After three weeks of the NFL season, we have now gained further knowledge as to who we should buy into and who we should not.
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 Team Outsports Equality’s Starts and Sits for Week 4:
Quarterback
Start: Andrew Luck vs. Texans
With Aaron Rodgers banged up and Cam Newton on a bye this week, Andrew Luck slides into the starting lineup. He faces the Texans, one of the worst defenses in the league so far. If the Texans made Eli Manning look elite, imagine what they would do to Luck.
Sit: Aaron Rodgers vs. Bills, Cam Newton (BYE), Derek Carr vs. Browns, Russell Wilson @ Cardinals
The Browns defense has been one of the league’s best thru three weeks. Don’t expect Derek Carr to change that.
Russell Wilson’s offense is still one I don’t trust fully, especially the passing game before Doug Baldwin’s return from injury.
Running back
Start: Jordan Howard @ Buccaneers
Howard had a bounce back game with a touchdown against the Cardinals, and with the Bucs in town, Howard could be in for another solid game.
Start: Giovani Bernard @ Falcons
In his move to the starting lineup last week, Gio Bernard found the end zone. In a game against a depleted Falcons’ defense, chances are he’ll find himself there again.
Sit: Frank Gore @ Patriots, Kyle Juszczyk @ Chargers
Juszczyk had a receiving touchdown last week, but is without his quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Meanwhile, Gore is still playing second fiddle to Kenyan Drake in Miami and serves purely as a mentor.
Wide receiver
Start: DeAndre Hopkins @ Colts
Hopkins has had a rough go at it to begin the season, but his numbers are there. He’s still Deshaun Watson’s favorite target and managed to find the end zone.
Start: Adam Thielen @ Rams
Thielen had 14 catches for more than 100 yards last week against the Bills despite the team’s offensive woes. He’s picked up right where he left off last year.
Sit: Davante Adams (vs. Bills), Marquise Goodwin @ Chargers, T.Y. Hilton vs. Texans, Kenny Stills @ Patriots, Robert Woods vs. Vikings
Woods had a great performance against the Chargers, but he might not have the same results next week with a tough matchup in a short week against the Vikings. Kenny Stills and T.Y. Hilton also had great performances last week, but fails to make our lineup.
Marquise Goodwin is without his starting QB, which means he will likely revert to the bench full-time for good.
Tight end/Flex
Start: Rob Gronkowski vs. Dolphins, Travis Kelce @ Broncos (MNF)
Despite Gronk’s bad week in Detroit, he is still worth a start on our team this week. Travis Kelce has the top QB in the league right now in Patrick Mahomes, so he becomes our flex in this lineup.
Defense
Start: Los Angeles Chargers vs. 49ers
The Chargers got lucky as they are the first team that the Niners will play without Garoppolo. They get to face a backup QB at home. Very good matchup.
Kicker
Start: Matt Prater @ Cowboys
Prater knocked down four field goals against the Patriots last week, a step in the right direction for Prater as we start him for the second straight week.
Sit: Brandon McManus vs. Chiefs (MNF)
McManus only had two extra points last week on the road. He is back at home though, but a matchup against the Chiefs is not favorable for the offense.
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.