Week 17 Waiver Wire: Tyler Shough, Emanuel Wilson, Parker Washington headline top adds

Summary

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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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]

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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]

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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.

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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]

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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]

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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]

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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

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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.

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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.

Transcript

[Matthew Berry]

We were joking in the war room yesterday about how because we know we are hosting, NBC will have one of the divisional games and we're like, you know, are we going to be broadcasting the Jacksonville game? Like, am I doing my DraftKings 3 play from the pool?

[Jay]

Jay and I will be at the Jags bar with Stephen.

[Connor]

Yeah, of course. I for one, welcome our Jags Panthers super bowl in Santa Clara in the first week of February. Those teams are both going to have home playoff games at this point.

[Matthew Berry]

Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry.

[Jay]

Welcome to the fantasy football happy hour of Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, happy holidays, Happy Festivus out there.

[Matthew Berry]

It is a Festivus for the rest of us, a thousand percent. So you are rocking Harambe?

[Jay]

Yes. Rest in peace. We'll never forget.

[Matthew Berry]

Never forget.

[Jay]

Not on this desk.

[Matthew Berry]

We will. Absolutely not.

[Jay]

People try to forget. I won't allow it.

[Matthew Berry]

Absolutely not. We are a pro Harambe desk here at the happy hour. I'm rocking. Stranger Things Season one.

[Jay]

Very timely.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah, very timely. Obviously.

[Jay]

Spoilers?

[Matthew Berry]

No. Spoilers.

[Connor]

No, I actually haven't watched it, so I can't spoil it for you. I'll Google what happens in the ad break.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah, it's, it's. We're both up to date. There's new episodes coming out on Christmas, I believe, very, very soon.

[Connor]

And I'm wearing the leftovers from Matthew's wardrobe. Matthew, what is disturbing, though, is that there were two options and the other option.

[Matthew Berry]

Kevin, grab the other one. Grab the other one. Bring this over. I just want people to see, like, sort of. It's waivers. We got, we got a little bit of time here.

[Connor]

It's good. But what's disturbing to me is the size of the thing.

[Matthew Berry]

Thank you, Kevin. Look at that. I don't know if we can go on camera one here.

[Jay]

Look great on you.

[Connor]

I was going to wear it and I did, but it like covers two of me. So this is everything.

[Matthew Berry]

Like, someone bought me, I guess. It's a 2 XL, but you're taller than I am.

[Connor]

We're like the same. We're both like 6 foot 6 one. Right. So why are you wearing. What's the 2 XL story?

[Matthew Berry]

I don't know.

[Connor]

I just.

[Matthew Berry]

Somebody, I think I asked my wife just to grab a ugly sweater at some point, you know, for some party, and this is what she came up with. It might have been the only one.

[Connor]

Like hoodies and stuff.

[Matthew Berry]

I do like them baggy. I do sometimes, but this is like extreme. Extremely. Yeah. Aloha, Brooks. J's wearing the Mr. Rogers Christmas. I disagree. Jay is wearing the. Let me put this somewhere, I don't know, throw it. I just. No hero. Just.

[Connor]

I don't think that's going to work.

[Jay]

Nice to be thrown.

[Matthew Berry]

We'll see.

[Connor]

Yeah.

[Jay]

There we go.

[Matthew Berry]

There we go.

[Jay]

By the way, set looking amazing as always. Yeah. Everybody's in the holiday spirit. Jay's ready though, for Aspen.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah, that's exactly right. You're ready to go down the. Down the slopes. I'll figure out a place to throw this up.

[Connor]

Yeah, put it in for Bruce Hall.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah, let's get rid of Brace Hall. There we go.

[Jay]

We're actually going to talk some fantasy today. We got your waivers. Don't worry, we're still here. We're still doing waiver wires. We're going to recap what was a shockingly kind of electric Monday night game between Philip rivers and the 49ers. It was awesome. We're going to recap everything and who you could trust going forward. But before we do any of that, league championship managers, you of course, drink for free today. A very special day for all of you that will be playing in the fantasy football championship this week.

[Connor]

Yes. And. And I will be in.

[Matthew Berry]

That includes Jake Ratcher.

[Connor]

Yes. I will be in against Rotopat. Against Rotopat. Yep.

[Jay]

Wagon this year in every league we do.

[Connor]

Guillotine League, our show league. J vs Rotopat. League of assholes. Jay vs Rotopad.

[Matthew Berry]

It really is an Alibaba Rotopact defeating Lawrence. Lawrence Jackson, unfortunately.

[Connor]

It's so funny. He's going to. Last night it was like 50, 50 the win probability and Lawrence had like 26 points from Jonathan Taylor, which is just like what Jonathan Taylor does, I suppose. The chubby leather daddy's 50 point emphatic over producer Steven running back might be.

[Matthew Berry]

An issue for you this week though.

[Connor]

No.

[Matthew Berry]

Judkins, Tony Pollard, he's been good for two weeks.

[Connor]

But I also like. It's covered up there. But I have Jaylen Warren on my team. I feel like I wasted the good Jaylen Warren game.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah, exactly.

[Connor]

I'm a little. My team's not great, but Rotapat's team isn't. It's very much. It feels like two wild card teams got to the.

[Jay]

That's fantasy playoffs.

[Connor]

Yeah.

[Jay]

It's insanity.

[Matthew Berry]

Thousand percent.

[Connor]

It's like when the Kurt Warner Cardinals got there against like the. You know, the Roethlisberger steals. That's kind of the matchup. I'm not jugging all teams, but someone will win the Super Bowl.

[Jay]

Didn't Taylor Heinecke win a playoff game?

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jay]

That's.

[Matthew Berry]

Came close against. Against Tom Brady. That was. It was the top.

[Jay]

It just came up a little short.

[Matthew Berry]

He was. But Taylor Heinecke. Taylor Heinecke's Washington game against Tom Brady, that was the closest any team came to the Buccaneers that year in the playoffs. Like, he, he, he, he. He was gutty.

[Connor]

Hang a banner.

[Matthew Berry]

He got it out. Yeah.

[Jay]

Came close.

[Connor]

Yeah.

[Jay]

Brady. I would actually hang that banner.

[Connor]

No, he didn't.

[Matthew Berry]

It was more of a game than a lot of the other Buccaneers games during that run. But, yes, this is. It's very disappointing. I'm very upset with the entire league of assholes that, like, this is what we have to work. Like, I'm out. So finally, like, finally, I'm out of the league of the playoffs. So now there's an opportunity finally, for somebody else to win. Because I'd sort of gotten bored with winning because I kept doing it year after year.

[Connor]

Like the chase.

[Matthew Berry]

Exactly. Like the Chiefs. I really am. I'm a Holmesian. I might have torn my acl, My fantasy acl. At any rate. Any rate. Like Lawrence Connor, producer Steven. Producer Damien. I'm disappointed in a lot of you and a lot of you. Because we're left with two bad choices. I know we've got Evil Jay. No one wants. No one wants Jay to win. That he'll be insufferable. More insufferable. If that's. If you can imagine that. And then you've got Roto Pat, who. You know, we love Roto Pat. He's part of the Roto world family. But he's not. He's, you know, on TV show, we tolerate. We tolerate Roto Pat. We don't hate. You know. But my point is, is that he's not. You know, ideally, somebody from Happy Hour would represent.

[Jay]

That's right. He's like one of two outsiders. Yeah. In the Happy Hour League. Him and Denny, which is kind of.

[Matthew Berry]

Like kind of a.

