Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry – Week 14 Start/Sit Special

Date: December 3, 2025
Host: Matthew Berry (NBC Sports), with Connor Rogers & Jay Croucher
Episode Theme: Week 14 Start/Sit advice, playoff strategies, and navigating the key player questions for fantasy managers.

Episode Overview

In this lively, joke-filled episode, Matthew Berry makes his return from Orlando, sharing heartfelt updates about his daughters' cheer competition before diving deep into playoff fantasy football advice. The trio break down the latest NFL news, player outlooks, and start/sit dilemmas for Week 14, focusing on names like Kenneth Walker III, Emeka Egbuka, and Brian Thomas Jr.

The show’s signature “Keep it Open or Close it Out” segment returns, as Berry and co-hosts debate if fantasy managers should remain confident (“open”) in certain players or look elsewhere (“close it out”). Strategic playoff defense streaming, league banter, and trademark storytelling round out a practical and hilarious episode for fantasy fans.

Main Segments & Key Discussions

1. Berry’s Orlando Update & Show Banter (02:06–04:30)

• Matthew’s Location: Berry is broadcasting from a hotel room in Orlando, cheering on his daughters at the national cheerleading finals.
  • Quote (Matthew): “Thank you to NBC for letting me come watch my kids tumble and stunt as they say.” (02:23)
  • Banter about technical difficulties and blaming “the light monster” for a late start, setting the show's fun, relaxed tone.

2. NFL Player News Roundup (04:42–16:06)

• Tampa Bay Bucs’ WR Room

  • Both Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan return to practice, shaking up the WR hierarchy.
  • Emeka Egbuka: Noting a decline in production despite high targets; Berry wonders if Evans’ return might even help Egbuka revert to early-season form.
    • Quote (Matthew): “Once Evans comes back, I think he’s an immediate starter because he’s Mike Evans…” (08:11)
  • Advice: If Evans was dropped in shallower leagues, add and start him.

• Deshaun Watson’s Fantasy Irrelevance

  • Even with health, Berry and the crew see no usable fantasy value for Watson this year.
  • Quote (Matthew): “We have not seen Deshaun Watson be usable for fantasy outside of the Houston Texans, and that was many, many years ago.” (09:05)

• Adam Thielen to Steelers

  • Mixed takes: Jay dismisses any relevance; Berry gives a sliver of hope for ultra-deep PPR leagues.
  • Quote (Matthew): “I’m not ready to say Adam Thielen’s done… I do think there’s the slimmest of chances he provides some scammy PPR production in a deep league.” (14:08)

3. Weekly Start/Sit Decisions: Keep it Open or Close it Out (16:45–37:02)

Quarterbacks

• Baker Mayfield vs. Saints
  • Consensus: Sit. He’s QB18 for Berry this week; recent production lags and matchup is tough.
  • Quote (Matthew): "Baker’s not running. He’s clearly banged up and the offense just doesn’t seem right.” (16:54)

Running Backs

• Kenneth Walker III vs. Falcons

  • Keep it Open: Favorable matchup, increased target share, still RB2 despite TD drought.
  • Quote (Matthew): “Three straight games with a snap rate above 50%... starting to involve him in the passing game a little bit more.” (21:06)

• Jalen Warren vs. Ravens

  • Keep it Open: Volume and passing work keep him in RB2 territory despite lack of TDs.
  • Quote (Matthew): “I think because of his passing game usage, because he’s out there… I’m reluctantly keeping it open on Jalen Warren.” (22:06)

• Woody Marks vs. Chiefs

  • Close it Out: Hasn’t produced, minimal receiving work, even in good matchups.
  • Stats: Just 23 receiving yards total over last 5 games; worst among all RBs in fantasy points per touch (past 3 weeks).
  • Quote (Matthew): “He is dead last... we like Woody Marks. It’s just, this is a tough matchup and the usage hasn’t been there.” (25:30)

Wide Receivers

• Emeka Egbuka vs. Saints

  • Keep it Open (reluctantly): Still has elite target share (~30% over 6 weeks), minimal alternatives, but streak of lackluster fantasy production.
  • Quote (Matthew): “Talented WR getting eight targets in a decent matchup against the Saints—it’s going to be tough to beat...” (28:36)

• Mike Evans vs. Saints (if active)

