Week 16 Revenge Games: 5 Players Out to Torch Their Ex-Teams
Revenge is always on the table when it comes to music. We could be here for days talking about all the songs written to get back at someone. Here's a list of some of the all-time greats, with some new ones mixed in, too. These are in no particular order.
- “You Oughta Know” - Alanis Morissette
- “Cry Me a River” - Justin Timberlake
- “You’re So Vain” - Carly Simon
- “Idiot Wind” - Bob Dylan
- “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” - Nancy Sinatra
- “Gives You Hell” - The All-American Rejects
- “Smile” - Lily Allen
- "Better than Revenge" - Taylor Swift
- "Bad Guy" - Eminem
- "Your Time Is Gonna Come" - Led Zeppelin
- “Vigilante Sh-t”- Taylor Swift
- “Goodbye Earl” - The Chicks
- “Forget You” - CeeLoGreen
Revenge is always on the minds of those done dirty, and not all NFL players who changed teams were necessarily wronged, but we have to assume some sort of vengeance lies within. I outlined what I found from 10 years of data in the article Revenge Games: 10 Years of Data on Fantasy Breakouts vs. Former Teams, and this weekly article dives into who’s seeking retribution each week.
Before I get into this week's revenge seekers, let’s look at how Week 15 shook out:
- Jared Goff - QB5 (25.5)
- Matthew Stafford - QB11 (20.9)
- Jonnu Smith - TE11 (9.6)
- Mack Hollins - WR50 (6.1)
- Stefon Diggs - WR67 (4.1)
Baker Mayfield @ Panthers
In July of 2022, Baker Mayfield was traded to the Panthers from Cleveland for a conditional fifth-round draft pick (2024). He competed against Sam Darnold for the starting QB gig and won the Week 1 job. Mayfield ended up getting hurt in Week 5, the team was horrendous, and he requested a release from Carolina, which was granted on December 5, 2022.
He enters this NFC South revenge battle as the overall QB13 and the QB18 in fantasy points per game with 16.3. Mayfield has Mike Evans back and is fighting for his team's playoff life, and combined with the revenge factor, should produce as a low-end QB1.
Marcus Mariota vs. Eagles
He had a cup of coffee with Philly in 2023, but it counts, I guess, since Marcus Mariota did play in three contests where he threw for a total of 164 yards and a touchdown on 23 attempts, with eight carries for 52 yards. He's likely not out for too much revenge, but it could be a tough week for Mariota as the Eagles rank fourth in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed, yielding just 12.2 fantasy points to QBs this season.
Colby Parkinson @ Seahawks
He's one of three TEs who have revenge contests this week, and Colby Parkinson could have a look at me now moment on Thursday night. He was a member of the Seahawks from 2020-2023, and he's back in Seattle as the current TE1 for the Rams. Parkinson has averaged 5.6 targets per game in the last three weeks and has found the end zone in six of his last seven contests. Parkinson could be a top 10 TE in Week 16.
Mike Gesicki @ Miami
He began his career in Miami in 2018, and Mike Gesicki returns to South Florida this week as a Bengal. The Dolphins allow the third-most in aFPA to opposing TEs, so Gesicki could have a decent week as a fantasy TE2.
Evan Engram vs. Jaguars
His season hasn't exactly panned out as many hoped in Denver, as he's averaging a mere 4.9 in half-PPR scoring per game as the TE33, but Evan Engram arrived in the Mile High City after three seasons in a Jaguar uniform. He'll likely want some retribution this week, and Sean Payton and Bo Nix may just give him an uptick in looks. Engram isn't advisable as a TE1, but could be used as a desperation flex considering the narrative.