[Jay]

On our show every week. You're right. And he's on the show every single week. Dr. Denny.

[Matthew Berry]

Right. Rotopat took Big Show's place when Big Show.

[Connor]

Big show left is the least involved person with the show of everyone in the league.

[Matthew Berry]

That's correct.

[Jay]

To be fair, Medium show really wanted the spot. I know, but Medium show is no longer with us. Not dead. He's fine. She's no longer off.

[Matthew Berry]

Working on the show.

[Connor]

Stop killing people off. Yeah.

[Jay]

Who was yesterday?

[Connor]

Daniel Dobbs. Matthew Stafford's career.

[Jay]

He's killing Everyone.

[Matthew Berry]

I do.

[Jay]

Tyler Lockett might have been fair. I'll give you that one. Ryan Oswald. Winning is the worst. I hate it. The goat excuse lure.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah.

[Jay]

The Excuseler is unstoppable.

[Connor]

Winning fatigue.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah, exactly.

[Connor]

Excuse.

[Matthew Berry]

Boring. It's no fun.

[Jay]

Well, if you're trying.

[Matthew Berry]

Let me give myself a challenge. I'm going to start. Oh and seven and see if I can claw my way back. Yeah, I almost did.

[Jay]

You actually really almost did.

[Matthew Berry]

7 and 7.

[Jay]

Infuriating.

[Connor]

10Th and points 4 on a 12 time.

[Jay]

So you still might need help. As you heard Jay, he might be picking up a running back this week. It's very good, Jay. Way wired quarterbacks. Let's jump right into it. And that is Tyler Schuck's music. Because weeks 13 to 16, Tyler Schuck has been quite good. Not only passing the eye test, but you see the stats consistently. 17 plus points in fantasy. The Saints blew out the Jets. That could. That performance could have been even bigger. They put in Taysom Hill to throw a touchdown at the end. He's 87% available. We got to hear from Tyler Schuck this week on his many roads traveled in his football life. I got a wide genre, man.

[Matthew Berry]

I keep it fresh. We got reggae, we got rap, we got country edm. I like to keep it fresh. Everybody keep the juices flowing for me.

[Jay]

I've kind of been everywhere for college wise so I've gotten a wide array. But don't let him lie to you.

[Connor]

He's vibing to it as well.

[Jay]

But we usually keep the same rotation.

[Matthew Berry]

I was trying to break. I was trying to hang this up over Reece hall but I screwed it up.

[Connor]

Knocked over.

[Matthew Berry]

I knocked over somebody.

[Connor]

Was it Mark Andrews?

[Matthew Berry]

Probably killing Mark Andrews. That's all right.

[Jay]

While the regulars were listening to Tyler Schuck talking about his very.

[Matthew Berry]

No, not Derek Henry.

[Jay]

Matthew was pulling a J and trying to kill off Derek Henry.

[Connor]

There we go.

[Jay]

But the sweater looks good.

[Connor]

Yeah, especially it's absolute debacle. It's like you were trying to disarm a bomb and you set off two others that weren't even needed to be disarmed.

[Jay]

Don't you love when it wipes off of shocking and goes back back on and you're in headlights, Matthew. Like oh no. I underestimated that. The sound wasn't five minutes long.

[Connor]

You could say.

[Matthew Berry]

Anyway, it's the last show before the holidays anyway.

[Connor]

Tyler Shock. Tyler Shuckey making child's play at the NFL. Matthew, you will what is most surprised you, Connor, about Shock's level how comfortable.

[Jay]

And accurate he looks. I mean, no fear in the pocket. He looks like a pro NFL passer. Already he's running a little bit, which I. When I watched the Louisville tape, I was like, this guy's going to run a lot at the NFL.

[Matthew Berry]

You had him as a day three pick, right?

[Jay]

Day two.

[Matthew Berry]

Day two. Okay.

[Jay]

And stop killing Tyler and my draft. Right. He just a Christmas murderer.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah.

[Jay]

Yeah. Tyler Schuck, really good arm. Comfortable, accurate. They're protecting him. Chris lavey is open all the time. So just the fact that how confident he looks in this offense raises the floor for him right away.

[Matthew Berry]

There's no question you love the matchup this week against the Titans as well. Seven of the last nine quarterbacks to face the Titans have thrown for at least two touchdowns. One of the. One of the quarterbacks is whatever the Chiefs put out there last week. So. So you certainly like the matchup here. He will get no votes whatsoever. But Kellen Moore has done an unbelievable job as coach this year for the Saints.

[Jay]

Again, Brandon, given the right.

[Matthew Berry]

Given the. Given the amount of talent they have and been. But they've been competitive every game. It feels like. Or for the most part like they. They're trying hard, you know, I mean, and the development of Tyler Schuck, somebody who a lot of people were like, people were surprised when Shuck got drafted. That was part of the Shadow Sanders fall 50 pick.

[Jay]

Yeah, for sure.

[Connor]

Yeah.

[Matthew Berry]

People are definitely surprised at how high he went and that he went ahead of Sanders.

[Connor]

Yeah. I can't remember who said it's all just climbing for myself, but someone said Kellen Moore, he's very organized. And I've always thought that's a good way to think about, like, he's very detail oriented. He's not some Shanahan McDonald McVeigh, you know, outlier genius play caller, but he just has this team running on time. Like, they just. They're a very professional outfit. They play hard and, you know, they have a good chance to finish the season at 7 and 10 when it looked like there'd be a 3 and 4. Tame. Tame @ one.

[Matthew Berry]

Point. And by the way, you. You mentioned like, people like, don't overestimate how important that is for a football team. The head coach of a football team is really more of a CEO. Right. And so just organization, having everyone on the same page. Like, one of the issues going to sound weird, but one of the issues at Texas A and M under Jimbo Fisher is that it was a free for all. That was like, I heard from Inside sources there. It was just like no organization whatsoever. And so it's a sort of.

[Connor]

Huh. You heard from our sell.

[Matthew Berry]

Right? Yes, that's my.

[Jay]

Source. Your weekly phone.

[Matthew Berry]

Call. Exactly. Exactly. He's not taking it this week after that loss to Miami. It's a tough, tough day at the office for Marcel. But. But no, just, you know, but like, again, like you need. The organization is. Is not something that happens at every level of.

[Jay]

Football. How about this question from Ryan Oswald Shakalabe or Brissette, Michael Wilson Stack this week? Oh, man, I think Shakalava in.

[Matthew Berry]

Tennessee. I think. I think so too. I mean, Arizona's at Cincinnati, so I mean, like, that's pretty tempting. But you assume Marvin Harrison Jr.

[Jay]

Is back just out there running the routes, frame McDonald's getting in the way of Michael.

[Matthew Berry]

Wilson. Boy, I don't.

[Jay]

Know. It's not an easy one. Good question.

[Matthew Berry]

Ryan. Yeah, it is a good question. I think I would. I'm going to take. I'm going to take the Arizona stack. Arizona, Cincinnati. That's a 53 and a half. Is the over under there. The Tennessee, New Orleans total is 39.5. So just give me a. Give me a game with what we expect to be much higher.

[Connor]

Scoring. Yeah, I'd certainly say if you're an underdog in your matchup and you need to shoot for higher upside, I think Brissette and Wilson probably have that because as good as Shock has been, he hasn't been that statistically prolific like he has, I think seven passing touchdowns on the season. Like he's. I think he's looked better than the numbers.

[Jay]

Say. I would agree with that.

[Connor]

Yeah. So, yeah, more upside in Brissette and.

