Fantasy Football is Life

Matthew Berry's Fantasy Life
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  • Fantasy Sports

Are you a fantasy football sicko?! Well you are in good company! On Fantasy Football is life, fantasy football experts Dwain McFarland, Ian Hartitz and Matthew Freedman take a deep dive into the nooks and crannies of what it takes to win a fantasy football championship! We're here to break down film, advanced analytics, projections, rankings and so much more! These are the nuts and bolts as to what has won us a multitude of fantasy championships ourselves. And the best part? We're giving it all to you for F-R-E-E, y'all! Fantasy football is our life. If it's yours too, you're in the right place!

  1. 4h ago

    Preseason Week 2 Recap for 2026 Fantasy Football : Risers, Fallers and Rookies

    Preseason box scores are close to worthless. Snap shares and route participation are not, and that's the whole difference between guessing and knowing.Zain Dhanani and Dwain McFarland go through Dwain's Week 2 preseason charting — who actually played, with whom, and on which downs — and pull out the situations that should move your draft board this week.The risers get most of the attention. MarShawn Lloyd looked like the clear RB2 in Green Bay and one of the better late-round backs on the board. De'Zhaun Stribling has moved into high-priority territory in San Francisco. KC Concepcion was reportedly the star of Cleveland's joint practices. Seth McGowan looks like the back to roster behind Jonathan Taylor, Ja'Kobi Lane is the favorite for Baltimore's WR3 job, and Jalen Royals, Tai Felton, Matthew Golden, Adonai Mitchell, Caleb Douglas and Malachi Fields all made cases for late-round roster spots.They also get to the guys trending the wrong way — Tyrone Tracy's usage in New York, Jaydon Blue's ball security in Dallas, Isaac TeSlaa's target problem in Detroit and a murky tight end picture in Los Angeles — plus the players who didn't suit up but whose stock still moved, including Tucker Kraft, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Dylan Sampson and Terrance Ferguson.Along the way: Colston Loveland's snap share and why he looks like a Round 4 cheat code, Christian Watson holding as one of the best picks in Rounds 5 and 6, Jaylen Waddle in Denver, Jonathon Brooks in Carolina, Kenneth Walker in Kansas City, Ladd McConkey with Justin Herbert, and Tetairoa McMillan's role in the Panthers offense.Read Dwain's full Week 2 charting here: https://www.fantasylife.com/articles/fantasy/nfl-preseason-week-2-takeaways-for-fantasy-footballTopics in this video:2026 fantasy football, NFL preseason, preseason week 2 takeaways, snap share, route participation, fantasy football draft strategy, MarShawn Lloyd, De'Zhaun Stribling, KC Concepcion, Seth McGowan, Ja'Kobi Lane, Jalen Royals, Tai Felton, Matthew Golden, Adonai Mitchell, Caleb Douglas, Colston Loveland, Christian Watson, Jaylen Waddle, Jonathon Brooks, Kenneth Walker, Ladd McConkey, Tetairoa McMillan, Tucker Kraft, Terrance Ferguson, Tyrone Tracy, Jaydon Blue, late round targets, fantasy football sleepers ____________ If you want more of Fantasy Life, check us out at FantasyLife.com, where all our analysis is free, smart, fun, and has won a bunch of awards. We have an awesome free seven-day-a-week fantasy newsletter (which would win awards if they existed, we assure you!): https://www.fantasylife.com/fantasy-newsletter-5 And if you want to go deeper, check out our suite of also-award-winning premium tools at FantasyLife.com/pricing But really we hope you just are enjoying what you clicked on here, and come back for more. We are here to help you win!!

