Reviewing Candidates For Matthew Berry's 2026 Ride or Die: Colston Loveland, Terry McLaurin & More

You know, I was on Reddit the other day. Love me some Reddit. Big fan of a lot of communities. There’s one about Jimmy Buffett, of course, where I spend a lot of time reading. The Commanders subreddit is great. And I’ve gone down many a rabbit hole in Am I the Asshole?

The reason I bring it up is that the other day, when I was on Reddit, I saw a thread about me.

Now, there have been many, many (did I mention many) Reddit threads about me over the years. And it doesn’t matter if they are about a column I wrote, a player I have an opinion on, or even something about my career; the threads are always the same … they never stay on subject. The thread is never a discussion about “Hey, Berry thinks this about this player. Do you agree or not and why?” It always devolves into some weird debate about me, my talent, my relevance, my place in the industry, comparing me with other people in the industry, with about half bashing the hell out of me and half defending me (shout out to the defenders! Appreciate the love! … And hell. Shout out to the haters! As long as people actually care, one way or the other, I’m good).

Anyways, I bring this all up not to complain about Reddit (quite the opposite - I’m doing an AMA there on August 31st at 2 PM ET). But rather, because I actually saw a Reddit thread about me the other day that wasn’t any of those things. It was this thread: A bunch of people guessing who my Ride or Die this year will be.

I tend not to read threads (or any social posts about me) these days … nothing good ever comes from it. But I read this one, and I have to say, it’s great, with lots of great suggestions.

And the other thing I like about the thread is that people understand the premise of Ride or Die. They understand it’s not about some deep sleeper; it’s about someone going reasonably high in drafts … just someone that isn’t going high ENOUGH. Someone that I believe breaks through to an elite level. Someone that I will do everything in my power to draft in every single league.

I also appreciate the Reddit thread mostly agreeing that last year’s Ride or Die, Omarion Hampton, was a hit. A hit with an asterisk, for sure, because he was injured for a good chunk of time (and his O-line got decimated after I announced the pick), but when healthy, he was terrific. But after Hampton’s injury-filled year and Kyler Murray flaming out the year before, I need a rock-solid hit this year. To get back to the glory run of Austin Ekeler to Jalen Hurts to Amon-Ra St. Brown.

So before I make this crucial decision, and inspired by the thread, I decided to ask my fellow Fantasy Life colleagues for THEIR suggestions.

Now they are all hard at work, where you can find their work fully customized for you with a premium subscription to FantasyLife+, where code BERRY gets you 10% off. But even with them all being very busy, they still took the time to give me THEIR pitch for Ride or Die—which I loved reading their ideas and research.

Because regardless of whether Ride or Die is on this list below, the fact is … these are all players that smart fantasy analysts think are worthy of the title. Players that are likely too low in fantasy football ADP. Players you should consider targeting. Players who could, very possibly, be the 2026 RIDE. OR. DIE!

Candidates For Matthew Berry's 2026 Ride Or Die

Colston Loveland | TE | Bears

Pitched by: Dwain McFarland

Colston Loveland flashed elite upside once he earned a full-time role, posting a 99 Utilization Score and 16.8 PPG over his final five games while commanding a 29% target share, averaging 72.3 receiving yards.

And his talent profile backs up his late-season breakout. He is the No. 4 all-time prospect in the Rookie Super Model (89 of 100 Rating), and his rookie-season 1.98 YPRR ranks No. 3 since 2011.

With DJ Moore gone and Ben Johnson’s TE-friendly system creating a clear path to route volume and efficiency, Loveland could perform more like a WR1 than a TE1—he is my favorite post-Round 3 pick to smash fantasy leagues in 2026.

Derrick Henry | RB | Ravens

Pitched by: Matthew Freedman

There's an opportunity for Matthew to be especially bold here: Not only will Henry have another awesome season, but he will jump from 10 to 6 on the all-time rushers list, and he will eventually break Emmitt Smith's record.