[Jay]

Wilson. All right. The deeper league targets at quarterback. Obviously a lot of injury contingent names here. Marcus Mariota on Thursday night on Christmas against the Cowboys, J.J. mcCarthy, if he plays, is on this list, but obviously that's up in the air. Malik Willis, same with him. Dealing with a shoulder.

[Matthew Berry]

Injury. Yeah, I mean, all these are injury contingent, right. Mario is dealing with a hand, but it's a good match against Dallas's 11 of the 15 quarterbacks to face the Cowboys this year have scored at least 23 fantasy points as well. We don't know if Jordan Love's going to clear concussion protocol. Malik Willis is dealing with an injury as well. But in the two starts the Malik Willis had last year with Green bay average over 19 fantasy points per game. So if Love doesn't clear it and Willis does get to start, you like his options.

[Connor]

Again.

[Matthew Berry]

He. He runs Quite a bit. And you know McCarthy, it's a good match against the Lions, who just gave up almost 500 total yards to the Steelers offense since week 10. They're the worst pass defense in the NFL.

[Connor]

Detroit.

[Matthew Berry]

Yep. Seems like the roar has not been.

[Connor]

Restored. No, it hasn't. The roar has dissipated. J.J. mcCarthy didn't practice yesterday, but the line has been hovering around five and a half. Detroit favored, which implies that the market has some degree of confidence. I think that McCarthy will go. Nothing is broken in his hand, but still, like the video reaction on the sideline when they tested his hand out, it's not great. So I'm not sure what's going on there. The Vikings, they still have pride to play for and it's a divisional matchup and it's, you know, an island game and they'll. They'll obviously do their best to win the game, but you wouldn't think they'd be risking J.J. mcCarthy if there's anything.

[Matthew Berry]

Wrong.

[Jay]

No. And obviously you're not going to be looking to stream Max Brosmer in that situation if he's not a go. Let's go to running backs here. Michael Carter tops the list. Listen, it's that time of year.

[Matthew Berry]

But we don't know about. You know, you said Tyler Huntley, too. We don't know the status of Lamar Jackson. It's weird the amount of quarterbacks that are injured heading into. Heading into championship week.

[Connor]

Right. You know, I mean, very strange game. Packers, Ravens, because there's like, there's a lot on the line there. Like the Ravens get eliminated, their season's over. If they lose, the packers can miss the playoffs or win the division still, so. And Malik Willis with the shoulder, which didn't look good. And the early reporting out of Green bay, what Matt LaFleur was saying, not super optimistic there. So could be Clayton Toon against Tyler Huntley with real things on the.

[Matthew Berry]

Line. Yes. But, yeah, fascinating.

[Connor]

Game.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah. A game that you should tune.

[Connor]

Into.

[Matthew Berry]

Absolutely. Ravens.

[Jay]

Packers. All right, let's get to the running backs here. Michael Carter, 58% available. This is really just volume based. If you're desperate for a guy with some volume, he's got the Bengals, though, Matthew, that's the point. Which makes him potentially actually viable this.

[Matthew Berry]

Week. No team has allowed more fantasy points to opposing running backs than the Cincinnati Bengals. They're giving up over 30 a game. They are. And so over the last two weeks, Michael Carter, you mentioned volume. 29 touches for him, 67% of the snaps over the last two weeks. That leads the Cardinals backfield. So if you are starting a Arizona running back, Michael Carter is the guy you want and he tops the list of available running backs. You might need one. We don't know the status of Treveon Henderson as of this. As of this date. And so there's a. Josh Jacobs is also potentially banged up as well. So you see there on your screen, Bengals, not only do they allow the most fantasy points to oppose the running backs, but significantly more than number two Arizona, four points a game.

[Connor]

More. Okay, armchair QB 23, 23 need a possible tray beyond a replacement C Rod Dylan Sampson, Taj Speers or Michael Carter. If Traven Henderson cannot go with the concussion PPR championship matchup. I think it's Michael.

[Matthew Berry]

Carter. Yeah, I would agree that with that as well. You know, Chris Rodriguez again, he actually got a little bit banged up as well. But like it's like he's 40 yards and you're hoping he falls in the end zone. Dylan Sampson feels like and we're going to get to, we're going to get to this in a while, but let's like between Sampson, Raheem Sanders, Travion Williams, this feels like it's a little bit of a committee there in Cleveland. Maybe one guy emerges but you know, for championship week, like that feels a little bit too cute. I just feel like Michael Carter is the guy that you feel best about his role and matchup of the options you just.

[Jay]

Mentioned. All right, let's get to. We got a comment here. Let's roll that in. I'm being told. All right, we can keep going. Oh, a full screen comment. You don't get a lot of those. Aloha.

[Matthew Berry]

Bricks. Do you guys know Mele Kalika.

[Jay]

Mama? There we go.

[Matthew Berry]

Maca. Mele Kalika.

[Jay]

Mama. I'm glad you tried it.

[Matthew Berry]

First. Mele Kalika Maca is how you pronounce.

[Jay]

It. I believe it's in a song, isn't.

[Matthew Berry]

It?

[Jay]

Yeah. Yes. To everybody in the chat, the producers and staff. This show has been great for all of us and I'm so grateful for you all sending much aloha to every single one of you and your ohana. Same to you. Aloha bricks. Very wholesome comment. We truly appreciate you and all the regulars that tune in every day interactive in the chat. It really makes the.

[Matthew Berry]

Show. It really.

[Jay]

Does. Honestly, I've had more fun this year just the interaction with the chat than I ever had because the community in the show has really been able to. We just laugh more at everything that we get to show during and answer some questions as well. Hopefully get a little fantasy advice on the.

[Matthew Berry]

Way. Could not, could not agree more. It's been my favorite year of the show as well. So, like the regulars have been. Been phenomenal. So thank you. Aloha Bricks. The right. Right back at you and everyone and the regulars. Be interesting to see if. If that sucking up from Aloha Bricks gets him to number one. It's a power move in the ratings. It's a power move. I like it because. But by the way. But again, so we're not going to do a show tomorrow or Thursday, but we will do on Friday, so there's still chance for other regulars to get your sucking up comments and to see if you can top Aloha Bricks in the power.

[Connor]

Rankings. That was like Week 17, Lamar Jackson, when he put up the five touchdowns against the Dolphins to secure MVP back in 2023. It's been a powerful statement of intent from Aloha Bricks.

[Jay]

Rhinos. While Barry can pronounce that but struggled with Manangai for so.

[Matthew Berry]

Long. I don't know what to tell you.

[Jay]

Yeah. To be fair, you didn't pronounce it.

[Matthew Berry]

Right. Yeah, I didn't mangai. I got it. I got a. I was. I got on the second try and I got better than you. Like.

[Jay]

You. Yeah, you did. That is. That's.

[Matthew Berry]

Fair. Yeah, it's in a. It's in a Buffett song that. So that's how I know.

[Jay]

That.

[Connor]

Okay. I thought you were.

[Matthew Berry]

Cheating. Yeah, no, I just. I've heard.

[Jay]

Of. You were very eager to read it. I noticed you're like, I've seen this.

[Connor]

Before. I've heard this.

[Matthew Berry]

Before. I'm like, this is my time. What was.

[Connor]

Buoyed.

[Jay]

Yeah.

[Matthew Berry]

Boyo'd. Boyoid.

[Jay]

Boyo. I think that's one of my top five favorite memories of the.

[Connor]

Season. No, it's my least.

[Jay]

Favorite. Jay's.

[Connor]

Face. Jay looked like he.