  2. 3d ago

    Rankings Battle! The 6 Players We Cannot Agree On in 2026 Fantasy Football

    Rankings are usually where analysts quietly agree with each other. This is the opposite of that.Zain Dhanani and Alex Cupps put their 2026 boards side by side and go straight to the places where they're furthest apart — six players where one of them sees a value and the other sees a trap, and neither is willing to move.They start at receiver with Ladd McConkey, then get into the backfield with D'Andre Swift and Jonathan Taylor, two players whose draft prices tell very different stories about what the market believes. Marvin Harrison Jr. gets the most contentious stretch of the episode. Then it's Jalen Hurts at quarterback, and Isaiah Likely at tight end, where the gap between their rankings is wide enough that they can't both be right.Every dispute gets both cases made properly — the projection, the role, the risk, and what would have to happen for each side to look foolish in December. If you've got any of these six on your board and you're not sure what to do with them, this is the argument you need to hear before you draft.Topics in this video:2026 fantasy football, fantasy football rankings, rankings disputes, Ladd McConkey, D'Andre Swift, Jonathan Taylor, Marvin Harrison Jr., Jalen Hurts, Isaiah Likely, fantasy football draft strategy, wide receiver rankings, running back rankings, quarterback rankings, tight end rankings, ADP, players to avoid, must draft players, who to draft in 2026

  3. Aug 17

    Preseason Week 1 Recap 2026 Fantasy Football : Risers, Fallers and Rookies

    For the full snap-by-snap breakdown of who played where and for how long, read Dwain's preseason Week 1 takeaways: https://www.fantasylife.com/articles/fantasy/nfl-preseason-week-1-takeaways-for-fantasy-footballPreseason games are mostly noise. A few of them aren't — and this is the pass that separates the two.Zain Dhanani and Dwain McFarland go team by team through everything that mattered in Week 1 of the preseason, starting with the situations that could genuinely move a player's price. The Cardinals backfield with Jeremiyah Love, plus what the Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson split looked like. DJ Moore and Dalton Kincaid in Buffalo. A crowded Green Bay picture with Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Tucker Kraft and Marshawn Lloyd. Cleveland's offense with Quinshon Judkins, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston and Harold Fannin Jr. And in New York, Cam Skattebo and Isaiah Likely.From there it's the second tier of situations worth tracking: Aaron Jones against Jordan Mason in Minnesota, Tetairoa McMillan's usage in the slot, a Jets group with Adonai Mitchell, Omar Cooper Jr., Braelon Allen and a Breece Hall update, the Titans with Pollard and Spears plus Carnell Tate, Wan'Dale Robinson and Gunnar Helm, Miami's offense under Malik Willis with Greg Dulcich and Caleb Douglas, the Chiefs backfield and receiver room, and Cincinnati's new-look offense.Plus two quick-hit rounds that matter more than their length suggests: the handcuff running backs worth a late pick — Tank Bigsby, Mike Washington Jr., Jaydon Blue, Keaton Mitchell, Woody Marks and Seth McGowan — and the tight end battles with Oronde Gadsden II and the Pat Freiermuth versus Darnell Washington split in Pittsburgh. They also get to the rookie receivers who played with backups but have been shining in camp, including De'Zhaun Stribling and Ja'Kobi Lane.

  4. Aug 14

    How to Draft QBs and RBs in 2026 Fantasy Football (Targets, Fades & Strategy)

