This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
This is the closest the Staff Picks has been in its 15 seasons - with eight games separating first and last place. Pianowski took the lead in Week 16 with an 11-5 mark, and I'm one game back. It's likely to come down to the two of us, barring a collapse and a huge week from DDD. We have one unanimous pick this week, the Ravens.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguars +9.5 at Texans | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Texans | Jaguars |
| Colts -7 at Titans | Titans | Colts | Titans | Titans | Titans |
| Browns +10 at Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens |
| Bills +4.5 at Patriots | Patriots | Bills | Bills | Patriots | Bills |
| Jets +6 at Dolphins | Dolphins | Jets | Jets | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Bears +6 at Vikings | Vikings | Bears | Bears | Vikings | Bears |
| Chargers +1 at Chiefs | Chargers | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chargers | Chargers |
| Eagles +3 at Giants | Giants | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles |
| Cowboys -6 at Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Cowboys | Redskins |
| Saints -4 at Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Saints | Saints |
| Lions +7.5 at Packers | Lions | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers |
| Panthers +4 at Falcons | Panthers | Panthers | Falcons | Panthers | Panthers |
| Rams +12.5 at Seahawks | Rams | Seahawks | Rams | Seahawks | Rams |
| Cardinals +6 at 49ers | 49ers | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | 49ers |
| Raiders +14 at Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Raiders | Broncos |
| Bengals +3.5 at Steelers | Bengals | Steelers | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals |
| Best Bet | Chargers | Broncos | Bills | Cardinals | Packers |
| Last Week's Record | 9-7 | 11-5 | 9-7 | 6-10 | 8-8 |
| 2014 Record | 119-117-4 | 126-110-4 | 125-111-4 | 118-118-4 | 121-115-4 |
| Best Bet Record | 6-10 | 4-12 | 11-5 | 9-6-1 | 8-8 |
| Majority Record | 128-108-4 | ||||
| Unanimous |
This is the closest the Staff Picks has been in its 15 seasons - with eight games separating first and last place. Pianowski took the lead in Week 16 with an 11-5 mark, and I'm one game back. It's likely to come down to the two of us, barring a collapse and a huge week from DDD. We have one unanimous pick this week, the Ravens.
Unanimous/Majority Picks
The players:
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguars +9.5 at Texans | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Texans | Jaguars |
| Colts -7 at Titans | Titans | Colts | Titans | Titans | Titans |
| Browns +10 at Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens |
| Bills +4.5 at Patriots | Patriots | Bills | Bills | Patriots | Bills |
| Jets +6 at Dolphins | Dolphins | Jets | Jets | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Bears +6 at Vikings | Vikings | Bears | Bears | Vikings | Bears |
| Chargers +1 at Chiefs | Chargers | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chargers | Chargers |
| Eagles +3 at Giants | Giants | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles |
| Cowboys -6 at Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Cowboys | Redskins |
| Saints -4 at Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Saints | Saints |
| Lions +7.5 at Packers | Lions | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers |
| Panthers +4 at Falcons | Panthers | Panthers | Falcons | Panthers | Panthers |
| Rams +12.5 at Seahawks | Rams | Seahawks | Rams | Seahawks | Rams |
| Cardinals +6 at 49ers | 49ers | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | 49ers |
| Raiders +14 at Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Raiders | Broncos |
| Bengals +3.5 at Steelers | Bengals | Steelers | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals |
| Best Bet | Chargers | Broncos | Bills | Cardinals | Packers |
| Last Week's Record | 9-7 | 11-5 | 9-7 | 6-10 | 8-8 |
| 2014 Record | 119-117-4 | 126-110-4 | 125-111-4 | 118-118-4 | 121-115-4 |
| Best Bet Record | 6-10 | 4-12 | 11-5 | 9-6-1 | 8-8 |
| Majority Record | 128-108-4 | ||||
| Unanimous Pick Record | 19-15 | ||||
| 2013 Record | 132-114-10 | 118-128-10 | 123-123-10 | 111-135-10 | 128-118-10 |
| 2012 Record | 110-140-6 | 125-125-6 | 121-129-6 | 143-107-6 | 123-127-6 |
| 2011 Record | 121-128-7 | 134-115-7 | 124-125-7 | 123-126-7 | 127-122-7 |
| 2010 Record | 129-122-5 | 134-117-5 | 126-125-5 | 136-115-5 | 134-117-5 |
| 2009 Record | 123-130-3 | 132-121-3 | 131-122-3 | 130-123-3 | 126-127-3 |
| 2008 Record | 132-114-10 | 128-118-10 | 124-122-10 | 125-121-10 | 130-116-10 |
| 2007 Record | 127-120 | 118-129 | 127-120 | N/A | 130-117 |
| 2006 Record | 118-129 | N/A | 139-108 | N/A | N/A |
| 2005 Record | 121-126 | N/A | 127-120 | N/A | N/A |
| 2004 Record | 124-124 | N/A | 130-118 | N/A | N/A |
| 2003 Record | 121-126 | 118-129 | 124-123 | N/A | N/A |
| 2002 Record | 113-136 | 123-126 | 141-108 | N/A | N/A |
| 2001 Record | 124-113 | 117-120 | 118-119 | N/A | N/A |
| 2000 Record | 123-117 | 134-106 | 141-99 | N/A | N/A |
Unanimous/Majority Picks
This week, we have one unanimous pick: the Ravens. Last week we went 1-0 on unanimous picks to go 19-15 on the year. And we went 8-8 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 128-108-4.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
| Erickson | I really hope I'm not wrong on my Bengals yet again. It's entirely possible... Maybe losing Alex Smith isn't a huge deal, maybe it is. I'll go with the team that can clinch a playoff birth with the win. |
| Pianowski | The league did a wise thing a few years back when it switched to the all-division matchups for the finale. Nonetheless, we have a bunch of curious and quirky Week 17 games. If Andy Dalton takes me down for the second straight week, perhaps it's just not meant to be. I also expect Green Bay's home offense to unmask the frauds of Detroit, and KC to give an honest effort against San Diego. I had no idea what to do in the NFC South, same as it was all season. The Arizona-San Francisco game also felt impossible to handicap; I reflexively grabbed the points. Usually it's hard for to me to lay double digits with anyone, but I fell for Denver's need and Seattle's recent form. |
| Liss | The Bills are a decent team, and I don't expect the Patriots to go all out this week with home field locked up. Curious to see I was the only one on the Falcons - they're better at home and have played better the last few weeks. |
| Stopa | I get points with a playoff team while fading the Jim Harbaugh 49ers funeral? Sign me up. I'd bet my own money here if I were in Vegas... Oakland is better than its record indicates, and it's stood toe to toe with several good teams over the course of the year... Have to take SD with the Alex Smith news. |
| Del Don | Week 17 is as crazy as ever. I'll go with the Packers as my best bet, though I worry about Aaron Rodgers' health. |
The players:
•Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008, 2013 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 and 2011 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.
