This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
It was an ugly week for the Staff as Pianowski and me actually tied for the win at a meager 7-9, while Stopa posted a 5-11 to take the "absolute value" lead, i.e., his 25 games under .500 is a bigger margin than my 21 games over it. In the actual standings, I maintain my four-game lead on Pianowski.
This week we all like the Bills, 49ers and Rams, and both Pianowski and DDD made the Bills their best bets.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers +3.5 at Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chargers | Chargers | Chiefs |
| Texans -6 at Jets | Jets | Texans | Jets | Texans | Jets |
| Browns +3 at Broncos | Browns | Broncos | Browns | Browns | Broncos |
| Dolphins +7 at Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Raiders +3 at Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Raiders |
| Buccaneers +8 at Ravens | Ravens | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Ravens | Buccaneers |
| Cowboys +3 at Colts | Cowboys | Colts | Colts | Colts | Cowboys |
| Lions +2.5 at Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills |
| Packers +5.5 at Bears | Bears | Packers | Bears | Packers | Bears |
| Titans +2.5 at Giants | Giants | Titans | Giants | Titans | Titans |
| Redskins +7 at Jaguars | Jaguars | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Jaguars |
| Cardinals +8.5 at Falcons | Cardinals | Cardinals | Falcons | Cardinals | Falcons |
| Seahawks -5 at 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers |
| Patriots -1.5 at Steelers | Patriots | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers |
| Eagles +9.5 at Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams |
| Saints -6.5 at Panthers | Saints | Panthers | Panthers | Saints | Panthers |
| Best Bet | Bears | Bills | Colts | Redskins | Bills |
| Last Week's Record | 6-10 | 7-9 | 7-9 | 4-12 | 6-10 |
| 2018 Record | 106-97-5 | 108-95-5 | 112-91-5 |
It was an ugly week for the Staff as Pianowski and me actually tied for the win at a meager 7-9, while Stopa posted a 5-11 to take the "absolute value" lead, i.e., his 25 games under .500 is a bigger margin than my 21 games over it. In the actual standings, I maintain my four-game lead on Pianowski.
Unanimous/Majority Picks
The players:
This week we all like the Bills, 49ers and Rams, and both Pianowski and DDD made the Bills their best bets.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers +3.5 at Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chargers | Chargers | Chiefs |
| Texans -6 at Jets | Jets | Texans | Jets | Texans | Jets |
| Browns +3 at Broncos | Browns | Broncos | Browns | Browns | Broncos |
| Dolphins +7 at Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Raiders +3 at Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Raiders |
| Buccaneers +8 at Ravens | Ravens | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Ravens | Buccaneers |
| Cowboys +3 at Colts | Cowboys | Colts | Colts | Colts | Cowboys |
| Lions +2.5 at Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills |
| Packers +5.5 at Bears | Bears | Packers | Bears | Packers | Bears |
| Titans +2.5 at Giants | Giants | Titans | Giants | Titans | Titans |
| Redskins +7 at Jaguars | Jaguars | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Jaguars |
| Cardinals +8.5 at Falcons | Cardinals | Cardinals | Falcons | Cardinals | Falcons |
| Seahawks -5 at 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers |
| Patriots -1.5 at Steelers | Patriots | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers |
| Eagles +9.5 at Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams |
| Saints -6.5 at Panthers | Saints | Panthers | Panthers | Saints | Panthers |
| Best Bet | Bears | Bills | Colts | Redskins | Bills |
| Last Week's Record | 6-10 | 7-9 | 7-9 | 4-12 | 6-10 |
| 2018 Record | 106-97-5 | 108-95-5 | 112-91-5 | 89-114-5 | 98-105-5 |
| Best Bet Record | 9-5 | 10-4 | 8-6 | 6-7-1 | 6-7-1 |
| 2017 Best Bet Record | 8-7-2 | 9-7-1 | 12-4-1 | 8-7-2 | 11-6 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 21-17-1 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 103-100-5 | ||||
| 2017 Record | 117-125-14 | 128-114-14 | 117-125-14 | 119-123-14 | 98-144-14 |
| 2016 Record | 133-102-5 | 122-113-5 | 115-120-5 | 108-127-5 | 123-112-5 |
| 2015 Record | 134-114-8 | 120-128-8 | 114-134-8 | 127-121-8 | 121-127-8 |
| 2014 Record | 123-128-5 | 140-111-5 | 135-116-5 | 124-127-5 | 128-123-5 |
| 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 all like the Bills, 49ers and Rams. Last week we went 1-2 on unanimous picks, winning with the Dolphins and losing with the Redskins and Cardinals, putting our season record at 21-17-1. We went 5-11 on majority picks (three or more writers) to bring our season record to 103-100-5. Last year we went 23-28-4 on unanimous picks and 121-121-14 on majority picks.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | Firing Mike McCarthy didn't really fix the Packers' offensive issues, it was more a case that the Falcons were a pliable opponent. Rodgers' numbers weren't all that great against them last week anyhow. I think the Bears will roll - motivation won't be a problem against their long-standing opponent... I had the Rams even before the Carson Wentz news broke on Wednesday morning... Logic would dictate the Raiders should cover, but the Bengals finally showed some life last week... Really struggled with Cards/Falcons and Cowboys/Colts. |
| Pianowski | I feel like the biggest moron in the world asking Kirk Cousins to show up against good teams and in prime-time games - he's basically the new Andy Dalton. But Minnesota can bully around lesser teams. I also like a feel-good Buffalo team against a Lions team that is good at absolutely nothing. At least the Bills defense is excellent, and sometimes Josh Allen makes a schoolyard play. If you're a Lions fan, what do you look forward to every week? |
| Liss | This was a tough slate for me, as I set half the lines exactly at the real number. I like the Colts (catching Dallas off overtime and having sewn up the division), Bengals (catching the Raiders off a big win and early body-clock road game), Chargers (value), Steelers (value) and Bills (Lions playing their second road game, this one in tougher conditions.) |
| Stopa | I get the Redskins have looked awful. But stop for a moment and contemplate the sheer absurdity of *any* NFL team getting 7 points against a four-win Jaguars team quarterbacked by Cody Kessler in a game with an O/U of 36. That's one of the lowest totals of the year. The Jags defense just made D. Henry look like Tony Dorsett, they have arguably the worst QB situation in the NFL, and they're giving seven. If this isn't a unanimous bet then I'll disavow ever knowing any of my four fellow Staff Picks writers - which they won't mind because they denied any association with me long ago. Seriously, Wash +7 is one of my favorite bets of the year. |
| Del Don | Some interesting teaser options this week but for best bet give me Buffalo, whose defense at home should destroy this Lions offense. |
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.
