This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
This week we all like the Giants, Rams and Broncos, and both Pianowski and Stopa have the Broncos as their best bets. Erickson and me both have the Jets as ours.
Like last week when Stopa blocked four would-be unanimous picks (they went 3-1), this week he's blocking the Jets, Colts, Eagles and Dolphins.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texans +3 at Titans | Texans | Titans | Texans | Texans | Titans |
| Bills -3.5 at Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Bills | Jets |
| Ravens +2.5 at Bengals | Bengals | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Bengals |
| Jaguars +4.5 at Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts | Jaguars | Colts |
| Cowboys +4 at Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Cowboys | Eagles |
| Bears +5 at Vikings | Vikings | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears |
| Panthers +6 at Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers |
| Browns +6 at Steelers | Steelers | Browns | Browns | Steelers | Steelers |
| Patriots -9.5 at Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Patriots | Dolphins |
| Giants +8 at Redskins | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants |
| Saints +6.5 at Falcons | Falcons | Saints | Saints | Falcons | Saints |
| Cardinals -6 at Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams |
| Chiefs -5.5 at Chargers | Chiefs | Chargers | Chargers | Chiefs | Chargers |
| Seahawks -9.5 at 49ers | Seahawks | Seahawks | 49ers | 49ers | Seahawks |
| Raiders +1.5 at Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos |
| Packers -3.5 |
This week we all like the Giants, Rams and Broncos, and both Pianowski and Stopa have the Broncos as their best bets. Erickson and me both have the Jets as ours.
Like last week when Stopa blocked four would-be unanimous picks (they went 3-1), this week he's blocking the Jets, Colts, Eagles and Dolphins.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texans +3 at Titans | Texans | Titans | Texans | Texans | Titans |
| Bills -3.5 at Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Bills | Jets |
| Ravens +2.5 at Bengals | Bengals | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Bengals |
| Jaguars +4.5 at Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts | Jaguars | Colts |
| Cowboys +4 at Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Cowboys | Eagles |
| Bears +5 at Vikings | Vikings | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears |
| Panthers +6 at Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers |
| Browns +6 at Steelers | Steelers | Browns | Browns | Steelers | Steelers |
| Patriots -9.5 at Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Patriots | Dolphins |
| Giants +8 at Redskins | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants |
| Saints +6.5 at Falcons | Falcons | Saints | Saints | Falcons | Saints |
| Cardinals -6 at Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams |
| Chiefs -5.5 at Chargers | Chiefs | Chargers | Chargers | Chiefs | Chargers |
| Seahawks -9.5 at 49ers | Seahawks | Seahawks | 49ers | 49ers | Seahawks |
| Raiders +1.5 at Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos |
| Packers -3.5 at Lions | Lions | Lions | Lions | Lions | Packers |
| Best Bet | Jets | Broncos | Jets | Broncos | Packers |
| Last week's Record | 10-6 | 8-8 | 8-8 | 6-10 | 7-9 |
| 2016 Record | 133-102-5 | 122-113-5 | 115-120-5 | 108-127-5 | 123-112-5 |
| Best Bet Record | 10-6 | 10-6 | 8-8 | 6-10 | 9-7 |
| 2016 Unanimous Pick Record | 25-20-2 | ||||
| 2016 Majority Pick Record | 125-110-5 | ||||
| 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 have three unanimous picks, the Giants, Rams and Broncos. We went 1-2 on unanimous picks last week, winning with the Jaguars and losing with the Rams and Texans to bring our season record to 25-20-2. We went 8-8 on majority (three or more writers) picks to bring our season record to 125-110-5.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | Yikes, I'm making a really crappy, dysfunctional team my best bet. But the opposing team is almost trying to lose by benching its starting quarterback just to save theoretical money. Then again, there might be the "fired coach dead cat bounce." This is a crappy week, and trying to pick based on motivation is a dangerous business. Once the game starts, they're professionals playing football and not trying hard will get them killed out there. So I'm trying not to read too much into motivations, absent guessing which teams will not play their stars. |
| Pianowski | The Broncos defense is still elite, and now it's at home against a team that doesn't match it's record, plus a backup quarterback. I found myself oddly decisive in Week 17, not what I expected given the uncertainty of the week. But again, there's nothing necessarily predictive to that. |
| Liss | I know the Jets are bad, but getting 3.5 at home against EJ Manuel seems excessive. I also like the Colts, Ravens and Broncos. |
| Stopa | It's Week 17. Fade the teams that need to win, and take the points. |
| Del Don | Week 17 is such a crap shoot (even more so than usual), so I mostly just took the points... I do believe in the Packers at this point though. |
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.
