With no openly gay players in the league, we formed a fantasy team from players who have shown their support for LGBT issues in interviews with Outsports and other media.
Here are our starts and sits for Week 15:
Quarterback
Start: Russell Wilson @ 49ers
I feel like it’s finally time we show Russell Wilson the respect he deserves. He gets the start this week because he’s facing a terrible defense in the 49ers. Despite a poor performance Monday night against the Vikings where he threw for less than 100 yards, he dropped four TD’s against the Niners the week before, so he’s bound to have a good week.
Sit: Andrew Luck vs. Cowboys, Cam Newton vs. Saints (MNF), Derek Carr @ Bengals, Aaron Rodgers @ Bears
Rodgers played well in his first game without head coach Mike McCarthy, but this week, he draws the Bears, a team that allowed just six points to the best offense in the league on Sunday Night Football.
Running back
Start: Jordan Howard vs. Packers, Frank Gore @ Vikings
Howard and Gore played well last week despite tough matchups against the Rams and Patriots, respectively. This week both battle teams within the NFC North, where running is hard to come by, but definitely manageable for both these backs.
Sit: Giovani Bernard vs. Raiders, Kyle Juszczyk @ 49ers
I’m praying for the day to come where Kyle Juszczyk pulls a Derrick Henry and runs for 250 yards and four touchdowns, but I don’t think that day will come this week.
Wide receiver
Start: DeAndre Hopkins @ Jets (Sat.), Adam Thielen vs. Dolphins
This is your reminder that there are Saturday NFL games this week. Both Hopkins and Thielen had some of their worst performances of the season last week, but look for them to bounce back as both draw favorable AFC East matchups.
Sit: Marquise Goodwin vs. Seahawks, Kenny Stills @ Vikings, T.Y. Hilton vs. Cowboys, Robert Woods vs. Eagles (SNF), Davante Adams @ Bears
These are some horrid matchups for the backups. However, Woods is an exception facing the injury-laden Eagles on Sunday Night Football.
Tight end/Flex
Start: Rob Gronkowski @ Steelers, Travis Kelce vs. Chargers (TNF)
Both Gronk and Kelce face huge games this week with the largest of playoff implications on each of them. Look for both of them to be a huge focal point in each team’s respective offense.
Defense
Start: Baltimore Ravens vs. Buccaneers
With our usual pick, the Chargers, facing Kansas City on Thursday Night Football, another option had to be brought to the forefront. The Ravens make sense given that they are facing a team in a cold-weather environment that is not used to it and the defense is dominant at home. They are the top defense in the league that nearly took down the league’s top offense. Terrell Suggs and the Ravens are legit.
Kicker
Start: Brandon McManus vs. Browns (Sat.)
Both of these kickers are not the greatest play this week, but McManus edges out Prater for the simple fact that he’s at home playing in an important game. Meanwhile, Prater heads out to Buffalo in a useless game against a top-notch defense on the road.
Sit: Matt Prater @ Bills
(See above.)
LGBT Focus
Read more on these players’ LGBT views:
- These eight players would support a gay teammate (from 2018)
- These New England Patriots linemen would support a gay teammate (from 2018)
- 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 ([email protected]) and followed on Twitter.
