So far this season, we have seen a lot of players take a stand on social issues, and one player decided to show his support for the LGBT community.
Players in the past have often gotten fined for wearing cleats or headbands that do not fit the NFL’s uniform policy. However, Green Bay Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix decided to show his support to the victims of the Pulse shooting in Orlando by wearing an Orlando United shirt under his jersey during his win against the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football.
Clinton-Dix is an Orlando native who attended the University of Alabama and he was drafted in the first round by the Packers in the 2014 NFL Draft. He led his team in tackles last season.
As a gay teenager now living and attending college in Orlando, it means a lot to me for someone standing for the Orlando LGBT community. I have only lived in Orlando for two months now, but I have built a home here very quickly and the people here have become my family.
When I heard the news of the Orlando massacre back in June, I was still living in Texas and I was apprehensive about coming to school in Orlando. It struck a deep chord with me and it really made me question what it meant to be gay. However, coming to Orlando made me realize how fortunate I am to be a part of two great communities: the LGBT community and the Orlando community.
Thank you Ha Ha for being united with Orlando and the LGBT communities.
Here is what you need to know for Week 6:
Game of the Week
Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers
It has taken only five weeks for Dallas to match its 2015 win total, and they have done it all with a backup quarterback, rookie Dak Prescott. Green Bay is coming off a win after their bye week, but they looked shaky at home against the Giants. Can they win a second straight game against an NFC East opponent?
If the Packers are going to win this game, the Aaron Rodgers from last week cannot show up. Two interceptions from Rodgers was very uncharacteristic of him, as he has only had four such games since 2014. Despite Green Bay’s 3-1 record, they are second in their division behind Minnesota.
Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliott leads the league in rushing behind the NFL’s best offensive line, and it could be a large factor in how the game ends on Sunday. Will Dallas’s run attack outplay Green Bay’s passing attack?
It may be an unpopular opinion, but I like Dallas in this game. Dallas is riding on momentum and looked really good against Cincinnati and the defense has not given up more than 17 points in the last three games. Green Bay might be without Randall Cobb, which will restrict their offense greatly.
Cowboys 27, Packers 17
Upset of the Week
Washington Redskins over Philadelphia Eagles
This is going to be one of the most entertaining games of the week. The Eagles started out with three straight wins to begin the season and came off their bye week with a loss to the Lions. Meanwhile, the Redskins are winners of three straight and are coming off an impressive road win against the Ravens.
The Redskins are starting to look more like the team that won the NFC East last season. Kirk Cousins is sixth in the NFL in yards, and he has a plethora of receivers he can throw to. Jordan Reed is in concussion protocol, but if he can make it back for Sunday’s game, I like Washington’s chances to win. The defense has also come on lately, allowing only 10 points in their win last week.
The Eagles took their first loss last week, losing by one on the road to Detroit. Carson Wentz threw his first interception on his final pass of the game. The Eagles have remained healthy to start out the season, and their last win came against the impressive Steelers. This team has the potential to contend in the NFC, but they need to get back to their winning ways, and this divisional game is the first opportunity for them to get back on that road.
Jordan Reed’s status could mean a lot for this game. If he plays, I like Washington’s chances. Washington is also playing this game at home, which could make all the difference. This game could have a major impact on how things look at the end of the year, and I like Washington to win its fourth straight.
Redskins 26, Eagles 23
Fantasy Start of the Week
Titans TE Delanie Walker
In four games this year, Walker has scored in just two. However, when he scores, he is seen as Marcus Mariota’s favorite and most reliable target. This week, expect him to score when he faces the Browns, the team allowing the most points to opposing tight ends. Last week against Cleveland, Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett combined for 11 catches, 178 yards, and three touchdowns. Like Bennett, Walker is the leading receiver for his team, so look for him to gain an even larger lead when the Browns come to town.
Fantasy Sit of the Week
Chargers WR Travis Benjamin
Despite 117 receiving yards last week against the Raiders, Benjamin is my sit for the week. The Chargers are facing the Broncos, arguably the league’s best defense and the Chargers’ receiving corps has been one of the most inconsistent in the league. Two of their best receivers, Keenan Allen and Danny Woodhead, won’t return this season after tearing their ACL’s. Last week, Benjamin played well, as did teammate Tyrell Williams. But the week before, they were off, and another teammate Dontrelle Inman was the leading receiver. Finding out who the top Chargers receiver will be is a crapshoot, and against the league’s best defense on a short week is not something I would touch. Avoid starting Benjamin and all Chargers receivers this week.
Fantasy Pick-up of the Week
Saints WR Michael Thomas
Thomas scored in New Orleans’ last two games before their Week 5 bye. He did get a lot of Willie Snead’s targets while he was sidelined with a toe injury, but I still like Thomas moving forward. This week, the Saints face Carolina, a team with a more than suspect secondary. Thomas has at least a touchdown or 50 receiving yards in each of his first four games, and that number should grow when Carolina plays New Orleans this week. This should be a fast-paced game with a lot of scoring and it would not surprise me if Thomas found the end zone at some point during the game.
Lock of the Week
Pittsburgh Steelers over Miami Dolphins
Even though the season isn’t even halfway over, it might be the best for the Dolphins to start thinking about 2017. They’ve started the year 1-4 and their lone win came against the winless Browns. Last week’s loss against the Titans struck a nerve with the team.
The Dolphins gave up 235 rushing yards to the Titans, and now they have to face one of the league’s best teams in the Steelers. The Steelers are talented on both sides of the ball, but on offense, they have quite possibly the most dominant unit in the league.
Antonio Brown leads the league with five touchdowns, and the offense is also one of the deepest we have seen in recent years. Sammie Coates is in the Top 10 in the league in receiving yards, Jesse James ranks second amongs tight ends in touchdowns, and DeAngelo Williams has three touchdowns this season.
The Dolphins released two of their starting linemen from last week’s game. They gave up six sacks to the Dolphins and only had 51 rushing yards. The offensive line for Miami is troublesome and they will make a decent Pittsburgh defense look incredible. Tannehill also threw two interceptions last week, which doesn’t give me much hope that the Dolphins can pull the win out of the hat this week.
If the Dolphins win this game, they might as well be considered magicians, because they would completely fool everyone.
Steelers 41, Dolphins 17
Buzzer's Best Bet
Outsports co-founder Jim Buzinski will make one pick each week against the spread.
Cowboys +4.5 at Packers
Pick: Packers
The Packers have beaten the Cowboys five straight time, four of them in Green Bay where the closest margin of victory was five points. Rodgers gets it together and Prescott finally throws a pick.
Jeremy Brener is a student at the University of Central Florida who writes a weekly NFL column for Outsports. He can be reached via email ([email protected]) and followed on Twitter.
