Fantasy football: Week 6 start/sit advice for Team Outsports Equality

With fantasy football so popular, we decided to start our own Outsports team comprised of players who are LGBT supportive.

With no openly gay players in the league, the idea is to form a fantasy team from players who have shown their support for LGBT issues in interviews with us and other media.

Keep in mind that all of the players on our roster have expressed support of LGBT equality. Players benched are not against LGBT equality, but simply the players we do not feel you should start on your fantasy team this week.

Our team scored 116.44 points last week. Strong late heroics from Aaron Rodgers and DeAndre Hopkins helped our team out in a big way. Another big win for Team Equality!

Week 5 start/sits

Quarterback

Start: Aaron Rodgers vs. Vikings

Rodgers is looking terrific as he has brought his team to a very impressive 4-1 record to start the year off. He quieted Cowboys Stadium for the second time this calendar year after winning the game on a fourth-quarter drive. Minnesota is a shaky matchup, but the Vikings are coming off of a short week, and you gotta trust A-Rod.

Sit: Cam Newton vs. Eagles

Newton has been solid since losing to the Saints two weeks ago. The last two games have come on the road to two playoff teams from a year ago in the Patriots and Lions. He faces another tough threat in the Eagles on Thursday night and that is the only real red flag. He should start on all teams that do not have Aaron Rodgers.

Running Back

Start: Jordan Howard vs. Ravens, DeMarco Murray vs. Colts

The 76 yards from Howard were the most among any Bears skill player last week. Rookie QB Mitchell Trubisky will lean heavily on him to try to get him a win on the road in Baltimore following a short week. DeMarco Murray is in the same boat as Howard. He is Tennessee’s most likely skill player to score on Monday night against the Colts with Matt Cassel in and Marcus Mariota out at QB.

Wide Receiver

Start: DeAndre Hopkins vs. Browns, T.Y. Hilton vs. Titans

We are sticking with our Hopkins-Hilton duo. Hopkins had three touchdowns against the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football, even if two of them were in garbage time, it doesn’t matter in the fantasy world. The week before, Hopkins torched the Titans’ secondary. That’s Hilton’s matchup this week. It could lead to the same deal this week.

Sit: Eric Decker vs. Colts

With Mariota still out, Decker is not a fantasy threat. Try to avoid any Titans receivers at all costs.

Tight End

Start: Travis Kelce vs. Steelers

Rob Gronkowski is a shaky start because of his injury. Therefore, we are starting Travis Kelce, though keep an eye on his status as he is in concussion protocol.

Flex

Start: Marquise Goodwin vs. Redskins

Goodwin had 116 receiving yards on five catches last week against the Colts. With very few options in the Niners offense, Goodwin is someone who warrants potential flex plays. With guys like Odell Beckham out and Dez Bryant and A.J. Green on byes, wide receivers will be available on waivers, and Goodwin could be one of the top commodities.

Defense

Start: Carolina Panthers vs. Eagles

The Panthers are on a short week, where games tend to be low-scoring, and they have one of the top defenses in the NFL. Although Carson Wentz threw for four TD’s last week, it is not likely for him to repeat that on the road against a tougher opponent in Carolina.

Kicker

Start: Matt Prater vs. Saints

Prater is still the best kicker on our team, and he’s playing the Saints, a team with a lackluster defense. Expect that game to be a high-scoring affair that could come down to a game-winning field goal.

This is your weekly reminder to check and make sure you sub out your players on bye.

This week’s teams on bye: Bills, Bengals, Cowboys, Seahawks

LGBT focus

Aaron Rodgers

Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images

"I'm incredibly proud of him,” said of Ryan O’Callaghan after his onetime Cal teammate came out as gay. “I know he had a lot of fear about it, and how he would be accepted, and how people would change around him. I think society is finally moving in the right direction, as far as treating all people with respect and love and acceptance and appreciation. And the locker room, I think the sport is getting closer."

Read more on these players’ LGBT views:

• 14 NFL Pro Bowlers say they would welcome a gay teammate (from 2017)
• NFL players react to Michael Sam coming out (from 2014)
• 62 active NFL players who have made statements in support of gays (from 2013)
• Carson Palmer, 12 Indianapolis Colts Would Embrace Openly Gay Teammate (from 2013)

Jeremy Brener is a student at the University of Central Florida who writes for Outsports. He can be reached via email (jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com) and followed on Twitter.