    Matthew Freedman and Dwain McFarland lay out exactly how they're drafting quarterbacks and running backs in 2026 — the strategy behind each position, and the specific players who fit it.QB comes first and it comes fast. Dwain breaks down how many points league-winning quarterbacks actually score by round, why dual-threat QBs account for nearly all the high-WAR seasons, and then sorts the 2026 field by ceiling: Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Drake Maye, Joe Burrow, Jayden Daniels and Jalen Hurts at the top, then Jaxson Dart, Caleb Williams, Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, Trevor Lawrence and Kyler Murray, down through Bo Nix, Brock Purdy and Patrick Mahomes. He names his priorities, his fades, and two late-round quarterbacks he genuinely likes in Malik Willis and Tyler Shough.Then it's the main event. Dwain makes the case that elite running backs still matter — passing volume is down, which pushes RB production up relative to WR and TE — and shows where the WAR hit rates actually live by round. He walks through which RB archetypes win leagues, why receiving and dual-threat backs account for more than half of all 20-plus PPG seasons, and how the plan shifts between early, middle and late rounds depending on format.The back half is round-by-round targets and fades. Rounds 1 through 3 covers Christian McCaffrey, James Cook, Ashton Jeanty, Kenneth Walker and Chase Brown, along with the backs he's avoiding entirely. Rounds 4 through 6 gets into Cam Skattebo, Bhayshul Tuten and a rookie he keeps ending up with in simulated drafts, plus a fade that he finds genuinely funny. Rounds 7 through 9 centers on Jonathon Brooks and Blake Corum. And the late rounds get sorted by what your roster already looks like — Jordan Mason, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Kenneth Gainwell, Rachaad White, Chris Rodriguez, Tank Bigsby, Isiah Pacheco, Brian Robinson Jr. and Marshawn Lloyd.Use promo code FFIL for 10% off FantasyLife+ to see Dwain's full tiers, ranks and projections.Topics in this video:2026 fantasy football, QB draft strategy, RB draft strategy, fantasy football targets and fades, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels, Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray, Jaxson Dart, Malik Willis, Tyler Shough, Christian McCaffrey, James Cook, Ashton Jeanty, Kenneth Walker, Chase Brown, Cam Skattebo, Bhayshul Tuten, David Montgomery, Quinshon Judkins, Jonathon Brooks, Blake Corum, Kenneth Gainwell, Isiah Pacheco, Tank Bigsby, handcuff running backs, fantasy football draft strategySubscribe for more fantasy football content00:00:00 - Intro00:03:11 - How Many Points Do League-Winning QBs Score?00:08:14 - Which QB Types Win Leagues?00:11:35 - Elite-Ceiling 2026 QBs00:34:28 - Great, Good and Average Ceiling QBs00:46:27 - Why Elite RBs Still Matter00:48:11 - How Many Points Do League-Winning RBs Score?00:50:58 - Which RB Archetypes Win Leagues?00:55:53 - The 2026 RB Draft Plan00:56:24 - Rounds 1-3 RB Targets and Fades01:22:10 - General Draft Strategy Rules 01:23:24 - Rounds 4-6 RB Targets and Fades01:37:23 - Rounds 7-9 RB Targets and Fades01:42:41 - Late Round RB Targets and Fades

  5. Aug 7

    What ACTUALLY Matters for WR Success in Fantasy Football? (+ WR Draft Targets)

    Matthew Freedman and Dwain McFarland close out the "What Matters in Fantasy Football" series with the position that decides most drafts: wide receiver. This is the full analytical breakdown — which stats actually predict WR production, what the scheme and environment changes tell us, and how to find the guys who erupt.They start with the stats that matter and the one that famously doesn't, then run touchdown regression in both directions. CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson and DeVonta Smith all produced yardage that their touchdown totals didn't match, while Davante Adams, Kayshon Boutte and Michael Pittman Jr. finished with scoring rates that are very hard to repeat. From there it's the meaningful environmental changes — Luther Burden with DJ Moore traded to Buffalo, Christian Watson with Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks gone, and Jaylen Waddle in a Denver offense that's a real upgrade on Miami.The back half gets into the scheme cheat codes — motion, play action and two-receiver sets — and which play-callers actually use them, with WR winners across the Bears, Rams, 49ers, Colts, Chargers, Packers, Cowboys, Buccaneers and Lions. Dwain lays out his 2026 passing-yard projections to answer whether you can ever draft a receiver on a bad passing offense, why quarterback changes have historically driven more than half of all major WR leaps, and where the age curve says production peaks and falls off. It all builds to a checklist for 2026 and the names that clear it: Emeka Egbuka, Tee Higgins, A.J. Brown, Terry McLaurin, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jayden Reed, Jordan Addison, Josh Downs and more.Topics in this video:2026 fantasy football, wide receiver rankings, WR breakouts, touchdown regression, target share, YPRR, TPRR, CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, DeVonta Smith, Davante Adams, Michael Pittman Jr., Luther Burden, Christian Watson, Jaylen Waddle, Rome Odunze, Puka Nacua, Mike Evans, Ricky Pearsall, Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, Ladd McConkey, George Pickens, Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tee Higgins, Rashee Rice, A.J. Brown, Terry McLaurin, DJ Moore, Jayden Reed, Jordan Addison, fantasy football draft strategySubscribe for more fantasy football content00:00:00 - Intro00:04:42 - Which Stats Matter Most for WRs?00:11:48 - Positive TD Regression Candidates00:14:51 - Negative TD Regression Candidates00:26:13 - Meaningful Environmental Changes00:51:12 - What Do Good WRs Look Like?00:55:48 - NFL EPA Trends01:02:56 - WR Fantasy Trends01:12:45 - Scheme Cheat Codes for WRs01:38:59 - Should You Draft WRs on Bad Passing Teams? 01:41:09 - Why QB Changes Matter01:43:26 - What Age Do WRs Peak and Decline?01:46:22 - What Every WR Eruption Season Has in Common01:48:18 - 2026 Players to Watch