[Jay]

Like. There was like an alarm going off in the building. We had to get out of.

[Connor]

Here. I was terrified. No one's butchered the English language like that. Now. My favorite one, Matthew, though, is because Matthew's very confident with his pronunciation of Dare Ogumbawale. So whenever he pops up, you are. You're very good at that. Jumps at the opportunity to say all those easy elongated vowel.

[Matthew Berry]

Sounds. Oh, yeah. Once I learn. I mean, I say manungai all the time now. Tangabayaloa. Ogumbuwala. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Once I learn a name, then I'm like super confident because everyone knows English is my Second language. All right, let's move.

[Jay]

On. I'm better at it. Blake Corum, 59% available. We talk about Blake Corum every single week at this point. Now the point is he's got.

[Matthew Berry]

The Hunter Henry of running.

[Jay]

Back. That's exactly right. The crazy thing is the volume is consistently there now for Blake Corum, especially in a flex spot despite Kyron Williams being on this team. Matthew, he's got Atlanta and Arizona to close out the season as the Rams buy for the number one.

[Matthew Berry]

Seed. It's shocking, but though since week 13, he's the ninth best running back in fantasy football. Porter. Straight games with at least 13 fantasy points. It's oddly Dr. By the touchdowns. But they, they trust him in.

[Jay]

Close.

[Matthew Berry]

Right. Since week seven, he's averaging over 11 touches a game and so five different. So if you're telling me just a guy that on an offense that's really good, that's always going to be in scoring position with a coach that trusts him and he's getting, you know, 11 to 13 touches a game. He is very flex worthy. He is. He's a rich man's Tyler Algier. Just because I think the Rams offense is better than the Falcons. Speaking of the Falcons, that's who they play this week. That's the Monday night game. And the Falcons don't really have anything to play for. The Rams I think potentially obviously do. They're still playing for the division and so I think Corum has a potentially really good opportunity here against a Falcons team that is not great against the.

[Connor]

Run. Yeah. Corum v Algier. The best Face off situation we have since Cage and Travolta went head to head in 1997 with John Wood directing some great action sequences in that one. The good thing.

[Matthew Berry]

With. I still don't understand it. Whose face was on whose. Because they switch faces in Face off, don't.

[Connor]

They? Yeah. So each person's face is on the other person's.

[Matthew Berry]

Face. I know, but it was hard to keep track of. Wait, wait, is this John.

[Connor]

Travolta? John Travolta goes undercover as Nick Cage and then Nick Cage gets kind of escapes and then he kind of steals Travolta's leftover face. This can't be the most ridiculous thing in the.

[Jay]

World. It cannot be.

[Matthew Berry]

Good.

[Connor]

No. My favorite part, my favorite part of the whole movie though.

[Matthew Berry]

Is. But it is. I remember watching going like, what the hell is.

[Connor]

This? The best part of the whole movie though is when Travolta, who is Caged now but Travolta goes home to see his wife and the wife is like immediately suspicious. It's like no one would ever be suspicious. If I walk into the house, my wife's fear is going to think that it's me. She's immediately like unique. Cage in disguise. It's so.

[Matthew Berry]

Ridiculous. Yeah. There are some unbelievable accidents to sequence in though. You know, John Woo always brings the action. Yeah, he.

[Connor]

Does. When they're shooting each other through the mirrors. That's the.

[Matthew Berry]

Best.

[Connor]

Yeah. Because he was shooting it.

[Matthew Berry]

Yourself. Yeah. It's hard to follow though. Don't watch it stoned or do watch it stoned and it'll be.

[Jay]

Fine. Help you lock in Emmanuel Wilson, our next running back. 63% available. This is a weird one. Josh Jacobs, he didn't play after he fumbled. Besides the onsides kick, I believe, which is even more strange as you look at the snap rates.

[Matthew Berry]

Here. The packers claim that the reason he didn't come back in the game was because of the fumble, not because the knee was swelling.

[Connor]

Up. But. No, not buying that.

[Jay]

No. I'm sorry, I'm trying that extremely hard to.

[Matthew Berry]

Buy. I mean he's Josh Akin. He's one of the best running backs in the NFL. You're not going to be like, yeah, sorry, you got to learn your lesson. It's like year eight, right? Exactly. You're eight in the NFL. You've won the FedEx rushing title like a couple of different years. Like.

[Jay]

Yeah. Paid you a ton of money. Yeah.

[Connor]

Yeah. Christian McCaffrey. You false dotted, you're out for the.

[Matthew Berry]

Guy. What are you doing? Stop it. So anyway, we'll see if he. But it's just very important to pick up Emmanuel Olson. Even if you don't need a running back, you know you want to. Sometimes the best offense is a good defense. I have no problem picking up somebody this week. See who your opponent might need and pick up those players. Just stash them on your bench. You got, you got no need right there as well. But to Emmanuel Wilson, who in his start, you know the one start he got this year that Jacobs was out, you know, got like 30 touches. I mean, you know, he's shown that he can be an every down running back in the NFL when he gets an opportunity. You don't love the matchup with Baltimore, but you're not super scared of it.

[Connor]

Either. No. Particularly if Lamar can't go. Like right now the packers are two and a half point favorite. So you suspect the game script shouldn't get out of hand. Particularly if it is Snoop Huntley. And the other thing, too, is that the packers, they don't absolutely need this game. If they beat the vikings in week 18, they will clinch a playoff spot. So particularly like if Jordan Love can't go, maybe they put more of their eggs in the week 18 basket and just save Jacobs for that. Knowing that, you know, they can win this game against Baltimore regardless. So I wouldn't expect. Even if Jacobs does go, I still think that Emmanuel Wilson can get the lion's share of the.

[Jay]

Snaps. Our last one, guys. Good luck sorting through this. The Browns backfield since Quinn, Sean Judkins got hurt, you have Dylan Samp, 89% available, who's missed some time with a hand injury. Raheem Sanders, the rookie Rocket. Raheem.

[Connor]

Sanders.

[Jay]

Yep. Matthew's old nickname. And then Trayvon Williams just finds a way back onto this show at some point every year. It's right. I mean, I was like, man, we haven't talked about Trayvon Williams all year. Well, there he is. It's time. Championship.

[Matthew Berry]

Weekend. It is. I mean, you're on your own again. I feel like if Sampson is healthy, he's missed the last two games with that hand injury. But if Sampson's willing to go, he's the one because we've at least seen some consistency and use. You know, he was good at the beginning of the year when Judkins was. Was not with the team and he can catch passes as well. But otherwise you're. Unless we get some clarity between and hopefully we'll get some news between now and like, again, we're going to do a show Friday, so you'll be able to talk about that. But I think I would probably rank them. Sampson, Sanders and then Williams. That's how I'd rank them because I think Sanders has. If Sampson feels to me like if he's healthy, he can be the guy that can get the most work. And then after that, Sanders feels like the guy that's got the better chance at a touchdown. And then, you know, Trayvon Williams, whatever, you know, he'll catch some pass after. After Judgins went on, he had a 25% target share. I mean, they were throwing it to.

[Jay]

Him. This is actually a good scenario for you. You are playing for a championship. You might need to pick up some sort of running.

[Connor]

Back. Yeah, I want to $98 left my fab.

[Jay]

Budget. Our league is typically.

[Connor]

Shallow.

[Jay]

Yeah. On the waivers. What is your. Do you like? This is a real desperation spot, but there might be some usage in this.

