Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry

Episode: Week 8 Waiver Wire: Joe Flacco, Kyle Monangai, Oronde Gadsden II Headline Top Adds
Date: October 21, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Fantasy Football Happy Hour is all about Week 8 fantasy football waiver wire pickups. Matthew Berry, joined by Connor Rogers and Jay, digs into the best players to target on a tough bye-heavy week in fantasy, with special focus on quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends who could make an impact. The crew also reacts to Monday Night Football headlines and shares memorable stories along the way—always in their signature playful and analytical style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Quarterback Waiver Wire Targets

Bye Week & Injury Landscape

• Six teams are on bye in Week 8: tough for fantasy managers, even though most off-QB1s. Injuries and benched starters (e.g., Justin Fields) mean the waiver wire is vital.

Top QB Adds

• Jackson Dart (NYG)

  • Availability: 58%
  • “Jackson Dart is a top 12 fantasy quarterback. We said it as soon as we said it at the draft… He’s been a big part of fantasy life.” (Matthew Berry, 08:31)
  • Key points: Rushing upside, high red zone involvement, solid floor.
  • Start him over Jordan Love? “1,000%” (Matthew Berry, 08:51)
  • Dart vs. Dak? “I can’t imagine benching Dak Prescott, especially given how well he’s playing.” (Matthew Berry, 10:11)

• Joe Flacco (CIN)

  • Take: Legitimate streamer, “comeback player of the year.”
  • “He’s a veteran quarterback who's not scared to throw. That’s the most important thing… At this stage of his career, he has zero Fs left to give.” (Matthew Berry, 14:54)
  • High passing volume (45 attempts/game), great weapons (Chase & Higgins), Bengals have NFL's easiest remaining pass defense schedule.
  • “There’s a chance Flacco is the guy the rest of the year… until Burrow comes back.” (Matthew Berry, 18:09)

• Other Notables: Marcus Mariota (likely garbage time points), Michael Penix (if healthy), Spencer Rattler in a favorable matchup.

Injury Notes & NFL News

• Jaden Daniels (hamstring): “Not significant, but likely can’t wait until Monday, need an alternative.” (18:22)
• Bryce Young: Out for Week 8.

2. Running Back Waiver Wire Targets

Bye Week Carnage

• Major names out: Jameer Gibbs, Kyren Williams, Travis Etienne, David Montgomery, Seattle backs, and more.
• “Lot of chances you need a running back—and the challenge here is, is that there are no good ones out there.” (Matthew Berry, 22:40)

Top RB Adds

• Kyle Monangai (CHI)

  • “Is this someone you and I have liked since the draft process? … Better than a seventh round player? Never fumbled in two years in the Big Ten…” (Matthew Berry, 23:47)
  • Flashy in fourth-quarter work, but carving out a role due to injury and matchups. Likely a 60/40 split with Swift.
  • “Are we saying he’s great, blow your fab? No. But do we think he’s carving out a role for himself in this offense? Yes.” (Matthew Berry, 24:10)
  • This week: Slight edge over Jeremy McNichols for touchdown odds, especially vs. struggling BAL run D.

• Other Notables:

  • Taj Spears: “At least 40% snap rate, passing downs, always trailing.” (Matthew Berry, 29:08)
  • Tyler Allgeier: Miami’s poor run defense, red zone usage.
  • Rashaad Smith: Multiple receptions every week on bottom-5 team.

3. Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Targets

Painful Week for WRs

• Notable WRs on bye: Puka Nacua, JSN, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Davante Adams, Marvin Harrison Jr., etc.—plus injuries to Mike Evans.

Top WR Adds

• Darnell Mooney (CHI)

  • “You’re spinning the wheel and hoping that it comes up that he catches a long reception… But there is upside because of the average depth.” (Jay, 31:13)
  • Pure boom-or-bust deep threat; matchup-dependent.

• Tez Johnson (TB)

  • “77% route participation… Mike Evans might be done for the year… They’re looking for answers.” (Matthew Berry, 31:42)
  • 9 targets last week. Opportunity with Evans’ injury; favorable upcoming schedule after tough patch.

• Kayshon Boute (NE)

  • “Drake May can hit the big one at any moment, which is the value proposition… he's just catching everything.” (Connor Rogers, 33:13)
  • Deep threat with spike-week appeal, but limited floor.

• Xavier Legette (CAR)

  • “First four games of the season were brutal… but this past week: career-highs in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and fantasy points.” (Matthew Berry, 36:13)
  • Huge 11-target week; team’s end zone favorite. Possibly unlocked by QB change (Andy Dalton in for Bryce Young).

• Deep League Darts: Rashod Bateman, Elijay Manor, Marvin Mims, Alec Pierce (getting more usage with IND).