  6. Jul 31

    What ACTUALLY Matters for TE Success in Fantasy Football? (+ TE Draft Targets)

    What actually predicts tight end success in fantasy football? Dwain McFarland and Matthew Freedman break down the stats that matter most at the TE position — and the ones that are just noise — so you know exactly what to look for in your 2026 drafts.We dig into why receiving yards per game beats fantasy points per game at this position, how touchdown dependency makes low-end TE1s so volatile year over year, and what yards per route run and first down share tell you about which part-time tight ends are about to earn bigger roles. Then we get into the environment around the player: how heavy personnel usage is at its highest mark since 2015 and what that does to TE routes, targets and efficiency, which playcallers use it most, and how much motion and play action actually move the needle.Finally, we apply the full framework to the 2026 TE board — the age curve that says when tight ends peak and when they fall off, whether you can trust a tight end on a bad passing offense, and the players who stand out. Freedman makes his case for Harold Fannin, Dalton Kincaid and Dalton Schultz, and Dwain walks through his tight end tiers for 2026.Topics in this video:What matters for fantasy TEs, tight ends, fantasy football 2026, tight end tiers 2026, league winning tight ends, TE age curve, heavy personnel, yards per route run, fantasy football analytics, TE draft strategy Subscribe for more fantasy football contentTIMECODES 00:00:00 - Intro 00:04:02 - TE Fantasy Trends 00:06:10 - Which TE Stats Matter Most? 00:13:53 - Repeat Performers vs Fallers 00:16:02 - TE Man vs Zone Splits 00:19:31 - TE Data Profiles 00:27:53 - TE Fantasy Trends 00:33:18 - Personnel Impact on TEs 01:06:19 - TE Scheme Splits 01:15:26 - When Do TEs Peak vs Decline? 01:20:13 - Avoid Bad Passing Teams? 01:27:43 - Players Who Stand Out

