NFL Picks: Backing the Vikings

NFL Picks: Backing the Vikings

This article is part of our NFL Picks series.

Pianowski had another huge week, going 11-3, and he now leads me by four games. Everyone else is garbage, particularly DDD.

This week, we have but one unanimous pick, the Vikings, which also happen to be my best bet. Erickson and DDD both made the Patriots their best bets.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Chiefs -3 at RaidersRaidersRaidersRaidersChiefsChiefs
Titans -6 at BrownsTitansBrownsBrownsTitansTitans
Jaguars -3 at ColtsJaguarsColtsColtsJaguarsColts
Ravens +5.5 at VikingsVikingsVikingsVikingsVikingsVikings
Jets +3 at DolphinsDolphinsJetsDolphinsJetsDolphins
Buccaneers +3 at BillsBillsBuccaneersBuccaneersBillsBills
Panthers -3.5 at BearsPanthersBearsPanthersPanthersPanthers
Saints -5.5 at PackersPackersPackersPackersPackersSaints
Cardinals +3.5 vs.* RamsRamsRamsCardinalsRamsCardinals
Cowboys -6 at 49ers49ers49ers49ers49ersCowboys
Bengals +5.5 at SteelersBengalsBengalsSteelersBengalsBengals
Seahawks -6 at GiantsGiantsSeahawksGiantsSeahawksGiants
Broncos +1.5 at ChargersBroncosBroncosChargersChargersBroncos
Falcons +3.5 at PatriotsPatriotsFalconsPatriotsFalconsPatriots
Redskins +4.5 at EaglesRedskinsRedskinsRedskinsEaglesRedskins
Best BetPatriotsRedskinsVikingsChiefsPatriots
Last Week's Record7-711-38-65-95-9
2017 Record44-45-253-36-249-40-242-47-233-56-2
Best Bet Record2-44-25-12-2-23-3
Unanimous Pick Record10-9-1
Majority Pick Record48-41-2
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
Pianowski had another huge week, going 11-3, and he now leads me by four games. Everyone else is garbage, particularly DDD.

This week, we have but one unanimous pick, the Vikings, which also happen to be my best bet. Erickson and DDD both made the Patriots their best bets.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Chiefs -3 at RaidersRaidersRaidersRaidersChiefsChiefs
Titans -6 at BrownsTitansBrownsBrownsTitansTitans
Jaguars -3 at ColtsJaguarsColtsColtsJaguarsColts
Ravens +5.5 at VikingsVikingsVikingsVikingsVikingsVikings
Jets +3 at DolphinsDolphinsJetsDolphinsJetsDolphins
Buccaneers +3 at BillsBillsBuccaneersBuccaneersBillsBills
Panthers -3.5 at BearsPanthersBearsPanthersPanthersPanthers
Saints -5.5 at PackersPackersPackersPackersPackersSaints
Cardinals +3.5 vs.* RamsRamsRamsCardinalsRamsCardinals
Cowboys -6 at 49ers49ers49ers49ers49ersCowboys
Bengals +5.5 at SteelersBengalsBengalsSteelersBengalsBengals
Seahawks -6 at GiantsGiantsSeahawksGiantsSeahawksGiants
Broncos +1.5 at ChargersBroncosBroncosChargersChargersBroncos
Falcons +3.5 at PatriotsPatriotsFalconsPatriotsFalconsPatriots
Redskins +4.5 at EaglesRedskinsRedskinsRedskinsEaglesRedskins
Best BetPatriotsRedskinsVikingsChiefsPatriots
Last Week's Record7-711-38-65-95-9
2017 Record44-45-253-36-249-40-242-47-233-56-2
Best Bet Record2-44-25-12-2-23-3
Unanimous Pick Record10-9-1
Majority Pick Record48-41-2
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 Vikings. Last week we were 1-1 on unanimous picks, winning with the Cardinals and losing with the Browns to put us at 10-9-1 on the season. We went 9-5 on majority picks (three or more writers) to bring our season record to 48-41-2. Last year we went 27-22-2 on unanimous picks and 138-124-5 on majority picks.

Comments:

WriterComment
EricksonSo much has been made about how these aren't the same Pats anymore, and that's true. But these also aren't the same Falcons, and I don't believe they'll fix all their offensive woes this week. And when's the last time that you've seen the Pats get only 3.5 points at home? I also really like the Broncos as my second best bet.
PianowskiI don't understand why the Philly-Washington line isn't a straight three, and no one in that division is intimidated by the other team's home venue. Heck, if the Eagles fall behind by a touchdown in the first quarter, the crowd might turn on them.
LissThe Ravens offense is terrible, and at Minnesota is probably not the place to fix it. I also like the Panthers laying 3.5 in Chicago - the Bears simply have no passing game, and the Panthers are well rested and good.
StopaI like the Chiefs to bounce back in a big way.
Del DonThis was an especially tough week, and I feel like I'm on the sucker side on many of these... Matt Ryan will get his numbers, but the Falcons appear to be in trouble, so give me the Pats at home in primetime laying less than four in a game with an over/under of 55 points.

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 and 2014 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.

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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.
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