NFL Picks: Backing the Bengals

NFL Picks: Backing the Bengals

This article is part of our NFL Picks series.

Last week was a disaster for Pianowski and me - both of us went 3-10-1 - and as a result the standings got a lot tighter.

This week, we have one unanimous pick, the Bengals.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Dolphins +7.5 at TexansTexansDolphinsDolphinsDolphinsTexans
Eagles -3 vs. Jaguars (London)EaglesEaglesJaguarsEaglesEagles
Browns +8 at SteelersBrownsBrownsSteelersBrownsBrowns
Broncos +10 at ChiefsChiefsBroncosBroncosChiefsChiefs 
Jets +7 at BearsJetsJetsJetsJetsBears    
Redskins -1 at GiantsRedskinsGiantsGiantsRedskinsGiants
Seahawks +3 at LionsLionsSeahawksSeahawksLionsSeahawks
Buccaneers +4.5 at BengalsBengalsBengalsBengalsBengalsBengals 
Ravens -2 at PanthersRavensPanthersRavensRavensRavens
Colts -3 at RaidersRaidersRaidersRaidersRaidersColts
49ers pick 'em at CardinalsCardinals49ersCardinalsCardinalsCardinals
Packers +9.5 at RamsPackersPackersPackersPackersRams 
Saints pick 'em at VikingsVikingsVikingsSaintsSaintsSaints
Patriots -14 at BillsPatriotsBillsBillsBillsPatriots
Best BetTexansEaglesCardinalsDolphinsChiefs
Last Week's Record8-5-13-10-13-10-17-6-17-6-1
2018 Record51-52-459-44-455-48-450-53-450-53-4
Best Bet Record4-35-23-44-33-3-1
2017 Best Bet Record8-7-29-7-112-4-18-7-211-6
Unanimous Pick Record11-11-2
Majority Pick Record56-47-4
2017 Record117-125-14128-114-14117-125-14119-123-1498-144-14
2016 Record133-102-5122-113-5115-120-5108-127-5123-112-5
2015 Record134-114-8120-128-8114-134-8127-121-8121-127-8
2014 Record123-128-5140-111-5135-116-5124-127-5128-123-5
2013 Record132-114-10118-128-10
Last week was a disaster for Pianowski and me - both of us went 3-10-1 - and as a result the standings got a lot tighter.

This week, we have one unanimous pick, the Bengals.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Dolphins +7.5 at TexansTexansDolphinsDolphinsDolphinsTexans
Eagles -3 vs. Jaguars (London)EaglesEaglesJaguarsEaglesEagles
Browns +8 at SteelersBrownsBrownsSteelersBrownsBrowns
Broncos +10 at ChiefsChiefsBroncosBroncosChiefsChiefs 
Jets +7 at BearsJetsJetsJetsJetsBears    
Redskins -1 at GiantsRedskinsGiantsGiantsRedskinsGiants
Seahawks +3 at LionsLionsSeahawksSeahawksLionsSeahawks
Buccaneers +4.5 at BengalsBengalsBengalsBengalsBengalsBengals 
Ravens -2 at PanthersRavensPanthersRavensRavensRavens
Colts -3 at RaidersRaidersRaidersRaidersRaidersColts
49ers pick 'em at CardinalsCardinals49ersCardinalsCardinalsCardinals
Packers +9.5 at RamsPackersPackersPackersPackersRams 
Saints pick 'em at VikingsVikingsVikingsSaintsSaintsSaints
Patriots -14 at BillsPatriotsBillsBillsBillsPatriots
Best BetTexansEaglesCardinalsDolphinsChiefs
Last Week's Record8-5-13-10-13-10-17-6-17-6-1
2018 Record51-52-459-44-455-48-450-53-450-53-4
Best Bet Record4-35-23-44-33-3-1
2017 Best Bet Record8-7-29-7-112-4-18-7-211-6
Unanimous Pick Record11-11-2
Majority Pick Record56-47-4
2017 Record117-125-14128-114-14117-125-14119-123-1498-144-14
2016 Record133-102-5122-113-5115-120-5108-127-5123-112-5
2015 Record134-114-8120-128-8114-134-8127-121-8121-127-8
2014 Record123-128-5140-111-5135-116-5124-127-5128-123-5
2013 Record132-114-10118-128-10123-123-10111-135-10128-118-10
2012 Record110-140-6125-125-6121-129-6143-107-6123-127-6
2011 Record121-128-7134-115-7124-125-7123-126-7127-122-7
2010 Record129-122-5134-117-5126-125-5136-115-5134-117-5
2009 Record123-130-3132-121-3131-122-3130-123-3126-127-3
2008 Record132-114-10128-118-10124-122-10125-121-10130-116-10
2007 Record127-120118-129127-120N/A130-117
2006 Record118-129N/A139-108N/AN/A
2005 Record121-126N/A127-120N/AN/A
2004 Record124-124N/A130-118N/AN/A
2003 Record121-126118-129124-123N/AN/A
2002 Record113-136123-126141-108N/AN/A
2001 Record124-113117-120118-119N/AN/A
2000 Record123-117134-106141-99N/AN/A

