Editor's note: Every week this season, gay teenage NFL fan Jeremy Brener will give his perspective and predictions for the upcoming week).
The You Can Play Project has been very powerful in promoting equality in the sports world. It unites gay and straight athletes, teammates, and sports fans. Many sports teams on all levels — high school, college, professional — have participated in the project to promote the message that if you can play, you can play.
This week, the New York Giants became the first NFL team to create a You Can Play video.
What I found that was so special about the Giants' video was that the word "gay" was never mentioned. You Can Play centers around LGBT inclusion, but in order to promote LGBT inclusion, you have to promote inclusion of everyone. The Giants conveyed that beautifully in their video.
Every message and video made by the You Can Play project impacts people. The NHL and MLS became partners with You Can Play n 2013, and recently out Bryant University basketball coach Chris Burns was featured in his university's You Can Play video that same year. Now, football is catching up.
Must Reads
The fact that the Giants have taken part in this project is a big step for inclusion in sports. With the Giants becoming the first NFL team to participate in the You Can Play Project, the other 31 organizations should follow suit and the NFL should look into forging a partnership with You Can Play and get on the right side of equality. It could do so much for the many athletes still closeted to their teammates.
Here are some of my Week 8 predictions:
Game of the Week
Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers
I could talk about the battle of undefeateds between Green Bay and Denver on Sunday Night Football, but I think the divisional battle between the undefeated Bengals and the Steelers is an under-the-radar intriguing one to watch. The Bengals have had their best start in team history, and their main competition is the Steelers. QB Ben Roethlisberger might return to the field Sunday in a very important game that could determine the Steelers destiny in 2015. A win for the Bengals puts them at 7-0 and 3.5 games ahead of the Steelers, a very hard deficit for anyone to surpass. A win for the Steelers gives the Bengals their first loss and puts them 1.5 back of Cincinnati. Andy Dalton is having his best season ever, and has defeated some tough opponents to get to their 6-0 mark. Wins against the Seahawks and Bills were impressive, but this is the Bengals' biggest test yet. I think this is going to be a shootout, with the Bengals coming out on top 37-33, improving to 7-0.
Upset of the Week
Oakland Raiders over New York Jets
Two teams that have surpassed expectations already in 2015 meet up in Week 8 with a game that could potentially impact who is in and who is out of the 2015 NFL playoff picture. Crazy to think that a game involving the Jets and the Raiders would have this much significance.
The Jets have been one of the bigger surprises at 4-2 with their much improved defense, thanks to head Coach Todd Bowles, and their shiny new offense led by veteran WRs Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, RB Chris Ivory, and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Raiders have gone even more under-the-radar, but their victory against the Chargers on the road last week showed that this isn't a team that can be overlooked. WR Amari Cooper will head to Revis Island Sunday, but this is an underrated offense. Michael Crabtree, Sean Roberts, and Latavius Murray will be given a chance to shine and an underrated defense led by future Hall of Famer Charles Woodson, 2014 Defensive Rookie of the Year Khalil Mack and 2014 Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith. I like the Raiders by a field goal, 23-20.
Fantasy Start of the Week
Vikings WR Stefon Diggs vs. Chicago Bears
Diggs is a bright spot in an underwhelming rookie receiver class. After Amari Cooper, few rookies have delivered. Breshad Perriman and Kevin White have yet to see the field, DeVante Parker and Jaelen Strong have had little chance to prove themselves. Nelson Agholor is a disappointment in Philly, but Diggs, the 20th wide receiver taken in the draft is looking like a potential star. In three straight games, he has caught at least six passes, and in the last two games, he has more than 100 receiving yards. Last week, he caught one of the prettier touchdowns of the season with a diving catch in the end zone. Diggs' matchup this week is another favorable one, as he faces division foe Chicago at Soldier Field. The Bears have allowed the third-most yards to wide receivers this season, which opens up the opportunity window yet again for the rookie fifth-round pick from Maryland to have an excellent game.
Fantasy Sit of the Week
Cowboys RB Darren McFadden vs. Seahawks
McFadden brought out Vintage DMC last week when he took over for Joseph Randle in the first half against the Giants last week due to injury. He carried the ball 29 times for 152 yards and a touchdown, running for more yards than his first five games combined. McFadden was one of the top waiver wire targets this week, especially considering the fact that Randle's oblique injury could keep him out of the lineup for a while. However, McFadden draws a bad matchup on Sunday against the Seahawks. Seattle has allowed the second fewest yards to running backs this season. There has also been so much confusion in the Dallas backfield this season as Christine Michael has been linked to getting touches at some point during the season. One game doesn't turn DMC from afterthought to superstar. I don't like his lineup and I think people might be blinded by his last game. Don't be fooled and don't start McFadden.
Fantasy Pick-up of the Week
Titans RB David Cobb
His name will come up in a few weeks because he is on Injured Reserve, and he can't play until Week 10 at the earliest due to his IR designation before the year began. The Titans running game has not been very effective this year as nobody has taken the starting job. Bishop Sankey saw two snaps last week, Antonio Andrews hasn't been a wow factor, and Terrance West was completely inactive last week. With Tennessee likely out of contention, Cobb will get his shot late in the year. If he takes that feature back spot late in the year, he could be a sneaky good play come playoff time and could be the guy that turns your team from a pretender to a contender. Stash him if you have a spot on your bench or your IR spot before someone else does.
Lock of the Week
Seattle Seahawks over Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys need some help, and they can't seem to catch a break. Dez Bryant went down Week 1, and Tony Romo Week 2. They haven't won since Romo's injury against Philly. Now, their top RB Joseph Randle is out. They now have to rely on shaky veterans Matt Cassel and Darren McFadden to carry the load. I don't trust those guys against the Legion of Boom and a front seven that has allowed the second fewest yards all season. The Hawks are coming off a long week and should be prepared to get revenge on the Cowboys, who beat them in their house last year. I like the Seahawks to win by three scores and to even their record to 4-4.
Buzzer’s Best Bet
Outsports co-founder Jim Buzinski will make one pick each week against the spread.
Colts +7 at Panthers. Pick: Panthers
The wheels have fallen off the Colts' Super Bowl bandwagon and at 3-4 the ship is sinking fast (how many other vehicle metaphors can I fit in there?). Andrew Luck is not right (his shoulder has to be an issue) and he constantly has been making poor decisions. This is not good against an opportunistic Panthers defense that will overwhelm his line. This is only the second non-division road game for the Colts this season and being away from home on national TV Monday night is a bad combo.
Last week: 0-1. Season: 5-2
Hot Player of the Week
Raiders WR Amari Cooper
The Rams' Todd Gurley looks like the Offensive Rookie of the Year, but don't count Amari Cooper out. The rookie receiver from Alabama posted his third 100-yard game in his sixth career game against the Chargers last week. Mike Ditka is the only other receiver to post 100-yard performances in three of his first six games. Cooper is a deep threat, he's a speed threat, and he's Derek Carr's favorite target. He reminds me of a young Larry Fitzgerald. In each of Oakland's three wins, Cooper posted over 100 yards. In the games where Cooper had less than 100 yards, the Raiders lost. The Raiders have already matched their win total from last year, and Cooper is a big part of the change. The Raiders' success has a lot to do with Cooper's performance, and he could be the one piece that lifts Oakland out of mediocrity.
Jeremy Brener lives in Houston. He can be reached via email ([email protected]) or Twitter (@BrenerJeremy).
Amari Cooper photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports