Week 2 Revenge Games: 3 Players Out to Torch Their Ex-Teams

I decided to search for some famous revenge stories in history to include each week in this article, and this first one was super petty, but also pretty sweet. When France was lost during World War 2, French caretakers actually went and cut the elevator cables in the Eiffel Tower so Hitler would have to take the stairs. He chose not to climb the 1,665 steps to view the city, and the attraction remained closed to the public throughout the German occupation.

In the NFL, revenge translates to a player having themselves a day against a former team they’ve played for. 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 column will dive 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 1 shook out:

Revenge was had by both, as the duo found the end zone.

• Aaron Jones: RB24, 10.0 (half-PPR)
• Demarcus Robinson: WR22, 12.0 (half-PPR)

Week 2 Revenge Seekers

Baker Mayfield (TB) vs. Browns

The crown jewel of retribution narrative street, Baker Mayfield will face the Browns team that selected him first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. Mayfield played for Cleveland from 2018 to 2021 before being traded to the Carolina Panthers in July 2022 in exchange for a conditional fifth-round draft pick. Last week was a rough start for the 31-year-old, as he fumbled the ball three times on his way to a 23-216-0 stat line, with 30 rushing yards and a touchdown with his legs.

The current Browns are a cure for what ails players, as they allowed Trevor Lawrence to have his way last week, throwing for 245 yards and four touchdowns. Mayfield is in fantasy QB2 territory this week with revenge upside.

Evan Engram (DEN) vs. Jaguars

He was the one bright spot in a brutal Week 1 game for the Broncos, and Evan Engram gets an opportunity for some retaliation at home in Week 2. The Broncos host the Jaguars on Sunday afternoon, the team Engram was a part of from 2022-2024. He caught 4-of-5 targets last week for 43 yards and a score as the TE8 on the week, but expecting that again may not be the best idea.

We have to assume that the other weaponry for Bo Nix will be activated this week after such a poor performance by all, and Engram will fall back in line. Consider him a low-end fantasy TE2 with some retribution baked in.

Chase McLaughlin (TB) vs. Browns

Yes, I am aware that a kicker getting revenge is not actually a thing, but I just wanted to point out that both Chase McLaughlin and Mayfield were together on the Browns roster in 2021. Running up the score would likely be something they are both interested in.