NFL Picks: Browns and Cowboys

NFL Picks: Browns and Cowboys

This article is part of our NFL Picks series.

Erickson won Week 9 with a 9-3-1 mark, putting him in third place, three games behind me and one ahead of Stopa. Despite a 5-7-1 week, Pianowski still has a six game lead over me.

This week, we all like the Browns and Cowboys, the latter of which happens to be DDD's best bet.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Seahawks -5.5 at CardinalsCardinalsCardinalsCardinalsSeahawksSeahawks
Vikings -1.5 at RedskinsVikingsRedskinsRedskinsVikingsRedskins
Packers +5 at BearsBearsPackersBearsPackersBears
Steelers -10 at ColtsSteelersColtsColtsSteelersColts
Chargers +4 at JaguarsChargersChargersChargersJaguarsChargers
Jets -2.5 at BuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersJets
Bengals +5 at TitansBengalsBengalsBengalsTitansBengals
Saints -2.5 at BillsBillsBillsBillsSaintsSaints
Browns +12.5 at LionsBrownsBrownsBrownsBrownsBrowns
Texans +12 at RamsRamsRamsTexansTexansRams
Cowboys +3 at FalconsCowboysCowboysCowboysCowboysCowboys
Giants -1 at 49ersGiants49ersGiantsGiantsGiants
Patriots -7.5 at BroncosBroncosBroncosBroncosBroncosPatriots
Dolphins +9 at PanthersPanthersDolphinsDolphinsPanthersDolphins
Best BetBengalsBillsRedskinsJaguarsCowboys
Last Week's Record9-3-15-7-17-5-16-6-16-6-1
2017 Record62-65-571-56-565-62-561-66-550-77-5
Best Bet Record4-55-47-24-3-25-4
Unanimous Pick Record12-11-1
Majority Pick Record66-61-5
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 Record132-114-10118-128-10123-123-10
Erickson won Week 9 with a 9-3-1 mark, putting him in third place, three games behind me and one ahead of Stopa. Despite a 5-7-1 week, Pianowski still has a six game lead over me.

This week, we all like the Browns and Cowboys, the latter of which happens to be DDD's best bet.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Seahawks -5.5 at CardinalsCardinalsCardinalsCardinalsSeahawksSeahawks
Vikings -1.5 at RedskinsVikingsRedskinsRedskinsVikingsRedskins
Packers +5 at BearsBearsPackersBearsPackersBears
Steelers -10 at ColtsSteelersColtsColtsSteelersColts
Chargers +4 at JaguarsChargersChargersChargersJaguarsChargers
Jets -2.5 at BuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersJets
Bengals +5 at TitansBengalsBengalsBengalsTitansBengals
Saints -2.5 at BillsBillsBillsBillsSaintsSaints
Browns +12.5 at LionsBrownsBrownsBrownsBrownsBrowns
Texans +12 at RamsRamsRamsTexansTexansRams
Cowboys +3 at FalconsCowboysCowboysCowboysCowboysCowboys
Giants -1 at 49ersGiants49ersGiantsGiantsGiants
Patriots -7.5 at BroncosBroncosBroncosBroncosBroncosPatriots
Dolphins +9 at PanthersPanthersDolphinsDolphinsPanthersDolphins
Best BetBengalsBillsRedskinsJaguarsCowboys
Last Week's Record9-3-15-7-17-5-16-6-16-6-1
2017 Record62-65-571-56-565-62-561-66-550-77-5
Best Bet Record4-55-47-24-3-25-4
Unanimous Pick Record12-11-1
Majority Pick Record66-61-5
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 two unanimous picks: the Browns and Cowboys. Last week we were 1-0 on unanimous picks, winning with the Colts to put us at 12-11-1 on the season. We went 8-4-1 on majority picks (three or more writers) to bring our season record to 66-61-5. Last year we went 27-22-2 on unanimous picks and 138-124-5 on majority picks.

Comments:

WriterComment
EricksonLast week, the Bengals were particularly poorly matched against the Jaguars, and then A.J. Green's manifestation of "I don't know karate, but I do know crazy" essentially ended the game. I hate to be so bullish on them given recent form, but the Titans are a much better set-up for them. That they're getting more than three points makes it easy.
PianowskiBuffalo has a legitimate home-field advantage, and the Saints generally aren't the same team on the road, though this New Orleans team might be better suited to travel well. But with Buffalo at home catching points, who cares? I realize the Bills aren't as sexy in the metrics, but I do think they're a well-coached team that doesn't beat itself, and in today's NFL, that gets you ahead of a lot of teams. Granted, New Orleans has turned its team around, too, but I'd take Buffalo as a home dog against most opponents.
LissI like the Redskins at home getting points after their big win in Seattle. I also like the Bills getting points at home against a dome team and the Cowboys getting the full three (with or without Zeke Elliott) against the hapless Falcons.
StopaThe most trustworthy unit in the entire NFL right now may well be the Jaguars defense. There are studs at every level of the D, and I just can't see how San Diego will score (unless Bortles pukes on himself, but the D is so good that he's always playing in hitter's counts). I actually think Jacksonville is a sneaky Super Bowl pick.
Del DonI'm going back to Dallas as my best bet for the second straight week, though I wish there was more clarity about Ezekiel Elliott and Dez Bryant's statuses at this point in the week. This game should be more like a pick 'em, so I'll happily take three points and the better team.

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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