Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry

Episode: Week 17 Waiver Wire: Tyler Shough, Emanuel Wilson, Parker Washington headline top adds
Date: December 23, 2025
Host: Matthew Berry, with Jay and Connor (NBC Sports)

Episode Overview

The holiday-themed episode dives into Week 17 fantasy football waiver wire targets, detailed positional advice for teams headed into their league championships, and interactive community banter. Mathew Berry, Jay, and Connor mix strategic insights with their signature humor, debate, and holiday spirit—delivering directly actionable fantasy analysis for desperate owners headed into the final week.

Key Segments and Insights

1. Holiday Banter & League Recaps

[00:35 - 06:30]

• The hosts open with festive jokes, ugly sweater talk, and Harambe tributes.
• On-air recaps of their own fantasy league’s wild playoff twists, including wild-card underdogs and Matthew’s “winning fatigue.”
• Matthew Berry: “Let me give myself a challenge. I’m going to start 0 and 7 and see if I can claw my way back. Yeah, I almost did.” [06:23]
• Entertaining community banter about classic underdog playoff runs, and the all-too-familiar heartbreak of the fantasy season.

2. Waiver Wire Quarterbacks: Tyler Shough & Deep League Streamers

[06:33 - 13:06]

Top Waiver Add: Tyler Shough (Saints)

• Matthew Berry: "Weeks 13 to 16, Tyler Shough has been quite good... Consistently 17-plus points in fantasy. The Saints blew out the Jets...” [06:33]
• Strengths: NFL-level poise, a bit of rushing, strong matchup vs. Titans (who allow frequent multi-TD passers).
• “He looks like a pro NFL passer. Already he’s running a little bit…” – Jay [08:15]
• Saints' head coach Kellen Moore praised for "organization" that keeps offense on track, boosting Shough’s floor.
• Despite being overlooked in the draft, Shough’s development is highlighted as a big storyline.

Deep Streamers / Contingency Plays

• Marcus Mariota (hand injury, monitor), J.J. McCarthy (hand injury, Lions matchup), Malik Willis (shoulder injury), Tyler Huntley if Lamar sits.
• Key stat: Cowboys are a strong QB matchup, Lions' defense has collapsed vs. passing since Week 10.

3. Waiver Wire Running Backs: Workhorses and Injury Stashes

[13:16 - 27:26]

Tier A: Week 17 Usable Options

• Michael Carter (Cardinals): 58% available. Bengals allow the most fantasy points to RBs, Carter has 29 touches and 67% snap share over last two weeks.
  • “If you are starting an Arizona running back, Michael Carter is the guy you want and he tops the list.” – Matthew Berry [14:09]
• Blake Corum (Rams): 59% available, “Hunter Henry of running backs,” four straight games with 13+ points; consistent flex play with good matchups (Falcons/Arizona).
  • “It’s shocking, but since Week 13, he’s the ninth-best running back in fantasy football.” – Matthew [18:40]
• Emmanuel Wilson (Packers): 63% available. Must-roster if Josh Jacobs is even limited. In previous starts, has shown workhorse usage.
  • “Even if you don’t need a running back, sometimes the best offense is a good defense.” – Matthew [21:18]

Tier B: Committee Roulette/Desperation Plays

• Browns Backfield:
  • Dylan Sampson (89% available), Raheim Sanders, Trayveon Williams. Sampson (if healthy) is preferred, but situation is murky.
  • “I would probably rank them Sampson, Sanders, then Williams.” – Matthew [22:52]

Name-to-Know Deep Stashes

• Chris Rodriguez, Tyjae Spears (season-high touches last week), Jordan (if Woody Marks misses time), Audric Estime (Saints, but beware heavy Taysom Hill usage).
• “If you’re sifting through all these crappy tight ends...Taysom Hill probably has a better chance of scoring a touchdown than most of the other guys.” – Matthew [40:14]

4. Wide Receivers: Flex and Deep-League Heroes

[27:26 - 36:32]

Key Adds

• Troy Franklin (Broncos): 49% available. “When Troy Franklin gets some looks, he averages over 15 fantasy points per game.” – Matthew [31:28]
• Parker Washington (Jaguars): 77% available. Monster yards after catch; entrenched in offense—especially out of the slot vs. Colts’ weak slot D.
  • “You just want shares of this Jags offense… The level Trevor Lawrence is playing at is the best of his career.” – Connor [33:45]
• Deeper Options: Jayden Reed (Baltimore matchup), Luther Burden (vs. 49ers), Adonai Mitchell (Jets, if Tyrod starts), Mack Hollins (Jets).

