Revenge can be hit or miss
FANTASY football managers, just like everyday society, crave drama, so it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to see the community seek out narratives to help instigate more drama. And is there any narrative more exciting than that of the revenge game?
It used to be a once-in-a-while moment when a player squared off against his former team and post a stat line for the ages. Current Rams wide receiver DeSean Jackson was the poster boy, as he routinely dropped 100-yard, multi-touchdown efforts against former teams, and fantasy managers craved the vindictiveness.
But as player movement has increased, it seems like there are multiple revenge-game narratives each and every week, making it the Sex Panther of narratives: 60 percent of the time, it works every time.
Week 4 is no exception, as we are presented with the ultimate revenge game when Tom Brady heads to New England as visitor for the first time. Too bad he likely will be without Rob Gronkowski, who is listed as doubtful.
As if Brady and his Buccaneers’ henchmen winning the Super Bowl in their home stadium weren’t enough, excerpts have leaked from Sam Wickersham’s new book — “It’s Better to Be Feared,” which details the decline of the relationship between Brady and Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
But the Brady-Belichick saga isn’t the only revenge dish being served this week. The Colts travel to Miami, where they will face their former quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, who has been tasked to lead the Dolphins in the wake of an injury to Tua Tagovailoa. Is Brissett worth a start in fantasy, though? Probably not.
Jets wide receiver Corey Davis will face his old team, the Titans. Being a part of the Jets’ dysfuntional offense puts him in a tough spot, but the Titans’ secondary issues might make him worthy of a start.
If revenge is a dish best served cold, then it will be freezing in New England. Trusting in the other revenge narratives, unfortunately, offers you more risk than reward. You might be left hungry when the final whistles blow.
Howard Bender is the VP of operations and head of content at Fantasy-Alarm. com. Follow him on Twitter @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy football advice.