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.

Last week’s team did OK. Good performances by Carson Palmer and Rob Gronkowski carried the team, but duds from the running backs limited the team’s potential this week. The team scored 76.38, lower than six but higher than four teams in our Yahoo fantasy league.

Week 3
Quarterback
Start: Aaron Rodgers vs. Bengals

Rodgers is facing Cincinnati at home. Rodgers is a far better QB at Lambeau than other fields and even though the Bengals have fared well against quarterbacks so far this season, he is due for a solid start after last week’s loss to the Falcons.

Sit: Cam Newton vs. Saints
Despite a favorable matchup against New Orleans, Newton has performed well under par this season. He has thrown for just under 200 yards per game this season and he just lost his most popular target in Greg Olsen due to injury. Cam is no longer someone you must start week in and week out. We’d rather start A-Rod this week.

Running Back
Start: Jordan Howard vs. Steelers, DeMarco Murray vs. Seahawks

Howard is our top running back and despite a bad game last week against Tampa Bay, the Bears will look towards going back to their bread and butter and give the ball back to their best player.

Despite Murray’s failure to reach his 2016 marks so far this season, he is still a running back to trust.

Sit: Frank Gore vs. Browns, Gio Bernard vs. Packers

Gore takes a seat on the bench because the Colts offense has been anemic thus far. He is not even an RB2 and options in free agency are superior to Gore at this point (Chris Carson in Seattle, Javorious Allen in Baltimore, Chris Thompson in Washington). Bernard is in a running back by committee in Cincy and the team is leaning towards giving Joe Mixon the bulk of the carries as the season rolls forward.

Wide Receiver

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

These guys are our two best receivers, and both are the top options in two poor offenses. Hopkins is the most targeted receiver in the league and is a no-brainer. He is going against a Patriots team that ranks 31st against the pass.

Hilton is more of a question mark, given that he has less than 60 receiving yards in each of the first two games this season. However, given our lack of depth at the receiver position, Hilton makes the most sense. We need more wide receiver depth. If you are an LGBT-friendly wide receiver, please express your support and join the squad.

Sit: Eric Decker vs. Seahawks

Decker is really the only other receiver we have worth considering starting. However, his matchup against the Seattle secondary is troublesome and with Corey Davis injured, it is likely that Decker will see Richard Sherman a lot on Sunday. Anybody who Sherman guards is a bad match.

Tight End

Start: Travis Kelce vs. Chargers

A favorable matchup for Kelce against L.A. The Chargers are in the middle of the league in terms of points given up to tight ends, but Kelce is not an average tight end. He is the top receiving threat in KC and had a ridiculous leaping touchdown last week against the Eagles. With Greg Olsen out and Rob Gronkowski questionable vs. the Texans, Kelce is a great guy to start in either the tight end or the flex spot.

Flex

Start: Delanie Walker vs. Seahawks

Walker has been strong so far this season. He has had more than 60 yards in both games this season and even had a rushing touchdown last week in a win versus Jacksonville. With a decent matchup against Seattle at hand, Walker is set to have another game as a solid tight end or flex option.

Defense

Start: Green Bay Packers

Lead by Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, the team faces Cincinnati. That should be reason enough. Cincy has failed to score a touchdown this season in eight quarters at home. Imagine what will happen when they go on the road. Look for the Packers to take advantage of the situation.

Sit: Carolina Panthers

Despite only giving up three points last week, the team draws Drew Brees and the Saints this week. Never start a team that faces a high-octane offense like New Orleans.

Kicker

Start: Matt Prater, Lions vs. Falcons
Prater gets his second straight start on our team thanks to another kick from beyond 50 yards. His Monday Night Football kick from 56 yards bounced off the goal post and in for three points. Prater is always a solid option.

LGBT focus
Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina Panthers

“I think it’d be great [to have a gay player]. It’s a very open and honest group of guys. The locker room is a very understanding group and I think he would be treated no differently than everybody else.”

Olsen is out for at least eight weeks with a broken foot. Outsports wishes him a speedy recovery.
Read more on these players’ LGBT views:

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

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