NFL Picks: Falcons and Dolphins

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Updated on November 5, 2014 4:12PM EST

The race tightened up a bit as I went 5-8, and DDD gained two games on me to sit at only two games back. Erickson also gained ground, tying Stopa for last place at four games under .500.

This week, Stopa and I are diametrically opposed on best bets, while Erickson's best bet (Bills) is opposed to the other team Stopa discusses in the comments (Chiefs). We also seem to have exactly two unanimous picks every week, and this one's no different with the Dolphins and Falcons.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Browns +6 at Bengals	Bengals	Browns	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals
Cowboys -6 vs. Jaguars	Jaguars	Cowboys	Cowboys	Jaguars	Cowboys
Dolphins +3 at Lions	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins
Chiefs -2 at Bills	Bills	Bills	Bills	Chiefs	Chiefs
49ers +4.5 at Saints	Saints	49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers
Titans +9.5 at Ravens	Titans	Ravens	Ravens	Titans	Ravens
Steelers -5 at Jets	Jets	Steelers	Jets	Steelers	Jets
Falcons -1.5 at Buccaneers	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons
Broncos -11.5 at Raiders	Raiders	Broncos	Raiders	Broncos	Broncos
Rams +7 at Cardinals	Rams	Rams	Cardinals	Cardinals	Rams
Giants +9.5 at Seahawks	Seahawks	Giants	Giants	Giants	Giants
Bears +7.5 at Packers	Bears	Bears	Bears	Bears	Packers
Panthers +6 at Eagles	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Eagles
Best Bet	Bills	Rams	Jets	Steelers	49ers
Last Week's Record	8-5	7-6	5-8	6-7	7-6
2014 Record	64-68-2	68-64-2	75-57-2	64-68-2	73-59-2
Best Bet Record	3-6	2-7	6-3	5-4	5-4
Majority Record	74-58-2
Unanimous Pick Record	13-11
2013 Record	132-114-10

The race tightened up a bit as I went 5-8, and DDD gained two games on me to sit at only two games back. Erickson also gained ground, tying Stopa for last place at four games under .500.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Browns +6 at Bengals	Bengals	Browns	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals
Cowboys -6 vs. Jaguars	Jaguars	Cowboys	Cowboys	Jaguars	Cowboys
Dolphins +3 at Lions	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins
Chiefs -2 at Bills	Bills	Bills	Bills	Chiefs	Chiefs
49ers +4.5 at Saints	Saints	49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers
Titans +9.5 at Ravens	Titans	Ravens	Ravens	Titans	Ravens
Steelers -5 at Jets	Jets	Steelers	Jets	Steelers	Jets
Falcons -1.5 at Buccaneers	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons
Broncos -11.5 at Raiders	Raiders	Broncos	Raiders	Broncos	Broncos
Rams +7 at Cardinals	Rams	Rams	Cardinals	Cardinals	Rams
Giants +9.5 at Seahawks	Seahawks	Giants	Giants	Giants	Giants
Bears +7.5 at Packers	Bears	Bears	Bears	Bears	Packers
Panthers +6 at Eagles	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Eagles
Best Bet	Bills	Rams	Jets	Steelers	49ers
Last Week's Record	8-5	7-6	5-8	6-7	7-6
2014 Record	64-68-2	68-64-2	75-57-2	64-68-2	73-59-2
Best Bet Record	3-6	2-7	6-3	5-4	5-4
Majority Record	74-58-2
Unanimous Pick Record	13-11
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 Dolphins and Falcons. Last week we went 1-1 on unanimous picks to go 13-11 on the year. And we went 7-6 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 74-58-2.

Comments:

Writer	Comment
Erickson	As much as I buy into the Chiefs' defense, I hate them giving points on the road... I probably should know better than to give that much with the Seahawks, knowing that we saw the Giants at their worst (in terms of result) Monday night, and it's never good to bet on an extreme. But I'm sick and tired of picking the Giants.
Pianowski	I didn't give the Rams too much credit for their trick-play win over Seattle, but they just beat the crap out of the Niners (in San Francisco), too - and their pass rush has finally woken up. I can't take Arizona's record at face value.
Liss	Hate this slate. Like the Jets getting points at home with an NFL QB finally and also the Falcons who at least have a good QB going against one of the worst defenses in the league.
Stopa	I'm sold on the Steelers passing offense, and getting to face the Jets woeful secondary, Big Ben is unlikely to slow down this week. I also like the Chiefs, who have notably more talent than my Bills, a plucky squad but one that's not yet ready to beat playoff teams.
Del Don	I don't feel strongly about this week's slate at all in any way. Maybe I'm being a homer (I'm being a homer), but if the 49ers lose by five-plus points, then their season is likely over.

The players:

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