[Connor]

Backfield. Yeah. Judkins yeah, I've jumped. So Juggins is out and the backup options on my bench like Cooper cup and Theo Johnson. Theo Johnson might be more appealing than any other non Dylan Sampson options here, but Sampson is the. The play here and the guy that you want. Certainly. And also this game, this would be a very steel Z game to lose. Like the steals are only 4 point favorites in Cleveland. Tough divisional matchup. Late defense, Aaron Rodgers not really able to move.

[Matthew Berry]

Around. December games in Cleveland are.

[Connor]

Brutal. It would be very on brand for the.

[Jay]

Steelers. Buffalo. Yeah, it was a weird game. Yeah, it wasn't comfortable for the Bills. Josh Allen didn't have a good fantasy.

[Connor]

Day. Yeah, Browns have a very good defense still. They've kind of fallen off a little bit. I think they're still fourth in EPA for the season. But yeah, I think this game is going to be close and ugly and there will be enough game script for a Cleveland running back to be useful. And Sampson is the guy that you want?

[Jay]

Certainly. All right, we got a question here. This one from Rob, is that.

[Matthew Berry]

Born under a bad.

[Connor]

Sign? I don't know where you got.

[Jay]

Rob. I don't know either. I mean, I'm looking over the table at the tiniest font in the world, but he's asking Michael Carter. Kyle Menungai or Dylan.

[Connor]

Sampson? Michael.

[Matthew Berry]

Carter. Yeah, I think it's. It's definitely between. I don't think it's Samson. It's definitely between Carter or Monongai. I'm lean Monongai Manon guy. I feel you got Arizona against Cincinnati, so just match up there. I might. I might do that as well. I mean, you know, Chicago's at San Francisco. Their defense did. Their defense isn't great, but San Francisco's. I would play.

[Jay]

Carter. It depends what you need. Right. Once again, if you just really got to hope one of these guys scores, I'd start.

[Matthew Berry]

Manongai. Yeah, but it's.

[Connor]

Not. San Francisco's run defense last night was very good against Jonathan Taylor, but I think that was largely because the Colts had a quarterback in shotgun 95 of the time or 91 or whatever it was. So I do think that the Niners run defense, which for the most part has been very poor this year, is probably going to get run on by the Bears. On the other hand, I don't think the Bears have any chance of stopping this Niners offense either. I think it's going to be a shootout. So that might be one mark against Monongo, but regardless. And these two are pretty.

[Matthew Berry]

Close. Yeah, I don't know. I Think I'd just rather go against Cincinnati. Like, I mean they're both, they're both somewhat in committee. I think Mananguy is actually the.

[Jay]

Better player total in the Cincinnati game. It's gotta.

[Matthew Berry]

Be. It's.

[Jay]

53.5.

[Matthew Berry]

Wow. It's 53 and a half points.

[Connor]

Yeah. 51 and a half though. San Francisco, Chicago. Yeah, sure. I think the Niners might, if Kittle's healthy, the Niners might have the best offense in the league right.

[Jay]

Now. Schematically, it looks that.

[Matthew Berry]

Way. They look, sure, they looked awesome. We'll talk more about the Niners offense in the next segment. But just some other, you know, deeper league guys here. Chris Rodriguez we've talked about a zillion times, but double digit touches in five of the past six games, he scored in four of those. Tasha Spears had 18 touches last week and 18.5% target share. Those were both season highs. Jordan, we don't know what's going on with Woody Marks yet, but last week Jordan out touched Nick Chubb, 27, had a 15% target share. If Marks can't go, you prefer Jordan to Chubb. And then finally Audrey estimate. Look, I mean, it wasn't, it was really more concerns about Taysom Hill than it was Evan Hall. He, he out, out snapped Evan Hull 44 to 16. Problem was he only saw eight touches, but he was out there. Like, if you're starting a Saints running back, Aldric estimate is who you want. I just don't know that you want a Saints running back because it feels like Taysom Hill is the guy that's gonna, you know, do the running.

[Jay]

For him even though he got plenty of.

[Matthew Berry]

Work.

[Jay]

Yeah. All right, let's move over to wide receivers. And before we get to who you need to pick up, we have to discuss who you might be missing. Now, DK Metcalf hasn't exactly been a fantasy powerhouse this year, but this is still extremely relevant. He's been suspended two games. This is from Tom Pelissero. The NFL is suspending Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf two games without pay for physically confronting alliance fan during Sunday's win at Detroit. Per sources, Metcalf, who had reported the same fan to security last season, plans to appeal. So. And there's a bigger update on NFL policy and players technically entering the stands or confronting fans. So I don't know how this appeal is going to go for Metcalf because in the NFL policy, we don't know what happened between them and we're not going to pretend to, but what we saw on camera. It's going to be tough, I think, to win the appeal. Unless there's an angle we don't.

[Matthew Berry]

Have. The only thing it just depends on if they do an expedited appeal or not. Because there's a. There's a scenario where in essence like that he is going to. He will serve the suspension, but maybe that happens next.

[Jay]

Year.

[Matthew Berry]

Right. Like does. Does the appeal process take long enough that he can continue to play while. While the appeal process goes on? I think it's interesting that he did report the fan. Like this is not the first time they've had an interaction. I guess like there was. There's some sort of.

[Connor]

Relationship. You know, if he knowledge if he can't go. There's not really a super attractive option for the Steelers. It's such a run heavy attack. So tight end base and tight. It's spread out to different tight ends as.

[Matthew Berry]

Well.

[Connor]

Yeah. So I don't think there's a.

[Matthew Berry]

Market. I can't imagine where you're just like, yes, Calvin Austin or you know, whatever. I mean. Right. I mean.

[Connor]

Just. No one's ever said.

[Jay]

Those. Adam.

[Matthew Berry]

Thielen. Yeah, I mean.

[Jay]

Adam. Or they signed Alan Lazard off the street this week, which is. There's a non zero on that, by the way. While we were doing the show, Tom Pelissero has tweeted out a video. He reposted a video that. It's like the aftermath of the.

[Matthew Berry]

Fan.

[Jay]

Yeah. And it says as DK Metcalf awaits his appeal hearing on his two game suspension, a video of the aftermath of his altercation with the fan. The fan who shouts as he returns to his seat. That was the goal.

[Matthew Berry]

Folks. So the fan said that's the goal. That was.

[Jay]

Like. He came back to his seat and was like, that was the goal. Like he was. No matter what happened, he was like, there's. Yeah. Something deeper here. Ignite the, you know, the.

[Matthew Berry]

Confrontation. God, man. People are weird.

[Jay]

Yeah. That's a strange behavior at a professional sporting.

[Matthew Berry]

Event.

[Jay]

Yeah. Like that's what you, you paid for a lower tier ticket and that's.

[Matthew Berry]

Your whole goal is just to try to get. Get DK Metcalf all riled up.

[Connor]

To take a long walk. The glass of.

[Jay]

Water sports might not.

[Connor]

Be.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah. People are, people are super, super weird. Either way. Point is we don't think there's any fantasy. Like I don't think you were starting Kenneth Gainwell, Jalen Warren, that's who you're starting for the Steelers, you know, and if DK can go and we'll, we'll know between now and Sunday. Then you can, you can go ahead and start him in this game that the. The Steelers are playing against. Why am I blanking? Who they're the Cleveland. The Browns. Damn.

[Jay]

Right. A more important bit of news or question from Jay Woogie. Jay Woogie asks, does Happy hour do a fant award show to wrap up the.

[Matthew Berry]

Year? Yes, we.

[Jay]

Do. Yes, we do. The.

