Week 8 Revenge Games: 5 Players Out to Torch Their Ex-Teams
Last week, I talked about my discovery of B horror movies as my slow entry into that world, and focused on the revenge narrative that runs through the majority of them. Those of you who love this time of the year and the genre of movies associated with it will be happy to know that I have graduated to real horror since last week.
I’ve watched movies that I never thought would even grace my screen, and even made it through a few of them without having to peer through my fingers. And not shockingly, revenge comes into play there too, whether it’s some ancient gods, a witch done dirty back in the Salem days, or a dirty cop seeking revenge for losing a secret love.
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 7 shook out:
- Carson Wentz, QB18, 11.2
- Evan Engram - TE21, 6.7 (half-PPR)
Quarterbacks
Joe Flacco vs. Jets
One of the six teams that Joe Flacco has suited up for in his 18-year NFL career is the Jets, where he was on their roster from 2018-2022. The veteran QB is the QB7 in fantasy points since joining the Bengals in Week 6, and should have a nice revenge contest this week at home against a struggling New York squad. Consider Flacco a high-end QB2 with the retatliation upside of a fringe QB1.
Aaron Rodgers vs. Packers
We've already seen Aaron Rodgers torch in a revenge scenario in Week 1 with a 25.7 fantasy point performance against the Jets, and this week, he gets the team that drafted him back in 2005, where he was under center until 2022. An angry and vengeful Rodgers is a productive one, so expect a solid game in Pittsburgh this week. Consider him a decent streaming candidate or as a QB2 in superflex formats.
Running Backs
Saquon Barkley vs. Giants
Revenge game No. 3 is on tap this week for Saquon Barkley against the team he played for from 2018-2023. His Week 6 production against the Giants wasn't fantastic, as he had 12 carries for 58 yards, but last year in Week 7, Barkley posted a 17-176-1 line. Look for a nice bounce-back this week as he seeks revenge once more.
Javonte Williams @ Broncos
We have a virgin in the revenge narrative streets this week in Javonte Williams. He was drafted by the Broncos in 2021 with the 35th overall pick and spent a total of four seasons in the Mile High City before signing with Dallas this past March. Williams is enjoying a nice bounce back after a not-so-great ending in Denver, as he's the overall RB6 in half-PPR scoring and the RB7 on a per-game basis. This should be a productive week for the 25-year-old as the Broncos are 24th in RB aFPA so far this season, and he's also out for retribution.
Wide Receiver
Curtis Samuel @ Panthers
He's dealing with a rib injury, so he may not be available this week, but Curtis Samuel is facing his former employer from 2017-2020. Samuel did find the end zone in Week 5, so Josh Allen may look to him again last week as he faces a Panthers team he started the NFL with as a second-round draft pick.