  7. Jul 24

    10 Players to AVOID in 2026 Fantasy Football (Feat. Zain Dhanani)

    Everyone can tell you why every player is going to have a great season — they can't all be great. Matthew Freedman is joined by Zain Dhanani (@DhananiZain) to skew negative, break down what actually makes a player a fade, and reveal the 10 players on their DO NOT DRAFT list for 2026 fantasy football.The fades run from Round 1 to the late rounds: Jonathan Taylor, Trey McBride, Bucky Irving, Bo Nix, Jameson Williams, RJ Harvey, Jaxson Dart, Carnell Tate, Jake Ferguson, and Jordan Addison. Why does Derrick Henry make Taylor the wrong first-round pick? Why was McBride's monster season a perfect storm that won't repeat? And which rookie top-10 pick is being drafted like a No. 1 WR when he might be the third option on his own team?Plus: how to actually treat the players you're fading on draft day — and a sneak preview of Freedman's Fades, coming to FantasyLife.com next week.Topics in this video:do not draft list 2026, fantasy football busts, players to avoid fantasy football, fantasy football fades, Jonathan Taylor fantasy, Trey McBride fantasy, Bucky Irving fantasy, Bo Nix fantasy, Jameson Williams fantasy, Carnell Tate fantasy, Jaxson Dart fantasy, fantasy football draft strategy 2026Subscribe for more fantasy football content00:00:00 - Intro00:10:10 - How to Treat Guys We're Fading?00:15:05 - What Makes You Fade a Guy?00:18:35 - Bo Nix00:28:20 - Trey McBride00:37:05 - Jonathan Taylor00:45:05 - Jameson Williams00:55:20 - RJ Harvey01:06:50 - Bucky Irving01:12:20 - Carnell Tate01:18:50 - Jaxson Dart01:33:05 - Jake Ferguson01:38:05 - Jordan Addison ____________ If you want more of Fantasy Life, check us out at FantasyLife.com, where all our analysis is free, smart, fun, and has won a bunch of awards. We have an awesome free seven-day-a-week fantasy newsletter (which would win awards if they existed, we assure you!): https://www.fantasylife.com/fantasy-newsletter-5 And if you want to go deeper, check out our suite of also-award-winning premium tools at FantasyLife.com/pricing But really we hope you just are enjoying what you clicked on here, and come back for more. We are here to help you win!!

  8. Jul 17

    What ACTUALLY Matters for RB Success in Fantasy Football? (+ 2026 RB Targets)

    What actually predicts running back success in fantasy football? Dwain McFarland and Matthew Freedman break down the stats that matter most at the RB position — and the ones that are just noise — so you know exactly what to look for in your 2026 drafts. We dig into how RB fantasy scoring has shifted in recent years, what league-winning running back archetypes actually look like, and how much age and experience really matter — including if receiving backs or more well balanced backs are better to target. Then we get into the factors around the running: how much scheme drives fantasy production, and how much age can show us RBs that could drop off. Finally, we apply the full framework to the 2026 RB board and highlight the running backs who stand out — the ones who check every box, and the ones being drafted on reputation alone. Topics in this video: What matters for fantasy RBs, running backs, fantasy football 2026, receiving running backs, league winning RBs, RB age curve, running back scheme fits, fantasy football analytics, RB draft strategy Subscribe for more fantasy football content 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:09 - Which Stats Matter? 00:12:10 - RB Rushing vs. Receiving 00:15:31 - Repeat Performers vs. Fallers 00:20:25 - Is Efficiency Important? 00:30:25 - League-Winning Archetypes 00:33:33 - Who makes up each archetype? 00:58:22 - How Much Does Age Matter? 01:03:52 - Rookie RBs 01:11:50 - Should We Draft RBs On Bad NFL Teams? 01:21:17 - Positive Run-Game Concepts & Playcallers 01:29:58 - Players Who Stand Out? ____________ If you want more of Fantasy Life, check us out at FantasyLife.com, where all our analysis is free, smart, fun, and has won a bunch of awards. We have an awesome free seven-day-a-week fantasy newsletter (which would win awards if they existed, we assure you!): https://www.fantasylife.com/fantasy-newsletter-5 And if you want to go deeper, check out our suite of also-award-winning premium tools at FantasyLife.com/pricing But really we hope you just are enjoying what you clicked on here, and come back for more. We are here to help you win!!

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Are you a fantasy football sicko?! Well you are in good company! On Fantasy Football is life, fantasy football experts Dwain McFarland, Ian Hartitz and Matthew Freedman take a deep dive into the nooks and crannies of what it takes to win a fantasy football championship! We're here to break down film, advanced analytics, projections, rankings and so much more! These are the nuts and bolts as to what has won us a multitude of fantasy championships ourselves. And the best part? We're giving it all to you for F-R-E-E, y'all! Fantasy football is our life. If it's yours too, you're in the right place!

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