  • Start with confidence—prefer over Egbuka (see above).
  • Quote: "Evans, yeah." (28:56)

• Brian Thomas Jr. vs. Colts

  • Close it Out: Big disappointment, weak target share, 1 double-digit fantasy game all season.
  • Quote (Matthew): “He is in the running for biggest bust of the year... You can’t blame his lack of production on injury.” (30:53)

• Troy Franklin vs. Raiders

  • Close it Out: Snap share declining, extremely TD dependent, better options exist.
  • Quote (Matthew): “If you start him, you’re basically banking on a touchdown against the Raiders, which could happen easily... but he’s my WR40.” (33:32)

Tight Ends

• Kyle Pitts vs. Seahawks
  • Keep it Open: Lower-end TE1, but matchup and target share (23% since Week 7) make him startable.
  • Quote (Matthew): “Tight end 8... I am keeping it open. Seahawks are not good against tight ends…” (35:04)

4. Fantasy Playoff League Banter & Strategy (40:00–48:49)

• Updates on the “League of Assholes” fantasy playoff picture. Berry boasts about his comeback from 0–7 to 6–7, piecing together wins with waiver scraps.

  • Quote (Matthew): “Despite the fact that I’m a two-time champion… I’d argue I’ve actually done the best coaching of my life this year to bring us back…” (44:14)

• Defenses to Stream for Fantasy Playoffs

  • Saints (Berry’s Pick): Carolina, Jets, Tennessee upcoming.
  • Bucs (Jay’s Pick): Atlanta, Carolina, Miami.
  • Dolphins (Connor’s Pick): Steelers, Bengals, Bucs.

5. Back to the Futures – Longshot Wagers (54:19–56:33)

Hosts’ Future Bets:

• Jay: Bears under 5.5 wins (+160). Schedule and tough matchups.
• Connor: Texans to win NFC South (+310) as a live longshot if they upset the Chiefs.
• Matthew: Cardinals under 4.5 wins (–105), skeptical they can win two more games.

6. Notable Quotes & Humorous Moments

• Adam Thielen Segment Satire

  • Jay quips about spending “20 minutes” on Adam Thielen and Deshaun Watson. (15:37)
  • Chat jokes about discussing Mercedes Lewis’s Broncos usage next—as a running gag, they actually “analyze” Lewis as a “sixth offensive lineman.” (33:34, 36:16)

• Berry’s Shirt/Wrinkled Laundry Story

  • Merrill Hoge’s advice for crisp shirts: “Bench press.”
  • Quote (Matthew): “No laundry secret, dude. Just get to the gym.” (50:34)

• Banter on Playoff Scenarios

  • Backup producer Pete’s “manifesto” of clinching scenarios—complex as an NFL playoff tiebreaker chart.
  • Quote (Connor): “It’s like 4th and 58 and Rice needs to go for 59 yards!” (43:44)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:06 – Berry’s Orlando update & show open
• 04:42 – RotoWorld news: Mike Evans, Adam Thielen, Deshaun Watson
• 16:45 – Keep it Open/Close it Out: Baker, Walker, Warren, Marks, Egbuka, Evans, BTJ, Franklin, Pitts
• 40:00 – League of Assholes playoff banter
• 46:51 – Best Defenses to Stream During Fantasy Playoffs
• 54:19 – Back to the Futures: Best Futures Bets
• 50:34 – Merrill Hoge “Bench Press” story

Conclusion

With Matthew Berry back at the mic, this Week 14 episode is equal parts fantasy advice and light-hearted comedy, perfect for managers plotting playoff runs or needing a laugh after a tough season. The mix of data-driven takes, relatable anecdotes, and quick banter among knowledgeable hosts make this a must-listen (or summary read) for fantasy football players at any level.

Top Takeaway:
Target volume and playoff schedule—don’t overreact to a few down weeks from stars like Kenneth Walker or Egbuka. But if your player is Brian Thomas Jr. or Troy Franklin, it’s time to move on.

“I gave you a seven-game head start and you could not kill me… it’s outrageous.”
—Matthew Berry, on surviving a brutal fantasy start (44:36)

For those who missed the episode, this summary gives you the strategic insights, highlights, and laughs that make Fantasy Football Happy Hour a favorite on the fantasy podcast circuit.