This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
It was a great week for the staff - except for me. Everyone went 10-6 or better, while I went 5-11. As a result, DDD and I are now tied for first, and Pianowski is only three games back. We also went 10-6 on majority picks and won our unanimous one. Majority picks are beating all of us at 107-83.
This week everyone likes two favorites, Packers and Patriots.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys -3.5 at Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | Cowboys | Bears |
| Ravens +3 at Dolphins | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Dolphins |
| Steelers +3 at Bengals | Bengals | Steelers | Steelers | Bengals | Bengals |
| Colts -3.5 at Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Colts | Colts |
| Texans -5 at Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Texans | Texans | Texans |
| Giants pick 'em at Titans | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Titans |
| Panthers +9.5 at Saints | Panthers | Saints | Saints | Panthers | Saints |
| Buccaneers +9.5 at Lions | Lions | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers |
| Rams -3 at Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Rams |
| Jets +6 at Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Jets | Vikings | Vikings |
| Bills +10 at Broncos | Bills | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos |
| Chiefs +1 at Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| 49ers -8 at Raiders | Raiders | 49ers | 49ers | Raiders | 49ers |
| Seahawks +1 at Eagles | Seahawks | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles |
| Patriots -3.5 at Chargers | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots |
| Falcons +12.5 at Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers |
| Best Bet | Bengals | Patriots | Buccaneers | Giants | Chiefs |
| Last Week's Record | 10-6 | 11-5 | 5-11 | 11-5 | 10-6 |
| 2014 Record | 93-97-2 | 100-9-2 | 103-87-2 | 95-95-2 | 103-87-2 |
| Best Bet Record | 5-8 | 3-10 | 10-3 | 7-6 | 7-6 |
It was a great week for the staff - except for me. Everyone went 10-6 or better, while I went 5-11. As a result, DDD and I are now tied for first, and Pianowski is only three games back. We also went 10-6 on majority picks and won our unanimous one. Majority picks are beating all of us at 107-83.
Unanimous/Majority Picks
The players:
This week everyone likes two favorites, Packers and Patriots.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys -3.5 at Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | Cowboys | Bears |
| Ravens +3 at Dolphins | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Dolphins |
| Steelers +3 at Bengals | Bengals | Steelers | Steelers | Bengals | Bengals |
| Colts -3.5 at Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Colts | Colts |
| Texans -5 at Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Texans | Texans | Texans |
| Giants pick 'em at Titans | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Titans |
| Panthers +9.5 at Saints | Panthers | Saints | Saints | Panthers | Saints |
| Buccaneers +9.5 at Lions | Lions | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers |
| Rams -3 at Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Rams |
| Jets +6 at Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Jets | Vikings | Vikings |
| Bills +10 at Broncos | Bills | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos |
| Chiefs +1 at Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| 49ers -8 at Raiders | Raiders | 49ers | 49ers | Raiders | 49ers |
| Seahawks +1 at Eagles | Seahawks | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles |
| Patriots -3.5 at Chargers | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots |
| Falcons +12.5 at Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers |
| Best Bet | Bengals | Patriots | Buccaneers | Giants | Chiefs |
| Last Week's Record | 10-6 | 11-5 | 5-11 | 11-5 | 10-6 |
| 2014 Record | 93-97-2 | 100-9-2 | 103-87-2 | 95-95-2 | 103-87-2 |
| Best Bet Record | 5-8 | 3-10 | 10-3 | 7-6 | 7-6 |
| Majority Record | 107-83-2 | ||||
| Unanimous Pick Record | 16-14 | ||||
| 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 Patriots and Packers. Last week we went 1-0 on unanimous picks to go 16-14 on the year. And we went 10-6 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 107-83-2.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
| Erickson | The Bengals were super lucky to win last week, and I don't trust Andy Dalton, yet I feel as if this line is driven less by the teams' respective product on the field and more the history between them, where Pittsburgh has traditionally owned the Bengals in Paul Brown Stadium. But I trust the Pittsburgh defense even less than I do Dalton... Does it get any more pointless than Giants-Titans this week?... To me, the Panthers are the bust of the year. Why are they so damn bad all of a sudden? Even a correction from overachieving last year shouldn't have made them fall this far, this fast. |
| Pianowski | Worried about going 3-13 this week. Loathe the slate. But there might not be anything predictive to that. |
| Liss | Maybe I'm imagining it, but the Bucs defense seems much better the last three weeks. It's odd to be backing so many big favorites (NO, SF, DEN and GB), but I couldn't bring myself to take the dog in any of those cases. Hope Pianow doesn't go 3-13 because we differ on only three picks. That would give me a 1 in 8 chance of going 0-16. |
| Stopa | The Titans have been an abomination on defense in recent weeks. When Ryan Fitzpatrick throws a six pack against you, it's bad. Giants are due for a win here... The Patriots won't lose two straight. They almost never do... Why are the Saints favored by so much? Have they blown out anyone all year? |
| Del Don | I went very heavy with favorites this week, which is always a scary proposition... Seems crazy to back New Orleans as big favorites, but the Panthers' -103 point differential is the worst in the NFC... Do you realize Ryan Fitzpatrick has an 8.1 YPA mark this season, while Zach Mettenberger's is 8.3?... I wanted to bet on both Washington and St. Louis, who seem much better now compared to earlier on, but I'm banking more so on the Rams, who have a ridiculous pass rush. |
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.