Since joining the Ravens at the ancient age of 30, Henry has easily led the league over the past two seasons with 3,516 rushing yards and 32 rushing TDs. He doesn't do much as a receiver, but he's still awesome enough as a runner that he's No. 2 in scrimmage yards (3,859) and all-purpose TDs (34) since 2024.

Most importantly, since turning 28 (the age at which most RBs really fall off), Henry has missed just one game.

Available at the turn of Rounds 2-3 in most leagues, Henry offers exceptional value.

Emeka Egbuka | WR | Buccaneers

Pitched by: Kendall Valenzuela

If we're talking about a player that could bounce back in many ways AND could help you win your league, then I'm submitting my application for Emeka Egbuka. It was a tale of two halves for Egbuka, and people might feel burned by him, but we cannot forget just how damn good he was to start the season.

Over the first five games, Egbuka averaged 20.1 fantasy points and worked as the WR3! He was the No. 1 target for Tampa Bay with a 23% target share, and while hamstring injuries slowed his season, we have to remember how big of a deal it is that Mike Evans is no longer there.

The upside is too good to pass up in the third round. Fantasy Life has Egbuka projected for an 86% route share and 121 targets. Come on, Matthew! You know you love Egbuka!

Terry McLaurin | WR | Commanders

Pitched by: Peter Overzet

Look, I know you probably want to avoid allegations of "homerism" with your Ride or Die pick, but that shouldn't prevent you from riding with your own rankings, where you are well ahead of consensus on McLaurin.

McLaurin's competition for targets right now is a TE who has never cleared more than 560 yards in a season, an undersized rookie WR who was selected in Round 3, and Christian McCaffrey's younger brother.

Even with Stefon Diggs signing with the Commanders, McLaurin is insulated with his role as the downfield threat in this offense.

We both know that Terry and Jayden Daniels are being discounted due to injury-plagued seasons in 2025, so now is the time to plant your flag where both your heart and the value are.

Jaylen Waddle | WR | Broncos

Pitched by: Danny Cross

Jaylen Waddle is a proven talent walking into what should be the most lucrative role of his career. The team paid a premium for the former No. 6 overall pick's services after making it to the AFC Championship game with gunslinger Bo Nix relying on aging veteran Courtland Sutton and a bunch of young, athletic WR3s.

Waddle began his career with WR18 and WR8 finishes—the latter of which occurred the same season that Tyreek Hill finished as the WR2. Few top-10 NFL Draft picks have been overshadowed so massively and lived to tell the tale.

FantasyLife projects Waddle for 122 targets this season, which would be the second-most of his career. The 27-year-old has posted exceptional marks in both yards per route run and targets per route run over the years, and these figures have skyrocketed with Hill out of the mix. It would be shocking if Sean Payton doesn't fully utilize Waddle's insane talent after making fantasy stars out of much lesser players in the past.

Jared Goff | QB | Lions

Pitched by: Cooterdoodle

Aside from Atlanta, Detroit is the only other franchise in the NFL with two players ranked within the top-12 for fantasy purposes this season. Two! And while Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown both deserve their flowers for finishing in the top 10 in fantasy points for the last three years in a row, their QB doesn't get quite the same praise, does he?

But if you look at the numbers, you'll find that Costco's hot dog prices are the only thing more consistent than Jared Goff.

2025

2nd yards (4,564)
2nd TDs (34)

2024

2nd yards (4,629)
4th TDs (37)

2023

2nd yards (4,575)
4th TDs (30)

2022

6th yards (4,438)
T-5th TDs (29)

So I'll ask you this: If we still expect top-10 numbers from Goff's top two weapons, doesn't that imply we also expect another elite year from Goff? Yet the poor guy is being drafted in Round 10. Make it make sense. Put some respect on his name, Berry. He's Goff. Ride or die, Jared Goff.

Harold Fannin Jr. | TE | Browns

Pitched by: Matt LaMarca

Mr. Berry, might I be able to interest you in one of the most efficient TEs from last season who is poised for a larger workload? Fannin was targeted on 24% of his routes run, which was tied with Trey McBride for the best mark at the position (among TEs with at least 250 routes). His average of 1.65 yards per route run ranked eighth among tight ends, and he should be a nearly-every-snap player with David Njoku now gone. If he can combine increased volume with last year’s efficiency, the sky is the limit.

