This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
DDD won the week again and now leads with a 19-11-2 record, three games ahead of Erickson. Oddly Stopa and I both made the Bucs are best bets while Pianowski went against us with the Pats. He's also the only writer taking the Pats.
While there were only two consensus picks (I know, they should be called unanimous picks, but I misnamed them in 2000, and I don't have the heart to change it now), there were 10 games where the picks were split 4:1.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs +3 at Eagles | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Eagles |
| Chargers +3 at Titans | Titans | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Browns +5.5 at Vikings | Vikings | Browns | Vikings | Browns | Browns |
| Buccaneers +7 at Patriots | Buccaneers | Patriots | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers |
| Texans -2.5 at Ravens | Texans | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens |
| Rams +3.5 at Cowboys | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams |
| Cardinals +7.5 at Saints | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Saints | Cardinals |
| Lions +2 at Redskins | Redskins | Lions | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins |
| Packers -2 at Bengals | Bengals | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers |
| Giants +1.5 at Panthers | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Panthers |
| Falcons +1.5 at Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Colts +10.5 at 49ers | Colts | Colts | Colts | 49ers | Colts |
| Jaguars +19.5 at Seahawks | Seahawks | Jaguars | Jaguars | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Bills +2.5 at Jets | Bills | Bills | Jets | Jets | Jets |
| Bears -2.5 at Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Bears | Steelers |
| Raiders +15 at Broncos | Broncos | Raiders | Raiders | Broncos | Raiders |
| Best Bet | Dolphins | Patriots | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Redskins |
| Last Week's Record | 8-7-1 | 6-9-1 | 8-7-1 | 7-8-1 | 10-5-1 |
DDD won the week again and now leads with a 19-11-2 record, three games ahead of Erickson. Oddly Stopa and I both made the Bucs are best bets while Pianowski went against us with the Pats. He's also the only writer taking the Pats.
Consensus Picks
The players:
While there were only two consensus picks (I know, they should be called unanimous picks, but I misnamed them in 2000, and I don't have the heart to change it now), there were 10 games where the picks were split 4:1.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs +3 at Eagles | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Eagles |
| Chargers +3 at Titans | Titans | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Browns +5.5 at Vikings | Vikings | Browns | Vikings | Browns | Browns |
| Buccaneers +7 at Patriots | Buccaneers | Patriots | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers |
| Texans -2.5 at Ravens | Texans | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens |
| Rams +3.5 at Cowboys | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams |
| Cardinals +7.5 at Saints | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Saints | Cardinals |
| Lions +2 at Redskins | Redskins | Lions | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins |
| Packers -2 at Bengals | Bengals | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers |
| Giants +1.5 at Panthers | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Panthers |
| Falcons +1.5 at Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Colts +10.5 at 49ers | Colts | Colts | Colts | 49ers | Colts |
| Jaguars +19.5 at Seahawks | Seahawks | Jaguars | Jaguars | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Bills +2.5 at Jets | Bills | Bills | Jets | Jets | Jets |
| Bears -2.5 at Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Bears | Steelers |
| Raiders +15 at Broncos | Broncos | Raiders | Raiders | Broncos | Raiders |
| Best Bet | Dolphins | Patriots | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Redskins |
| Last Week's Record | 8-7-1 | 6-9-1 | 8-7-1 | 7-8-1 | 10-5-1 |
| 2013 Record | 16-14-2 | 10-20-2 | 13-17-1 | 15-15-2 | 19-11-2 |
| Best Bet Record | 1-1 | 0-2 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-2 |
| 2013 Consensus Pick Record | 3-6-2 | ||||
| 2012 Record | 110-140-6 | 124-126-6 | 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 |
Consensus Picks
This week we have two consensus picks: the Rams and Dolphins. Last week we went 2-2-1 on consensus picks to go 3-6-2 on the year.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
| Erickson | I don't feel strongly about a lot of these picks, but I think that Miami's defense is for real, and I don't yet know how I feel about Atlanta's defense... Yeah, yeah, I'm the sucker taking the chalk on both big lines this week. Letdowns are certainly possible for both Seattle and Denver, but I don't see it happening this early. I'm tired of the worst teams in the league always being the consensus picks... I changed my pick back-and-forth with the Vikes (is a bad Brandon Weeden still 2.5 points better than Hoyer?), Bengals, Giants and Bills. Ugh. |
| Pianowski | The Patriots go into this game with extra rest and prep time, and the line has finally adjusted somewhat to their current reality. The Bucs can defend, but no one trusts Josh Freeman (or Greg Schiano, for that matter)... Hate going ugly with the Colts, Jags and Raiders - someone is going to get obliterated in that mix, maybe multiple teams. But it's very difficult to cover double-digit spreads in the NFL. |
| Liss | I hated this slate when I first looked at it - I was almost paralyzed to pick a team. Then I started writing, and it all made perfect sense. |
| Stopa | I'm 2-0 on best bets fading the Patriots, and I'm going back to the well. Tampa could (should?) be 2-0, and the Patriots offense just isn't the offense Joe Public thinks it is. This line should be more like 4.5... The Vikings and Browns are rough equals (Minny was competitive last week only due to return TDs, which are fluky), so I'll take the Browns getting more than a FG... The Eagles flashy offense is making them overrated. That's a bad defense, and Andy Reid will be ready for Vick... It's weird to say for a team getting more than 14 points, but the Raiders are a sell high after covering two straight weeks. I don't like taking three big favorites, but I'm tired of the Jaguars... The Falcons are an injury-riddled mess on both sides of the ball while the Dolphins are playing like a playoff team. |
| Del Don | As usual the lines have gotten tighter as the season moves along. I feel like a huge sucker picking the Seahawks. There's a strong argument Washington has been the worst team in football over the first two games, but I'll go ugly there. My teaser of the week: Saints and 49ers (seven points). |
The players:
•Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008 Staff Picks Champ. Writes the Value Meter. 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 Surviving the Week in addition to Staff Picks. Covers and roots for the Giants.
•Mark Stopa: Staff Writer, 2010, 2012 Staff Picks Champ, Writes Working the Wire. Roots for the Bills.
•Dalton Del Don: Fantasy Expert for Yahoo! Sports, 2007 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the 49ers.
