Fantasy football is basically a game of managing regret. You regret the guy you drafted in the second round who blew out his ACL in September. You definitely regret benching the random rookie receiver who went for 30 points on your bench. But the biggest regret? It’s usually missing out on the league-winner sitting right there on the wire because you were too scared to drop a "name" player.
That's where the Matthew Berry waiver wire advice comes in.
Berry has been the face of this industry for decades for a reason. He’s not just a stats guy. Honestly, he’s a storyteller who understands the emotional trauma of losing a game by 0.2 points. When he talks about waiver wire targets on the Fantasy Football Happy Hour, people listen because he filters the noise. In 2025, we saw this play out again with guys like Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland—players Berry and the Fantasy Life crew flagged early as "must-adds" before they became household names.
The Matthew Berry Waiver Wire Method: It's Not Just About Stats
Most analysts look at a box score and see five catches for 80 yards. They tell you to add that guy. Groundbreaking, right?
Berry’s approach, especially now with his Fantasy Life tools and the Utilization Report (shoutout to Dwain McFarland), is more about why those yards happened. Was it a fluke 70-yard garbage time touchdown? Or was the player actually on the field for 90% of the snaps?
Take the 2025 season as a prime example. While everyone was chasing one-week wonders, Berry was banging the drum for Dylan Sampson and Audric Estime late in the year. He looks for the "Ride or Die" potential. He wants the guy who isn't just a fill-in for a bye week but someone who could realistically start for you in the fantasy playoffs.
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Why the "Happy Hour" Advice Hits Different
If you’ve watched the Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Jay Croucher and Connor Rogers, you know it’s less like a corporate broadcast and more like a group of friends arguing at a bar. That’s the secret sauce.
- Context matters: They don't just give you a list. They discuss team vibes.
- The "League of Assholes" Factor: Berry plays in high-stakes, hyper-competitive leagues. He knows the desperation of a Week 14 must-win.
- Risk Management: He’ll tell you when to blow 100% of your FAAB (Free Agent Acquisition Budget) and when to just place a $1 bid.
Navigating the 2026 Landscape
As we move into the 2026 offseason and look back at the 2025 results, the waiver wire has become more volatile than ever. We're seeing rookies contribute faster. We're seeing "bell-cow" running backs disappear in favor of frustrating committees.
In the final weeks of the 2025 regular season, the Matthew Berry waiver wire targets included names like Tyler Shough and Parker Washington. These aren't the guys you drafted. They are the guys who saved your season when your QB1 went down or your WR2 hit a slump.
What Most People Get Wrong About Waivers
A lot of managers think the waiver wire is for fixing mistakes. It's not. It's for capitalizing on new information.
If a starting RB goes down on Sunday, he’s not "injured" in the eyes of a winner; he’s a "roster spot opportunity." Berry has always preached the gospel of the "Handcuff," but in recent years, he’s pivoted toward "Utilization." It’s a subtle difference. A handcuff is a backup. Utilization is about a player whose role is growing regardless of injuries.
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The Fantasy Life Ecosystem
You can’t talk about Berry’s advice without mentioning Fantasy Life.
He’s built a monster. Between the free newsletter and the premium tools, the goal is to give you an edge before the rest of your league even wakes up on Tuesday morning. In 2025, the acquisition of Guillotine Leagues added another layer to the strategy. In that format, the waiver wire isn't just a tool; it's the entire game. When a team gets cut, all their superstars hit the wire.
Imagine trying to figure out how much to bid on a dropped Justin Jefferson or Christian McCaffrey in the middle of October. That’s the kind of high-pressure chaos Berry thrives in.
Practical Steps for Your Next Move
Look, the 2025 season is in the books, and the "Peacocky Awards" have been handed out (congrats to CMC for the MVP and Stafford for being the veteran savior). But the work for 2026 starts now.
- Watch the Utilization, Not the Points: If you see a rookie's snap count climb three weeks in a row, add them. Don't wait for the breakout game. By then, it's too late.
- Check the "Love/Hate" Archive: Even though Berry "retired" the specific name of the column, the sentiment lives on in his weekly rankings and the Happy Hour show. See who he was high on at the end of 2025—those are your 2026 sleeper targets.
- Aggressive FAAB Spending: One common piece of advice from the Berry camp is to not be afraid to spend early. A player you add in Week 2 helps you for 13 weeks. A player you add in Week 12 helps you for two. Math doesn't lie.
- Diversify Your Sources: Use the Fantasy Life tools to compare Berry’s rankings with the "Expert Consensus." If Berry is an outlier (much higher or lower than the field), pay attention. That’s where the "Talented Mr. Roto" magic usually happens.
What's Next for the Waiver Wire?
We’re seeing a shift toward more dynamic league settings—Superflex, TE-premium, and deeper benches. This makes the Matthew Berry waiver wire column (and his daily shows) even more vital. You can't just coast on a good draft anymore.
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Winning a championship in 2026 will require you to be a vulture. You need to watch the injury reports like a hawk and be ready to pounce on the next Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Puka Nacua the second the opportunity arises.
The most important takeaway? Don't be afraid to be wrong. Matthew Berry has been "wrong" plenty of times—he’s the first to admit it—but he’s right often enough, and with enough conviction, that he’s changed how millions of people play the game.
Stay aggressive. Check the Saturday morning updates. And for the love of all things fantasy, don't leave your FAAB in the bank when your season is on the line.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Preseason:
- Audit your 2025 FAAB usage: Did you end the season with money left? If so, you played too conservatively.
- Track "Late Season Risers": Players like Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III who finished 2025 strong are often undervalued in early 2026 mock drafts.
- Set a "Waiver Alarm": Most waivers clear early Wednesday morning. Being the first to grab the "free" players who weren't claimed can save your FAAB for the big fish later.