4. Tight End Waiver Wire Targets

TEs on Bye/Injured: Trey McBride, Brock Bowers, Sam LaPorta, Mike Evans out

Top TE Adds

• Oronde Gadsden II (LAC)

  • “In the world that we live in, where any tight end with a pulse draws your attention... He's averaging over 61 receiving yards per game.” (Matthew Berry, 40:45)
  • Huge breakout (7-164-1), back-to-back big games, high route and target share.
  • “Would it be shocking if he’s like a top three tight end the rest of the way? ... The sky’s the limit.” (Jay, 41:58)

• Cade Otton (TB)

  • “Games that Mike Evans has missed… Otten averaging over 14 fantasy points per game, 22% target share.” (Matthew Berry, 42:57)
  • Reliable usage with Bucs injury crisis.

• Other Streamers: Dalton Schultz (quiet floor), Mason Taylor (if Tyrod Taylor starts), Juwan Johnson, Theo Johnson (targets from Jackson Dart).

5. Memorable Monday Night Football Recap

• Jameer Gibbs: “Huge. And you felt like this was coming… He busted one of these out of there and there’ll be no looking back.” (Matthew Berry quoting Dan Campbell, 47:19)
  • 36+ fantasy points. The Lions offense continues to roll.
• Jameson Williams: “Unless you’re willing to start him every week hoping for that blow up game, it’s welcome to Dumpsville, population: Jameson Williams.” (Matthew Berry, 48:01)
• Sam LaPorta: Disappointing usage. “In theory he’s a good tight end, but fantasy-wise he just seems like, you know… touchdown dependent…” (Matthew Berry, 50:33)
• Texans WRs: Hold on Nico Collins, but tough sledding. “You just got to hold on to Nico Collins… you trust in the talent.” (Jay, 51:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Matthew Berry (on Jackson Dart):
  “Jackson Dart is a top 12 fantasy quarterback. We said it…in preseason… He’s been a big part of fantasy life.” (08:31)

• Jay (on Flacco’s value):
  “What is the actual difference to the point spread between Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco? … It’s more like…it’s closer to four than six and a half.” (13:56)

• Matthew Berry (on Joe Flacco’s attitude):
  “He has zero Fs left to give… eff it, man. I’m going to throw it and trust that Ja’Mar Chase & T. Higgins…come down with it.” (14:54)

• Jay (on schedule for Bengals/Flacco):
  “You can go to fantasylife.com…rest of the season, Bengals have the easiest schedule for QBs and WRs.” (16:09)

• Connor Rogers (on Kyle Monangai/CHI):
  “I didn’t understand the fall and I’m sure Ben Johnson looks at this guy and goes, can I get discount David Montgomery in the seventh round?” (23:58)

• Matthew Berry (on Jameson Williams):
  “Unless you’re willing to start him every single week hoping for that blow up game, it’s welcome to Dumpsville, population Jameson Williams.” (48:01)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [06:31] — Start of waiver wire deep dive: Quarterbacks
• [08:31] — Jackson Dart analysis ("top 12 fantasy QB")
• [12:12] — Joe Flacco love: Volume, supporting cast, schedule
• [17:18] — Flacco’s rest-of-season potential, Bengals outlook
• [22:15] — Running Backs: State of the waiver wire
• [23:55] — Kyle Monangai deep dive
• [29:32] — Other RB options: Spears, Allgeier, Smith
• [30:39] — Wide Recievers: Bye/injury impact & Mooney
• [31:42] — Tez Johnson, Tampa Bay WR shakeup after Evans injury
• [33:13] — Kayshon Boute, NE deep threat
• [36:13] — Xavier Legette emergence and in-depth “X” banter
• [38:41] — Deep league WR targets: Bateman, Pierce
• [40:10] — TE segment start; Oronde Gadsden II enthusiasm
• [42:44] — Cade Otton, other streamer TEs
• [47:07] — Monday Night Football breakdown, Gibbs’ breakout night
• [48:01] — Jameson Williams “Dumpsville” rant
• [51:26] — Houston Texans passing game struggles

Summary Table: Top Waiver Adds by Position

| Position | Players (in priority order) | |-------------|------------------------------------------------------------| | Quarterback | Jackson Dart, Joe Flacco, Marcus Mariota, Michael Penix | | Running Back| Kyle Monangai, Taj Spears, Tyler Allgeier, Rashaad Smith | | Wide Receiver| Darnell Mooney, Tez Johnson, Kayshon Boute, Xavier Legette| | Tight End | Oronde Gadsden II, Cade Otton, Dalton Schultz, Mason Taylor|

Tone and Language

Consistently quick-witted, bantering, and deep-dive analytical—just as in the transcript. Berry’s self-deprecation about his own teams, the group’s fantasy jokes ("Dumpsville, population: Jameson Williams"), and their mix of stats with humor gives this episode the usual Fantasy Football Happy Hour flavor.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode is a must-listen if you need Week 8 waiver wire help. Berry and crew cut through a messy week for fantasy lineups, giving you actionable, prioritized advice—and a good laugh along the way. Prioritize Jackson Dart and Joe Flacco at QB, Kyle Monangai at RB, and Oronde Gadsden II at TE, but don't over-invest in dart throws like Jameson Williams. And embrace the chaos: the injuries and byes might just be your edge!