Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry

Episode: Week 14 Waiver Wire: Devin Singletary, Adonai Mitchell, C.J. Stroud among top targets
Date: December 2, 2025

Episode Overview

This Week 14 Waiver Wire episode is Matthew Berry and crew’s deep-dive into the best fantasy football waiver pickups, start/sit advice, and notable player performances as fantasy playoffs approach. The panel—Matthew Berry, Connor Rogers, Lawrence Jackson, and Jay Croucher—debate the merits of trending waiver candidates at RB, WR, TE, and QB, uncover playoff-caliber sleepers, and react to recent NFL performances, zingers, and storylines with their signature blend of statistical rigor and good-natured banter.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Rant: Defending Jaxon Smith-Njigba Owners

• Matthew Berry launches the show defending JSN after a down week, expressing little patience for complaints from fantasy managers:
  • "Screw you guys. Shut the hell up. You don't get to complain about Jackson Smith and Jigba... He's massively outperformed ADP... You know what you say? Hey, Jackson Smith and Jigba, thank you so much for the entire year. Bad day at the office. Happens to the best of us. Get him next week." – Matthew Berry (01:01)
• Tone: Indignant, humorous, playful scolding toward entitled fantasy players.

2. Week 14 Bye Weeks and Waiver Priorities

• Players on Bye: Christian McCaffrey, Rico Dowdle, Chuba Hubbard, Trayvon Henderson, Ramondre Stevenson, Tyrone Tracy, Devin Singletary.
• Panel notes these byes force tough choices and creative waiver hunting.

3. Top Running Back Waiver Targets

Devin Singletary (Giants, 78% available)

• Schedule looks favorable: Commanders, Vikings, Raiders, Cowboys.
• "Not a schedule you hate. He’s been viable even when splitting carries and with Tracy’s injury, he’s a viable playoff starter." – Connor Rogers (04:50)
• Panel agrees Singletary has RB2 potential for playoff run.

Bam Knight (Arizona, 74% available)

• "Scored in three straight, but still touchdown-dependent. Risky for next two matchups, maybe better for later playoff weeks." – Lawrence Jackson (09:21)
• Jay Croucher: Impressive day versus strong Bucs run defense, but still a desperation play.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. (76% available)

• 26 carries in last 2 games, highly TD-dependent, but usable with good matchups ahead (Vikings, Giants, Eagles).
• "You don’t feel great about any of the Washington running backs, but you feel best about Chris Rodriguez." – Jay Croucher (13:12)

Other Notable RBs:

• Blake Corum ("Pick him up, even if you don’t roster Kyren Williams." – Matthew, 14:04)
• Tyler Allgeier (Steady floor, get goal-line work, scored 3 of 4 last games)
• Bashell Tootin (Multiple red zone touches, boom potential vs struggling Colts)
• Tajay Spears (PPR floor, minimal upside. "If you need eight points, right, Spears, he is your man." – Jay, 17:27)

4. Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Deep Dive

Jaden Higgins (Texans, 65% available)

• "Wide receiver 23 since Week 10... doing now what they drafted him to do." – Matthew Berry (20:48)
• "Favorable matchup vs Chiefs, volume and red-zone presence." – Jay (19:45)

Adonai Mitchell (Jets, 97% available)

• 12 targets, 8 catches, 100+ yards, TD last week.
• Aaron Glenn (Jets coach): "He was never a throw in. We watched him coming out of college...a true X."
• "He’s now the clear #1 with no Garrett Wilson. Tyrod Taylor is force-feeding him targets and using him all over the field." – Lawrence (25:18)
• "He will continue to be the top receiver for remainder of the season." – Matthew (26:06)

Jaden Reed (Packers, 62% available)

• "Gives the Packers a dimension they lack without him; capable of both screen and deep work." – Matthew (30:46)
• "Slot receiver dependent on deep passes. Strange, but has upside." – Jay (31:41)

Other Deeper League WRs:

• Dontavion Wicks, Devon Vail, Luther Burden, Pat Bryant, Isaac Tesla (especially if Amon-Ra sits), all briefly profiled as upside stashes.

5. Tight End Streamers

Brenton Strange (68% available)

• Consistent usage, good schedule: Colts, Jets, Broncos, Colts.
• "He gives you consistency rare for tight end streamers; especially if WR room remains thin." – Jay (33:12)
• Start over underwhelming names like Mark Andrews and Kyle Pitts (Matthew, 34:41)

Dalton Schultz (54% available)

• Target volume is there: "Eight-plus targets in five of last seven, top-10 TE five of last seven weeks." – Matthew (35:19)
• Benefits from cold KC matchup where short routes will be featured.

