This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
It was a mediocre week for the staff - 1-1 on unanimous picks, 8-7 on majority - and not much movement in the standings except for Pianow dropping off the pace with a tough week.
This week, there are five different best bets, but all were majority picks.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saints -2.5 at Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers |
| Chargers +1.5 at Dolphins | Dolphins | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Jaguars +11 at Bengals | Jaguars | Jaguars | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals |
| Buccaneers +6.5 at Browns | Browns | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers |
| Redskins +2.5 at Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Redskins | Vikings |
| Eagles -2 at Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Eagles | Eagles |
| Jets +9.5 at Chiefs | Chiefs | Jets | Jets | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| Cardinals +3.5 at Cowboys | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals |
| Rams +10 at 49ers | Rams | Rams | 49ers | Rams | 49ers |
| Broncos -3 at Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Broncos | Broncos |
| Raiders +15 at Seahawks | Raiders | Seahawks | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders |
| Ravens pick 'em at Steelers | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Steelers |
| Colts -3 at Giants | Giants | Colts | Giants | Giants | Giants |
| Best Bet | Patriots | Ravens | Giants | Chiefs | Panthers |
| Last Week's Record | 8-7 | 4-11 | 9-6 | 7-8 | 8-7 |
| 2014 Record | 56-63-2 | 61-58-2 | 70-49-2 | 58-61-2 | 66-53-2 |
| Best Bet Record | 2-6 | 2-6 | 6-2 | 4-4 | 5-3 |
| Majority Record | 67-52-2 | ||||
| Unanimous Pick Record | 12-10 | ||||
| 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 |
It was a mediocre week for the staff - 1-1 on unanimous picks, 8-7 on majority - and not much movement in the standings except for Pianow dropping off the pace with a tough week.
Unanimous/Majority Picks
The players:
This week, there are five different best bets, but all were majority picks.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saints -2.5 at Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers |
| Chargers +1.5 at Dolphins | Dolphins | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Jaguars +11 at Bengals | Jaguars | Jaguars | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals |
| Buccaneers +6.5 at Browns | Browns | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers |
| Redskins +2.5 at Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Redskins | Vikings |
| Eagles -2 at Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Eagles | Eagles |
| Jets +9.5 at Chiefs | Chiefs | Jets | Jets | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| Cardinals +3.5 at Cowboys | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals |
| Rams +10 at 49ers | Rams | Rams | 49ers | Rams | 49ers |
| Broncos -3 at Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Broncos | Broncos |
| Raiders +15 at Seahawks | Raiders | Seahawks | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders |
| Ravens pick 'em at Steelers | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Steelers |
| Colts -3 at Giants | Giants | Colts | Giants | Giants | Giants |
| Best Bet | Patriots | Ravens | Giants | Chiefs | Panthers |
| Last Week's Record | 8-7 | 4-11 | 9-6 | 7-8 | 8-7 |
| 2014 Record | 56-63-2 | 61-58-2 | 70-49-2 | 58-61-2 | 66-53-2 |
| Best Bet Record | 2-6 | 2-6 | 6-2 | 4-4 | 5-3 |
| Majority Record | 67-52-2 | ||||
| Unanimous Pick Record | 12-10 | ||||
| 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 Panthers and Cardinals. Last week we went 1-1 on unanimous picks to go 12-10 on the year. And we went 8-7 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 67-52-2.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
| Erickson | Tough to call Arizona-Dallas when we don't know if Romo will play... As discussed on-air Monday, the Pats were a near auto-pick... Fading the Saints on the road also remains an automatic decision. |
| Pianowski | After last week's disastrous showing, I don't deserve much in the comment space. I do like Baltimore as a zig-zag pick, ignoring what the teams showed us last week. Baltimore has been better all year. |
| Liss | I don't love making my own team my best bet because it'll be doubly annoying when they don't show up, but I'm buying into the Tom Coughlin confidence they'll fix their issues over the bye, and Indy's defense was badly exposed last week. Getting points with the Pats at home is impossible to turn down against almost any team. |
| Stopa | I get to bet against the Jets secondary and Michael Vick at the same time? I can't get to the betting window fast enough... Seattle hasn't done enough to be a 15-point favorite against anyone... Car-NO feels like a logical buy low, sell high. Same with Ravens/Steelers... This is the first week I'm not reflexively taking the Jaguars. A.J. Green being back matters, and Andy Dalton has often had big games at home against doormats. |
| Del Don | Carolina has disappointed so far, but this spread opened with them being favored by 2.5 points and now they're dogs by that much. Of course, there isn't a less meaningful swing of five points ATS than that, but still it shows there's been an overreaction to the Saints big win Sunday night. And I don't trust New Orleans traveling on an especially short week... Here's a random prediction: Broncos win Sunday but lose to the Patriots in a rematch during the AFC Championship game. |
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.
