (Connor, 11:12).
• Others:
  • Jaden Blue (Cowboys), Amarian Hampton, Najee Harris revival, Woody Mark (Texans), Kenneth Gainwell—all quick honorable mentions with matchup notes.

Useful Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Nothing screams desperation like trying to make sense of the Browns backfield." – Matthew Berry (04:06)
• “Long term upside, you prefer Judkins. If you need floor this week, it’s Ford. If you want upside, it’s Sampson.” – Berry (07:04)
• "Kevin Stefanski, two-time coach of the year...not a lot of people are aware he won coach of the year two times." (Berry, 05:17)

Wide Receivers: Waiver Wire Targets (14:10–22:44)

Hollywood Brown

• Chiefs' de facto WR1 while Rice suspended, other WRs injured.
• “I think [the Chiefs] will go out of their way to dial up explosives in this game...They’ve been hearing it for two years that they can’t get explosives” (Jay, 15:46)
• “I think Patrick Mahomes goes scorched earth this year.” – Berry (15:58)

Keenan Allen

• "It just felt snoozy…people thought Keenan Allen must be done because no one wants him. No, he just wanted a lot of money." (Berry, 17:14)
• "He has a higher floor than Trey Harris." (Berry, 17:54)
• KLS (Kendry Lambert-Smith) named as a deep-league flyer.

Adam Thielen

• "Averaged almost 10 yards a target…can still get open... knows the system, knows Kevin O’Connell." (Berry, 19:11)
• Good early-season fill-in with Jordan Addison suspended.

Cedric Tillman (Club Ced)

• “18+ points in three of his four final healthy games in 2024…The Browns are going to be chasing points a lot.” (Connor, 20:20)
• “Tillman needs to be rostered in more leagues than he is right now, for sure.” (Berry, 21:39)
• Browns set up for high catch-up volume with Flacco.

Other Notables

• Marvin Mims (Broncos), Christian Kirk (Texans), Wandale Robinson (Giants) all flagged as deep-league or PPR “cheat codes.”

Tight Ends and Tools (23:54–30:41)

Featured TEs:

• Cade Otton (TB):
  • "This is somebody who last year, in two games against Atlanta, averaged over 62 yards a game.” (Berry, 25:54)
  • Godwin/PUP, vacated targets.
• Brenton Strange (CAR):
  • “The fact that he’s 78% available? It’s a little...Strange.” (Connor & Berry, 26:44) — show banter
  • Panthers allowed most TDs to TEs last year.
• Jonnu Smith, Theo Johnson, Chig Okonkwo — all mentioned as high-upside, surprise usage options thanks to shaky WR depth/changing offenses.

Waiver Tools

• FantasyLife.com’s Waiver Wire Tool demoed; helps calculate FAAB bids and optimize adds per your settings.

Memorable Banter

• Berry’s wardrobe and sock discussion (27:00–28:36), including a shoutout to NBC’s wardrobe department and stylist.

Quarterbacks: Waiver Streamers and Deep Stashes (30:41–35:05)

Bryce Young (Panthers)

• Jacksonville allowed third-most fantasy points to QBs last year.
• “He’s looked more confident...flash a level of competence that he's going to be able to live up to those shootouts.” (Jay, 31:10)

Michael Penix Jr. (Falcons)

• Faces vulnerable Bucs pass D.
• “Probably, with Anthony Richardson not a starter, I'd make Penix the favorite to lead the NFL in average depth of target.” (Jay, 33:35)
• High ceiling for big-play weeks.

Quick Mentions

• Daniel Jones (floor via rushing), Tua Tagovailoa (favorable matchup), Joe Flacco (negative script, ton of attempts = streamer).

Team Defenses to Stream (36:43–37:24)

• Cardinals, Commanders, Jets, Rams, Bengals — all meet roster thresholds and have good/sneaky matchups.
• “Bengals would be my best pick for a pick-six this week...Flacco will throw it to the other team a couple of times.” (Berry, 37:02)

League of Assholes Draft Recap (40:00–52:46)

Format:

• 12-team, PPR, Superflex

Draft Banter Highlights

• Berry’s opening: "I am the champ until a new champion is crowned... and I demand all of you call me that!" (40:00)
• Narrated, (sometimes chaotic) draft clips, with jokes about team stacking, positional runs, and Berry’s endless monologuing.
• Running back hoarding (Dev's team), WR depth strategies, and superflex value picks dissected.

Hosts' Teams & Strategies:

• Matthew Berry: Anchored by Jaden Daniels, Derrick Henry, Mike Evans, loaded with high-upside backs and WRs; “I have a lot of Cortland Sutton this year and a lot of Josh Downs.”
• Jay (Chubby Leather Daddies): Loaded at WR (Amon-Ra, JSN, Kupp), Hurts & Herbert at QB; thinner RB depth but confident in high-end starters.
• Connor: Anchor RB (Saquon Barkley) then backed up with handcuff backs for safety; big believer in Mahomes, upside WRs (Travis Hunter, Pearsall).

Draft Takeaway:

• General advice: "Don’t chase positional runs, just draft talent—trade later if you’re loaded at one spot."
• Fantasy community = "League of Assholes... more like League of Idiots!" (YouTube comment cited, 46:02)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "Find a guy that looks at you the way Arthur Smith looks at Jonnu Smith." (Berry, 28:40)
• "It’s closing time. You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here." (Berry, 55:15, closing motto)

Timestamped Guide to Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | Key Points | |-----------|---------|------------| | 03:20–07:31 | RB Waiver Wire | Browns backfield, Judkins, Ford, Sampson—how to parse upside vs. floor for Week 1 | | 07:45–14:10 | More RBs | Trey Benson, Ali Gordon, quick mentions (Jaden Blue, Hampton, Najee, Gainwell) | | 14:10–22:44 | WR Waiver Wire | Hollywood Brown, Keenan Allen, Adam Thielen, Cedric Tillman, deeper names | | 23:54–30:41 | Tight Ends | Cade Otton, Brenton Strange, deep stashes (Jonnu, Theo, Chig), plus FantasyLife waiver tool | | 30:41–35:05 | Waiver QBs | Bryce Young, Michael Penix Jr., streaming notes on DJ, Tua, Flacco | | 36:43–37:24 | Defenses | Cardinals, Commanders, Jets, Rams, Bengals D/ST streaming | | 40:00–52:46 | Draft Recap | Picks, strategies, trades, coping with RB runs, banter-filled behind-the-scenes info |

Closing & Final Takeaways

• The show highlights the fluidity of Week 1 waivers — don’t panic, take upside shots early.
• Stash high-upside RBs behind injury-prone or unsettled starters.
• WRs stepping into new roles or benefiting from teammate injuries/suspensions are priority adds.
• Use league-specific tools to calibrate waiver bids and start/sit decisions.
• Enjoy the chaos: drafting isn’t just about having fun — “it’s about getting chiggy with it!”

Final Sign-off:
“It’s closing time. You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here. For Jay, for Connor, I’m Matthew Berry. We’ll see you tomorrow. Peace out.” (Matthew Berry, 55:15)