[Matthew Berry]

Peacockies. Yes. The most prestigious award show of all the made up ones. The Peacockies.

[Connor]

Yeah. Rivals the.

[Matthew Berry]

Baftas. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Also another made up award.

[Jay]

Show. There's no red carpet for us, but maybe there will be this.

[Connor]

Year. Oh.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah. Maybe we could do. Yeah, red.

[Jay]

Carpet. Our staff is in the control room now. Like, please God, do not make us do a red.

[Matthew Berry]

Carpet. Should we do the awarded show at the Jaguars bar in New York.

[Jay]

City? That's very.

[Matthew Berry]

Fitting. Yeah. Yeah. That's what we should do anyway. Yes. The Peacockies are coming with all sorts of awards and lots of peacocks.

[Jay]

Yeah. All right, let's get into the wide receivers. You might need to pick up Troy Franklin right on the fringe of our threshold. He's 49% available. Check your waivers. He had five targets, caught four of them for 66 last week. And obviously we're talking about Troy Franklin because of the role he might have to play with Pat Bryant in concussion protocol here.

[Matthew Berry]

Matthew. Yeah. And they're playing the Chiefs, obviously on a short week. This is one of the Christmas Day games since Week 10. The Chiefs allow the six most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. And when Troy Franklin gets some looks, he's had the games in which he's seen at least six targets. He's averaging over 15 fantasy points per game. So potentially some more looks in a good matchup. A game that Denver needs to win, you know, and the Chiefs most certainly do.

[Connor]

Not. Yeah, the.

[Matthew Berry]

Broncos. The Chiefs are going to roll out.

[Jay]

The.

[Connor]

There. The.

[Jay]

Broncos. The Chiefs know what they're going to roll out.

[Matthew Berry]

There.

[Connor]

Yeah. The Broncos are 13 point favorites on the road in our head. So not be enough. Yeah. So right now, at least according to the market, the two worst teams in football, and it's here by themselves, Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets. Yeah. And it's a debate as to who would be favored on neutral between those two teams. Chiefs play the Raiders in Week 18 and an absolute blockbuster as well, by the way. But favorable matchup. The only issue is that both Knicks may not need to throw the ball much in this.

[Matthew Berry]

One.

[Connor]

Yeah. Although to be Fair when they played the Chiefs in another kind of fake late season game last year where they beat Carlson went like 27 nothing or whatever. Bernie's had quite a good day. So they need to win this.

[Matthew Berry]

Game. The Broncos, they do need to win this game. I actually am not concerned about that. I agree with you. They probably won't need to quote throw a lot because I think the defense will control whatever offense it is that Kansas City is going to have to roll out there and they'll be able to move the ball. Here's the thing though. Sean Payton is one of the most effort I'm running up the score kind of coaches in the NFL and and also I just think that like it's been an up and down year for Bo Nix and so if he can let him get some confidence let him have a four touchdown game, you know kind of just get him going before the playoffs. I think I could see Sean Payton doing.

[Connor]

That. Yeah. They need to also just wash out the sour tastes of that Jags game which was an absolute mess. Like they were three and a half point favorites in that game and they got absolutely stomped at home. They're right now they're like the least vibey 12 and 3 team in NFL history. So I think that yeah to get Bonix's confidence back because he looked completely rattled by the end of that.

[Jay]

One. Our other wide receiver guys is Parker Washington. We've been talking about him all year. Matthew, I know you Love this player. 77 available still Jay. He's got the Colts on deck and the target share that has gone Parker Washington's way might be a surprise to many people but it feels like he's here to stay right now.

[Connor]

Now. Absolutely. The thing is you just want shares of this Jags.

[Jay]

Off.

[Connor]

Yes. Like with the level that Trevor Lawrence is playing at the best level of his career. The fact as well that you know it is it's spread out but it's a high volume passing attack between Washington BTJ and Jacoby Myers. And as we look here next gen stats. Parker Washington gained 90 of his 145 receiving yards against the Broncos after the catch. Washington's plus 70 Yak over expected the most by any player player in a single game this season and the most by any Jags pass catcher since at least 2016. Hashtag jax versus then hashtag duval park was I mean one of those is a terrible missed tackle on the right sideline. But you know Parker Washington I think that this is very.

[Matthew Berry]

Real. Yeah. I mean and clearly has the trust of Trevor Lawrence, I mean they like him. They like him.

[Connor]

There. And they're also about to play the Colts past defense that Brock Purdy just threw five touchdowns. He technically six touchdowns because they didn't challenge the play Tonjas in the end.

[Matthew Berry]

Zone. This is correct. 80% of his targets last week. By the way, Parker Washington came in the slot. Colts allow the second most. Your Colts allow the second most yards to the slot so far this.

[Jay]

Year. Buffgamer asks, can you guys help me with my final flex spot for the championship? Start one ppr. Kyle Manungai, Emeka Buka. Parker.

[Matthew Berry]

Washington. I think it's Parker.

[Connor]

Washington. Parker Washington.

[Matthew Berry]

Omanonga. Assuming it's a full PPR league. I think it's.

[Jay]

Ppr.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah. Parker.

[Connor]

Washington. Yep. Parker.

[Jay]

Washington. Buff gamer. Good luck in your fantasy.

[Matthew Berry]

Championship. Good.

[Jay]

Luck. Let's take a look at the deeper league targets. Jaden Reed against Baltimore. That's a Saturday game. Keep in mind for your.

[Matthew Berry]

Lineups. Of.

[Jay]

Course. We'll be back Friday though to remind you of that 50% available. Luther Burden. That's Sunday night football against the Niners secondary that does have some.

[Matthew Berry]

Problems. Yeah, he didn't play last week but the week before week 14, 23% target share. He's been averaging over 12 fantasy points a game since week 14. How about your guy Nye.

[Jay]

Mitchell? Yeah. You're only playing him if Tyrod plays this week. I don't know if you could start him with Brady Cook but keep an eye on that one. I mean that might be a situation where the jets, who are two touchdown underdogs are getting blown out so bad you get some chunk time.

[Matthew Berry]

Points. Matt Collins, he's got every single game he's played with his Jets. He's out of.

[Connor]

These. Come.

[Jay]

Back. Not now.

[Matthew Berry]

We're. I don't know what just happened there. Just something in my throat. Six targets. He's Adonai. Mitchell's had at least six targets for every game he's played with the Jets. That was.

[Jay]

Weird.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah. Sorry. You'll be.

[Connor]

Back. You got two days to recover. It's like an extended wake. It's like the ante of.

[Matthew Berry]

What? I. I talk too much. That's the problem. That's what that.

[Jay]

Is. But what's amazing is you sound completely normal once you reset like most people, they have to like build back.

[Connor]

Up.

[Jay]

Up. You go from zero voice to like 10 out of 10. Matthew.

[Matthew Berry]

Barry. Yeah, I. I don't know. I don't know. That's what I'm saying. It was weird. Well, it's because I Was talking all of a sudden, like, there was, like.

[Connor]

A. It's because your essence subsists on diet soda and chicken tenders. This is a.

[Matthew Berry]

Byproduct.

[Connor]

Yeah. Strange things.

[Matthew Berry]

Happen. Yeah. Stuntman Chuck Cat buried some robotas in something. Man, I'm. Yeah, I don't know. I don't feel sick, but obviously that maybe there's something going on with my throat. Sorry, Jay. No making out.

[Connor]

Today.

[Jay]

Yeah. All right, tight.

[Matthew Berry]

Ends. Our Christmas tradition. But we'll. We'll do.

