NFL Picks: Browns, Rams and Colts

NFL Picks: Browns, Rams and Colts

This article is part of our NFL Picks series.

It was an uneventful week for the Staff with two 7-5s, two 6-6s and one 5-7. Erickson is still comfortably in first place, four games ahead of Pianowski.

This week, we all like the Browns (surprisingly), Rams and Colts. Pianowski's best bet is also the Colts.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Falcons -3.5 at BuccaneersFalconsBuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersFalcons
Jaguars +9 at ChiefsJaguarsChiefsChiefsJaguarsChiefs
Lions +6 at VikingsVikingsVikingsVikingsVikingsLions
Eagles +2.5 at GiantsGiantsEaglesGiantsEaglesGiants
Cowboys -7.5 at BrownsBrownsBrownsBrownsBrownsBrowns
Jets +3.5 at DolphinsDolphinsDolphinsDolphinsJetsJets
Steelers +2 at RavensRavensSteelersSteelersRavensSteelers
Saints -3.5 at 49ers49ers49ers49ers49ersSaints
Panthers -3 at RamsRamsRamsRamsRamsRams
Colts +7 at PackersColtsColtsColtsColtsColts
Titans +5 at ChargersChargersTitansTitansChargersTitans
Broncos pick 'em at RaidersBroncosBroncosRaidersBroncosRaiders
Bills +7 at SeahawksBillsSeahawksBillsSeahawksBills
Best BetChargersColtsVikingsBroncosSaints
Last week's Record6-6-17-5-16-6-17-5-15-7-1
2016 Record66-52-262-56-259-59-257-61-257-61-2
Best Bet Record5-35-34-45-34-4
2016 Unanimous Pick Record16-11-1
2016 Majority Pick Record63-55-2
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 Record129-122-5134-117-5126-125-5
It was an uneventful week for the Staff with two 7-5s, two 6-6s and one 5-7. Erickson is still comfortably in first place, four games ahead of Pianowski.

This week, we all like the Browns (surprisingly), Rams and Colts. Pianowski's best bet is also the Colts.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Falcons -3.5 at BuccaneersFalconsBuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersFalcons
Jaguars +9 at ChiefsJaguarsChiefsChiefsJaguarsChiefs
Lions +6 at VikingsVikingsVikingsVikingsVikingsLions
Eagles +2.5 at GiantsGiantsEaglesGiantsEaglesGiants
Cowboys -7.5 at BrownsBrownsBrownsBrownsBrownsBrowns
Jets +3.5 at DolphinsDolphinsDolphinsDolphinsJetsJets
Steelers +2 at RavensRavensSteelersSteelersRavensSteelers
Saints -3.5 at 49ers49ers49ers49ers49ersSaints
Panthers -3 at RamsRamsRamsRamsRamsRams
Colts +7 at PackersColtsColtsColtsColtsColts
Titans +5 at ChargersChargersTitansTitansChargersTitans
Broncos pick 'em at RaidersBroncosBroncosRaidersBroncosRaiders
Bills +7 at SeahawksBillsSeahawksBillsSeahawksBills
Best BetChargersColtsVikingsBroncosSaints
Last week's Record6-6-17-5-16-6-17-5-15-7-1
2016 Record66-52-262-56-259-59-257-61-257-61-2
Best Bet Record5-35-34-45-34-4
2016 Unanimous Pick Record16-11-1
2016 Majority Pick Record63-55-2
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 three unanimous picks, the Browns, Rams and Colts. We won our only unanimous pick last week, the Texans, to bring our season record to 16-11-1. We went 7-5-1 on majority (three or more writers) picks to bring our season record to 63-55-2.

Comments:

WriterComment
EricksonThis seems like a square week - I'm picking a lot of favorites. But I truly believe the Chargers have evolved as a team and can overcome Mike McCoy this week, as their coaching disadvantage is negated by the other sideline. That defense is legitimately good, and Mariota will likely struggle on the road... I also really like the Vikings at home against Matthew Stafford - it's the same construction as last week - elite defense at home against a quarterback that's not nearly as good on the road... I really struggled with Falcons-Bucs, Chiefs-Jaguars and Steelers-Ravens for Big Ben reasons.
PianowskiI hate this slate with the white-hot intensity of 1,000 suns. It's also the most difficult bye week in fantasy football history — at least that I can remember — though that's actually a challenge I welcome. The more choices in your fantasy league, the better it is for the skilled owners.
LissI found this to be a tough slate. I like the Vikings in this spot after two losses, coming home to face a weak defense and with some new ideas on offense. I also like the Bills in Seattle of all places - I think they'll rough up Russell Wilson behind a weak Seattle offensive line.
StopaI'm convinced Oakland isn't as good as its record suggests... Home teams have a bigger advantage than usual for the Thursday night tilts... After their worst game of the year, the Vikings should bounce back in a big way at home, proving Matthew Stafford is no MVP.  
Del DonI had the most trouble coming up with a best bet this week than at any point this year and found this slate in general to be tough. I originally had the Chiefs as my top bet, but with Alex Smith being ruled out, I decided to move to the Saints. The 49ers are that bad.

The players:

• Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008, 2013, 2015 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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