DeVonta Smith | WR | Eagles

Pitched by: Sarah Schmitz

Oh my God, OK, it’s happening! Everybody stay calm!

This is not a drill—with the departure of A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith is getting his first real opportunity to seize the alpha wide receiver role at the NFL level. Outside of Smith’s first season (which was still a solid showing, breaking the Eagles’ rookie receiving yards record), the Heisman winner has been in Brown’s shadow for his whole NFL career thus far.

Even while playing second fiddle to Brown, Smith has never dropped below 30th among wide receivers in fantasy PPG and has posted three 1,000-yard seasons. It’s a small sample, but in three full games without Brown since 2024, Smith owned nearly a third of the Eagles’ target share and handled it efficiently, logging 2.65 yards per route run.

This is a talented receiver who has flashed his stellar upside when given the chance, and he’s a potential league winner that you can get around the beginning of the third round. Ride (or fly) with DeVonta Smith and the Eagles’ offense this season.

Bhayshul Tuten | RB | Jaguars

Pitched by: John Supowitz

Someone has to replace Travis Etienne’s 296 touches, including 56 carries in the red zone. With the positive reports from training camp, it looks like it’s time to board the Tut Tut train. Last year, he was productive in a limited role, as his 47.0% rushing success rate would have ranked seventh among qualifying running backs and his 3.4 yards after contact would have been the fifth-highest. If he produces similarly over a 17-game season, that guy you drafted as your RB2 will chug you along to the fantasy championship.

Luther Burden | WR | Bears

Pitched by: Owen Oates

The “Ride or Die” mantle comes with immense hype and hefty expectations for the upcoming football season. Historically, this player has been drafted around the second or third crop at their position, and has the combination of both talent and opportunity to finish in a top-five position.

It is time that this title finally transfers back to a receiver, and who else is more fitting in the column’s 10th annual rendition than a player being compared to the arguably greatest “Ride or Die” of all time, Amon-Ra St. Brown?

2025 saw Luther Burden play in a limited role, only running a route on 41% of the team’s dropbacks. However, in his limited opportunity, Burden demonstrated incredible efficiency as he was targeted on 26.1% of his routes and averaged 2.83 yards per route.

In 2026, Burden will take on a full-time role, staying on the field in both 11 and 12 personnel and in an emerging passing attack orchestrated by the offensive mastermind Ben Johnson. I don't see a world where Burden does not exceed his current Round 4 ADP. I see 100+ receptions, over 1350 yards, and 8+ touchdowns in store for the second-year receiver in 2026.

Carson Schwesinger | LB | Cleveland Browns

Pitched by: Mike Woellert

Gonna throw in some IDP if I may. In just one season, it’s possible Schwesinger has established himself as one of the top linebackers in the league and IDP fantasy. As a rookie, he took on the green dot as the play caller of the defense.

He finished with a 16.3% tackle rate, resulting in 156 tackles over 956 snaps. He also added 11 TFLs along with 2 INTs and 2.5 sacks. From a fantasy perspective, he finished as the LB6 in most scoring formats, averaging 0.29 points per snap.

Schwesinger was someone I was targeting as a rookie last season, and that hasn’t changed in year 2. Couple that with the fact that, while anecdotal, he’s also reaching out to and learning from Luke Kuechly (another one of my all-time favorite linebackers).

Mike Rutenberg’s system should use the same concepts, which should allow him to hit gaps clean and make more tackles in space with more zone coverage. Schwesinger is my LB1 and my ride or die in 2026 and beyond.

All good suggestions. What do you think? Which one do you agree with? Or do you have your own that isn’t on this list? Amazed no one suggested Ladd McConkey.

Hit me up with YOUR suggestions on social media, where I am @MatthewBerryTMR on all forms of social media. Announcement coming soon.