[Connor]

It. Got my Covid shot. A couple days. Just a go. Just in case.

[Matthew Berry]

It's. Yeah. I tested negative for covet. Officially. Like, I definitely did. I promise you. I showed you guys the. I texted you.

[Connor]

Guys. Yeah.

[Jay]

Like. Like when somebody's.

[Connor]

Out. Grade.

[Jay]

Six. I can't come to school today. Doctor won't let me. Yeah, that was.

[Matthew Berry]

Good. Well, I wanted people to know that, like, you know. You know, I didn't want people to worry that I'd shown up with.

[Jay]

It. You know, the excuse there with paperwork is like, that's. That's some unmatched.

[Connor]

Stuff.

[Jay]

Paperwork. A quick mention on tight ends, because these guys don't meet our threshold. They're slightly over 50% roster. Dalton Schultz and Bren Strange is who you want to check for in your league. You never know, obviously. Taysum Hill, though, is somehow our tight end. On waivers this week. He's 99% available. They do play the Titans. Taysum Hill against the jets, threw a touchdown, a long touchdown. He had 12 carries. So we spent the week talking about Audrey Guestimate. Taysom Hill gets a ton of rushing work. He had six targets. Yeah, as well. Just a ridiculous day, production wise across the board from Taysom Hill we got to hear from on his potentially last Superdome game. Some emotion here for the Saints utility.

[Connor]

Man. Yeah, I didn't really feel any.

[Matthew Berry]

Type of way this morning, but as I was driving the stadium today, you know, you start to. You start to think about the last nine years and what it's meant to me and my family and the city and.

[Connor]

Stuff.

[Matthew Berry]

So I think for me personally, you just try to take it all in. You.

[Connor]

Know, we had a great.

[Matthew Berry]

Experience here tonight, and I don't know what the future holds for me, but it was a. It was a special day. There you.

[Jay]

Go. Two things here for me. One, congrats to Taysom Hill on a very unique NFL.

[Matthew Berry]

Career. No.

[Jay]

Doubt. I mean, no doubt. Kind of an underdog as a prospect. Played every role they ever asked of him. Wide receiver, running back, quarterback. The second thing is because this is the conversation about Taysom Hill and fantasy this week. This isn't probably, I wouldn't expect this next week. It was a, it was like a senior night of a varsity football game where at the end they're like, go out there and throw a long touchdown when the jets are expecting you to run out the clock. And I mean, he'll get carries. Yeah, plenty of carries. But the, the passing production obviously inflated this.

[Matthew Berry]

Performance. Specifically 48% of the team rushes. Last week he got seven more carries than any other Saints player. So you could see him doing that. But I agree with you this, I mean, and we've seen this before, you know, Taysum Hill is one of the more point Chasey players in fantasy football history and lots of controversy around his whether he was a tight end, whether he was a quarterback, etc. Etc. But if you're desperate, I guess not for running back, but at tight end, you know, if you're in, this is what I would say. If you're, if, if, if like Strange and Schultz are not available and you're basically looking around for a touchdown dependent tight end because that's kind of what you're sifting through. Who has a better chance at a touchdown than Taysom Hill, who, you know, they use in a lot of variety of ways. So I do think, you know, from that standpoint, I agree with you. I would not expect this kind of production. But again, if you're just like, you know, I'm sifting through all these crappy tight ends and I'm just hoping one of them scores a touchdown. Taysom Hill probably has a better chance of scoring a touchdown than most of the other guys that are out.

[Jay]

There. All right, let's look at some deeper league targets at tight end Jay here as we kind of headline the list with Colston Loveland on Sunday Night Football. 57% of available, so you got to check for that.

[Connor]

One. Yep. Favorable matchup against the Niners. We saw Tyler Warren get a ton of targets last night, even if he didn't do a ton with them. Jake Tonjas as well against the Bears. George Kittle in some doubt there. So if Kittle can't go, then Tonjas becomes very appealing. And then A.J. barna against Carolina. A.J. barna has had at least an 18% target share in three of his past four.

[Matthew Berry]

Games. Yeah, he's, he's connected with Sam Darnold a few times and you know, coming up, the nice game last week as well. There we go. It is Festivus time. It is. It is Festivus it is time once again for the the airing of.

[Connor]

Grievances. Jay yes, the airing of grievances. What have you.

[Jay]

Got? Connor I got some problems with you people and what I mean by you people is some of our co workers here in the show. Jay we had a chance for absolute greatness this year and what I mean by greatness was we were all playing to make sure one thing Matthew does not three peat as the fantasy football champion in our league. And then the attention turned all of a sudden the attention turned From Forget Matthew 3 peating. Can Matthew have a winless season? He started off 07 and all of a sudden producer Adam stupid dev J U by 2 points. Let him go on this winning streak. Steven gets blown out almost by Matthew Rotopat loses by double digit points and then backup producer Pete gets smashed by 31 points. Let's give Matthew new life and new hope. We had it all there for us. We had it all to have Matthew have a winless season. Instead you gave him new life, new hope and I'm so disgusted with all of you in our league. We'll recap Monday Night Football after.

[Connor]

This.

[Matthew Berry]

Unbelievable.

[Connor]

Yeah, Lets jump to the biggest disappointment for May Matthew in the NFL. I think it's Ashton Genty because he's drafted as effectively the first round and now we're talking about benching in for Michael.

[Matthew Berry]

Carter. Yeah I think that's a great call. Just to give a different name here I'll say Justin Jefferson who's been pretty healthy this year but just they can't get him the ball like again Justin Jefferson is being benched in the fantasy playoffs. He's one of the best wide.

[Connor]

Receivers Joe in the Premier League. Biggest disappointment for you Some big names unfortunately mate. I think Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool superstar obviously was the best player in the league last season but has not been himself for Liverpool this season a big part of their struggles. The defending champs have got it together a little bit but that's mostly without Salah obviously he's been left out the team in recent.

[Jay]

Weeks. The Premier League is in a huge stretch this holiday season with the biggest names in the game playing 40 matches in 16 days. Tune in to NBC and Peacock to catch all the action and set your fantasy football lineups accordingly. For a chance to win a jersey off our wall send us your fantasy pl line lineups using the hashtag ffhh. Follow our resident soccer expert Joe Prince Wright for the latest Premier League news and.

[Connor]

Updates. Yes, you can see our autographed Newcastle jersey. Nice one Of Matthew's favorites, Nick Volta. Mada is on.

[Jay]

There. He talks about him all the.

[Connor]

Time. God, Bruno Guimaras. He's the best big names. One of the big names for the Magpies. The England's Magpies, unlike the Collingwood.

[Jay]

Magpies. From Premier League football to Monday Night Football ball, a fantasy bonanza between the 49ers and Colts headlined by Brock Purdy's performance through the air. Jay, is he back to being locked in as a top 10 quarterback or is he starting to just kind of feast on the bottom feeders of the.

[Connor]

NFL? No, it's Broxember Connor. It is very much Brock Samba. He was magnificent last night. The interception wasn't even his fault. I don't think he put up 30.9 fantasy points outdone by Christian McCaffrey. That's the best the Niners have looked on the ground for quite some time. But yeah, I think that this Niners offense, now that it is healthy, assuming George Kittle can go on Sunday night against the Bears, this offense has a case to be the best in football. Like it's just. This is the. I think the sneaky thing about this offense is that this is the best offensive line that Purdy has played behind. He's never had time like this. Even when he was MVP favorite back in 2023, he had below average pass blocking. He was still having to scramble a lot. If Brock Purdy has time with these weapons, he will dice you up. Colts did not have a chance last night against that offense. So I think you want shares of this offense. I think Juwan Jennings becomes a lot more interesting and Purdy is must start.