Desperation/dart-throw TEs: Harold Fannin, Colston Loveland, Darren Waller, Evan Engram, AJ Barner.

6. Quarterback Waiver Targets

C.J. Stroud (Texans, 61% available)

• Despite lack of TDs last week, solid passing volume and schedule:
  • "We’re seeing Stroud return to rookie form as o-line stabilizes and WRs emerge." – Jay (40:31)
  • "Kansas City defense is 30th in pass defense since Week 9. Stroud’s arrow is pointing up for playoff push." – Matthew (42:01)
  • Caution: Not much rushing baseline, so TDs/tough matchups can cap upside.

Other QB Streamers

• Marcus Mariota, Tyrod Taylor (rushing floor), J.J. McCarthy (upside but risky), Trey Lance (only for rushing if desperate).

7. Streamer Defenses & Special Teams

• Best options (not ideal but usable):
  • Bucs vs Saints
  • Dolphins vs Jets
  • Titans vs Browns ("lowest game total of the week")
  • Colts vs Jaguars
• Conclusion: It’s a rough week for streaming, so “hopefully you’re not this desperate.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Matthew on fantasy outrage:
  "Screw you guys... Shut the hell up about your complaints about Jackson Smith and Jigba..." (01:01)
• Jay on RB streamer bias:
  "You don’t feel great about any of the Washington running backs, but you feel best about Chris Rodriguez." (13:12)
• Aaron Glenn on Adonai Mitchell:
  "He was never a throw in. We watched him coming out of college... a true X." (24:31)
• Jay on Tajay Spears:
  "If you need eight points, right, Spears is your man." (17:27)
• Matthew on Jaden Reed:
  "They’re not going to run Jaden Reed in between no tackles...but he gives them that jet sweep and a dimension that’s missing from the offense." (30:46)
• Jay on Stroud’s development:
  "He had the one terrible kind of inexplicable interception...but got right back on track, which is a good sign." (40:43)

Time-Stamped Breakdown of Key Segments

• 01:01 – Matthew Berry’s JSN rant
• 04:50 – Devin Singletary as top RB waiver target
• 07:08 – Singletary vs Mason for top backfield stash
• 09:21 – Bam Knight’s upside and limitations
• 12:20 – Chris Rodriguez’s role in Washington
• 14:04 – Blake Corum’s stash viability
• 17:16 – Tajay Spears as high-floor, low-ceiling play
• 19:45–21:23 – Jaden Higgins’ developing floor and matchups
• 24:31–26:06 – Adonai Mitchell’s role surge with Jets
• 29:10–32:13 – Packers WRs (Reed, Wicks, Watson) and usage discussion
• 33:12 – Brenton Strange as reliable TE streamer
• 35:19 – Dalton Schultz’s target consistency
• 40:31–42:01 – CJ Stroud’s arrow pointing up; facing a weak KC pass defense
• 44:32 – Defense/special teams streamer rundown

Episode Tone and Banter

• The chemistry between the hosts remains strong: quick-witted, self-deprecating, with recurring jokes about jerseys and inside references ("chocolate ankles," "vanilla wrinkles," jersey curses).
• Panelists often mock themselves and each other for past predictions or failed "lucky jersey" magic.
• Viewers’ chat comments and live banter are frequently woven in, maintaining an informal, community-driven vibe.

Final Fantasy Playoff Advice Takeaways

• Waiver process this late is all about upside and risk tolerance.
• Singletary, Higgins, and Adonai Mitchell are plug-and-play options in many playoff-hopeful lineups.
• At TE and QB, play for familiarity (Stroud/Schultz) or opportunity (Strange, Taylor).
• Monitor injuries, especially players like Jaden Reed and Amon-Ra St. Brown, for late-breaking waiver upside.
• Defense streaming is rough; best to rely on proven options if possible.

Closing Notes

• MVP Futures: Drake May and Matthew Stafford lead the board; Dak Prescott and Josh Allen dark horses.
• Patriots Backfield: Ramondre Stevenson re-solidified as lead back over Trayan Henderson.
• Popular running segment: Who wore the cursed jersey, which created a fun ongoing panel theme.

For fantasy managers prepping for playoff runs, this episode provides sharp context for late-season waiver moves, key roles, and critical injury watch-lists, packaged in a fast-paced, opinionated, and accessible style.