Unanimous/Majority Picks

This week we have one unanimous pick: the Bengals. Last week we went 2-2 on unanimous picks, winning with the Titans and Redskins, while losing with the Cardinals and jaguars, bringing our season record at 11-11-2. We went 5-8-1 on majority picks (three or more writers) to bring our season record to 56-47-4. Last year we went 23-28-4 on unanimous picks and 121-121-14 on majority picks.

Comments:

WriterComment
EricksonThe Dolphins are in a world of hurt right now, so I'm probably overreacting to this as a sucker bet. But ... they're missing two OL, at least two WRs and their starting QB (though arguably that isn't as big of a deal as we once thought). Meanwhile, their coach is getting into arguments with the media about injury disclosure, both with Ryan Tannehill and DeVante Parker, and can't figure out how to get Kenyan Drake more than six carries.
PianowskiWon my best bet last week, didn't check in on the rest. The Atlanta non-cover still makes me salty, but these things even out in the long run. When is the long run? I still think the Eagles are a good team. There's nothing I like about the Jaguars offense, and their defensive dominance (shocker of shockers) has not carried over. Philly's also the smarter team. Jacksonville's Europe mojo won't mean a thing when the Eagles are ahead two scores in the first quarter.
LissComing off a brutal week, I find myself especially dog heavy. I don't love any game, but I like the Cardinals as a pick 'em at home, the Giants as home dogs, and the Raiders getting the full field goal at home off the bye against the Colts. I'm also warming up to the Seahawks, Broncos and Packers.
StopaWhy is Houston more than a TD favorite against a decent Dolphins team? Even with a good Houston D teeing off on its old QB, Brock Osweiler, this like should be -3.5 or -4, not -7.5. The Texans just don't score enough points to be such a big favorite against a non-doormat... I'm taking the Raiders and Bills because nobody in the public wants to. Buffalo should be "up" for what amounts to its 2018 Super Bowl (home for MNF against the Pats with Thurman's jersey being retired at halftime).
Del DonI don't feel great being heavy on favorites, but laying big points is easier to do in this new crazy scoring environment. Along with KC, I also like the Giants, Bengals and Colts.

The players:

• Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016 Staff Picks Champ. Writes the Weekly Rankings. Covers and roots for the Bengals.

• Scott Pianowski: Fantasy expert for Yahoo! Sports, and also contributes to Rotowire.com. 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2017 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the Patriots.

• Chris Liss: RotoWire Managing Editor, 2000, 2002, 2006 Staff Picks Champ, 2003, 2004 co-champ. Writes East Coast Offense, Beating the Book and the Survivor column in addition to Staff Picks. Covers and roots for the Giants.

• Mark Stopa: Staff Writer, 2010, 2012 Staff Picks Champ, Writes Run 'N' Shoot. Roots for the Bills.

• Dalton Del Don: Fantasy Expert for Yahoo! Sports, 2007 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the 49ers.

Want to Read More?
Subscribe to RotoWire to see the full article.

We reserve some of our best content for our paid subscribers. Plus, if you choose to subscribe you can discuss this article with the author and the rest of the RotoWire community.

Get Instant Access To This Article Get Access To This Article
RotoWire Community
Join Our Subscriber-Only NFL Chat
Chat with our writers and other RotoWire NFL fans for all the pre-game info and in-game banter.
Join The Discussion
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Liss
Chris Liss was RotoWire's Managing Editor and Host of RotoWire Fantasy Sports Today on Sirius XM radio from 2001-2022.
Streaming Defenses: Week 13 Fantasy Options for Team Defenses
Streaming Defenses: Week 13 Fantasy Options for Team Defenses
Box Score Breakdown: Week 12 Snaps, Routes, Personnel and Usage
Box Score Breakdown: Week 12 Snaps, Routes, Personnel and Usage
NFL Expert Picks: Monday Night Football Ravens at Chargers
NFL Expert Picks: Monday Night Football Ravens at Chargers
NFL Picks and Player Props for Week 12 Monday Night Football
NFL Picks and Player Props for Week 12 Monday Night Football