[Matthew Berry]

Everywhere. Also feels like it's the healthiest all the guys around have been because there have been years where it's like he didn't have McCaffrey or didn't have Kittle. He didn't have, you know, Juwan Jennings hadn't come on like Ken Williams.

[Jay]

Banged up, whatever it may.

[Matthew Berry]

Be. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And so it's crazy to think how good they are. And they don't have Brandon. I. Yeah, right. They don't have Brandon Iuk or Debo.

[Jay]

Samuel. Yeah, nobody has Brandon.

[Matthew Berry]

Iuk. No, I understand.

[Jay]

That.

[Matthew Berry]

But. But no, I mean like you're absolutely right. This offense last year offense last.

[Connor]

Year, those are his two best wide receivers when they made the super bowl. They're both gone and they've been replaced. I mean Juwan Jennings has stepped up in his role, but you know, there's a lot of passes going to like Sky Moore And Kendrick Bourne. And this is. This feels like the kind of the pinnacle of Kyle Shanahan's achievement. Achievement. This has been his best.

[Matthew Berry]

Year. I mean Listen, Chris McCaffrey, awesome, amazing. Actually needed him to score one more touchdown.

[Jay]

Sadly.

[Connor]

Wow.

[Matthew Berry]

Greedy. Yeah, I know. But that was the money miracle I needed. STL, bird S23 or birds 23. I guess STL, birds 23. Purdy or Stafford St. Louis. Byrd. Yeah. He's a Cardinals fan obviously. So you know the Rams are on the road at Atlanta in the dome. That's the Monday night game next week. Whereas Brock Purdy is home versus Chicago. I think I'd say Stafford still. I don't know. I mean that's against Atlanta in a dome 49 and a.

[Jay]

Half. I'm going Stafford as.

[Matthew Berry]

Well. Yeah. So we think Stafford good product. It's very good problem to have. I don't think you could screw it up. I think both.

[Connor]

Guys. No Devante, probably, probably. But he was obviously able to do plenty without Devonte last.

[Jay]

Week. But 13 personnel.

[Connor]

Rams. Yeah. It's just that a lot of that was like insane hookah stuff going for 225 yards. It's probably less goal line touchdown equity for Stafford without Devonte. But it's okay. You guys keep doubting Brock. Simba, would you.

[Matthew Berry]

Go. You'd go with Brock against.

[Connor]

Chicago? I go Stafford.

[Matthew Berry]

Yeah. But I mean, listen, Brock's been terrific. I still think he's. I don't think he's a no brainer. You start no matter what. You don't look at the matchup because. But he's done what really good quarterbacks do, which is beat up on bad opponents. Like he's looked completely dialed into this offense. And, and I go back to Matt Ryan's MVP year in Atlanta when Kyle Shanahan was offense coordinator. And I remember Matt Ryan doing an interview where he was just like, yeah, it takes you a year. Like Shanahan's offense is super intense and intricate and it, it like Matt Ryan. Even somebody like Matt Ryan who played quarterback for years and years and years was. It's like it took me like a year, year and a half to feel really comfortable in that system. And maybe Brock Purdy is sort of hitting that, that moment now. He's, you know, he wasn't nearly the prospect that Matt Ryan was when he came to league. And so friend of the.

[Jay]

Show. Matt.

[Matthew Berry]

Ryan. Friend of the show Matt Ryan, radio row legend for personal friend of mine. Yes, that's right. No doubt. As well. But. But I still think he's a borderline QB one you know every week and with the potential to be mid tier to upper tier QB1 in the right matchup. So he's there Kittle doing kittle things. CMC's awesome. The other thing I think Juwan Jennings is finally becoming what we want him to be right? There was questions at the beginning of the year about he's holding out. Is he injured a little bit as well but finally healthy. Finally becoming the number one guy for Brock Purdy. He's now scored in four straight games, games six of his last seven since week nine. He's the 16th best wide receiver in fantasy football on the cold.

[Jay]

Side. More confidence for their pass catchers. Not a ton to take away but good to see Alec Pierce have a big.

[Connor]

Night. Downs Alex Pierce's fantastic career game there and goods the ability for Phil Rivers to push the ball down the field does make things a lot more viable. Tyler Warren as well. Still feel okay starting him next week a lot of times. Yeah, he was also like if Rivers steps into that throw where he's going out to the right, let's like a 30 yard touchdown and his day looks completely.

[Jay]

Different. NFL fans are getting an extra present this week in the form of more primetime football on Peacock. Check out the Ravens and Packers in a Peacock exclusive on Saturday night. Then wrap up the weekend with an NFC showdown between the bears and those 49ers in Northern.

[Connor]

California. Okay, gentlemen, my grievance. So I've been a die hard, hard lifelong Indianapolis Colts fan on and off since 2021, and in that time there have been two different occasions where the Colts have been a 98 chance to make the playoffs 2021 and this year they're going to miss the playoffs. Both of those years. The odds of that happening 1 in 2500. It's not real. It's completely it's ridiculous that this has happened. My grievance is with Football God. Why are you doing this? Football God. Why are you. You put a curse upon the shoe. Remove the curse from the shoe. Let the shoe be curseless. This is ridiculous. Let the Colts make the playoffs next year. Makes me very upset. We're going to go to break. When we come back, our favorite bets early week Lions and totals. Coming up.

[Jay]

Next, Giraffe Kings Sportsbook is an official sports betting partner of the NFL and new customers can bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets. If your bet wins, download the app and use promo code FFHH when you sign up. DraftKings Sportsbook Crown is yours Crown is yours. It's time for last call. Little early line alert for week 17. Lot of weird spreads as some teams have completely gone in the tank here.

[Connor]

Jay. Yeah, I'm taking the Raiders money line against the giants minus 120. This is what the founding fathers fought for. The Raiders are still, I think, trying and the Giants have completely given up. Jackson Dart barely throwing the ball forward. I think the Raiders win that.

[Jay]

Game. Give me the Saints minus two and a half over the Titans. Nice win for the Titans last week, but the Saints right now, I think they're the best bad team in football right now. I believe they were going to win out these last three. They only need to win by a field goal. Their offense is rolling. Their defense under Brendan Staley looks very, very good the last couple weeks here. So give me the Saints to cover a small, small line against.

[Matthew Berry]

Tennessee. All right, I'm going to. I'm going to air my grievances right now as well. I just. Look, I've been in this dynasty league for years and years and years and I have crushed every single year. 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 had a buy. And yet what happens? Jared Goff and I'm on Ross St. Brown. I lose my six.

[Connor]

Points.

[Matthew Berry]

Right? That play at the end, which should have been called a touchdown, that was a 12 point swing. I lose that, right? How about Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans? I have the that stack as well because it's a super flex league and they tried two different times with JC Horns all over Mike Evans and then Sean Tucker runs it in. Baker was bad. It's very, very frustrating about Colby Parkinson doing nothing on Thursday. Again, I lost by six points. All I need to do is catch something. Or how about this? How about the Patriots tackle Zay Flowers? How do you give up a rushing touchdown to Zay Flowers like that? The guy I played had Zay Flowers. They also had Kenneth Gates. How does he make that catch? It's outrageous. The whole thing is stupid. I'm gonna finish with most points and once again not have a dynasty title. We'll see you tomorrow. Peace.

[Connor]

Out. We.