Week 3 Revenge Games: 5 Players Out to Torch Their Ex-Teams
When starting to write this column this week, the movie Revenge of the Nerds popped into my head. You young folks missed out on a classic 80s college flick full of cheesy one-liners and overexaggerated jock and nerd stereotypes. It was glorious. The nerds won in the end via a musical competition, and the head nerd gets the hot girl.
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.
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Before I get into this week's revengers, let’s look at how Week 2 shook out: (hint- it was not a great one for revenge)
- Geno Smith: QB34, 3.2 FP
- Joe Flacco: QB28, 8.8 FP
- D'Andre Swift: RB24, 12.4 (half-PPR)
- David Montgomery: RB23: 12.6 (half-PPR)
- DK Metcalf: WR39, 9.5 (half-PPPR)
- Elijah Moore:: WR35, 10.2 (half-PPR)
Week 3 Revenge Seekers
This is a light week for players with contests against their former teams; the schedule gods weren't feeling so vengeful, I guess.
Quarterbacks
Jake Browning (CIN) @ Vikings
With Joe Burrow sidelined due to a toe injury and no return date set, Jake Browning gets the starting nod for the Bengals in Week 3 and likely beyond. He begins his gig on the road against a Minnesota team that he signed with as an undrafted free agent in April of 2019, and went on to be waived and re-signed to the practice squad several times over the next few seasons until getting waived for the last time during final roster cuts in August of 2021.
We have to assume there is some bitterness there towards the organization, and Browning will also be out to prove himself in general. He has the weaponry and posted 241 passing yards and a touchdown with another score via his legs when stepping in last week for Burrow. Against a medium Minnesota defense, consider Browning a QB2 with revenge upside.
Marcus Mariota (WAS) vs. Raiders
It’s not locked in yet, but there’s a very solid chance Marcus Mariota will be under center for the Commanders this week while Jayden Daniels nurses a sprained knee. The 31-year-old has played for five NFL teams since 2014 and was a member of the Raiders from 2020 to 2021. He’s likely not startable in single QB formats, but he could be viable in superflex or 2QB leagues, as Las Vegas yielded 18.8 fantasy points to Justin Herbert last week and 15.3 to Drake Maye in Week 1.
Running Backs
J.K. Dobbins (DEN) @ Chargers
Last year was a fruitful one for J.K. Dobbins in LA as he played in 13 contests and produced a 195-905-9 line rushing, with 32 catches for 153 yards also on the stat sheet. He ended 2024 as the RB17 in half-PPR scoring per contest and then was given the UFA tender by the Chargers in April, eventually signing with Denver in June.
There was concern about his volume when the Broncos drafted rookie R.J. Harvey, but so far, it appears Dobbins is their lead back as he’s seen 33 touches to Harvey’s 13 through the first two contests, and he’s making things happen as the current RB11 in half-PPR scoring. Fire up Dobbins this week as he battles the AFC West rival Chargers and his former employer.
Wide Receivers
Christian Kirk (HOU) @ Jaguars
He practiced on Wednesday for the first time this season, so things are at least looking up for Christian Kirk. If he’s a go, a revenge tilt against the team he played for from 2022-2024 is a wonderful way to begin his time in Houston.
Kirk would seemingly slide in after Nico Collins in the WR pecking order and could be a spark to C.J. Stroud and this struggling offense on Sunday. Monitor his progress, but a retribution contest could elevate the 28-year-old to WR34/flex status.
Tight End
Jonnu Smith (PIT) @ Patriots
Averaging five targets a game so far, Jonnu Smith is mainly a floor play for those needing a warm body at TE. Now in Pittsburgh, Smith spent last season in Miami and was a member of the New England Patriots from 2021 to 2022, where he had 539 receiving yards and just one score while sharing the TE room with Hunter Henry. Steeler QB Aaron Rodgers just had a stellar revenge game to start the 2025 season, so maybe he gives Smith some extra love on Sunday.