Metcalf’s Suspension and Fallout

• DK Metcalf suspended two games for confronting a fan.
  • Steelers' WR pickups are unappealing; little fantasy relevance beyond the core starters. “And it says…the fan who shouts…’that was the goal’.” – Jay [29:19]

5. Tight Ends: Weekly Streamers

[36:49 - 41:47]

• Check for Dalton Schultz, Brenton Strange.
• Taysom Hill (Saints): “Taysom Hill against the Jets…threw a touchdown, long touchdown, had 12 carries, six targets… Just a ridiculous day, production wise.” – Jay [37:20]
• Note on Hill: Heavy usage last week may not repeat, but red-zone/TD upside is unmatched among available tight ends.
• Deeper names: Colston Loveland (SNF v. SF), Jake Tonjes (if Kittle sits), AJ Barner.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Tyler Shough:
  “He looks like a pro NFL passer. Already he’s running a little bit… Day two draft pick. They’re protecting him. Chris Olave is open all the time. How confident he looks in this offense raises the floor for him.” – Jay [08:15]
• Contrarian Stash Tactic:
  “Sometimes the best offense is a good defense. Pick up someone your opponent might need and stash them.” – Matthew Berry [21:18]
• On DK Metcalf’s banter with a fan:
  “That was the goal, folks.” – Jay (quoting the fan) [29:29]
• On Taysom Hill’s career:
  “Congrats to Taysom Hill on a very unique NFL career... played every role they ever asked of him.” – Jay [38:41]
• On fantasy community & interaction:
  “It’s been my favorite year of the show as well. The regulars have been phenomenal...The community in the show has really been able to—we just laugh more at everything.” – Jay [16:17]

Community, Power Rankings & Special Awards

[16:17; 30:34; 40:42]

• Fun, interactive acknowledgment of live chat regulars—“Aloha Bricks” gets a big holiday shout-out.
• “The Peacockies”—the show’s tongue-in-cheek fantasy awards—are coming soon.
  • “The most prestigious award show of all the made up ones. The Peacockies.” – Matthew Berry [30:36]

Final Segment: Monday Night Recap & Weekly Grievances

[41:47 - 51:50]

• Niners’ offensive juggernaut highlighted. Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey both dominant; strength of offensive line and overall health a huge theme.
  • "If Brock Purdy has time with these weapons, he will dice you up." – Connor [44:45]
  • Juwan Jennings emerging as critical late-season WR.
• Quick mention of the NFL/PL crossover, and that viewers should follow resident soccer expert Joe Prince Wright.
• Final “Airing of Grievances”—Matthew Berry’s woes in his dynasty league and playoff heartbreaks.
  • "Do I have any titles? I have no titles…This is going to be the fourth straight year I’ve made the playoffs. This year I was the number one seed…I lose by six points…The whole thing is stupid." [51:08]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [06:33] – Tyler Shough & QBs
• [14:09] – Michael Carter RB breakdown
• [18:40] – Blake Corum’s Flex Value
• [21:18] – Emmanuel Wilson RB stash logic
• [33:42] – Parker Washington WR upside
• [37:20] – Taysom Hill at tight end
• [44:45] – Brock Purdy/Niners MNF recap
• [51:08] – Matthew’s dynasty heartbreak & closing grievances

Tone & Style

The episode is festive, fast-paced, and playful—mixing inside jokes and league anecdotes with actionable Week 17 advice. Matthew Berry’s empathy for fantasy heartbreaks pairs with sharp recommendations, while Jay and Connor push strong contrarian stances and defend their strategic takes.

Bottom Line

This episode delivers:

• Must-add players at every position for championship week—including holiday schedule reminders and deep desperation stashes.
• Situational nuance (e.g., QBs dependent on injuries), last-minute pivots, and subtle flex rankings for multiple scenarios.
• Community engagement, “airing of grievances,” and a memorable preview of the show’s impending “Peacockies” awards.

If you're headed to your fantasy championship, this episode is the perfect guide for last-minute roster tuning—with a side of laughs and holiday spirit.