NFL Picks: Panthers, Texans and Raiders

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Updated on October 22, 2014 4:38PM EST

A slightly better week than the previous one for the staff, with Scott Pianowski winning it at 9-6. It's a close race at the top between him, DDD and me. This week we have three unanimous picks, the Panthers, Texans and Raiders. Best bets are all over the map.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Chargers +7.5 at Broncos	Broncos	Chargers	Chargers	Chargers	Chargers
Lions -4 vs. Falcons	Lions	Falcons	Lions	Falcons	Falcons
Vikings +3 at Buccaneers	Vikings	Buccaneers	Vikings	Vikings	Buccaneers
Bears +6 at Patriots	Bears	Bears	Patriots	Bears	Bears
Rams +7 at Chiefs	Rams	Rams	Rams	Chiefs	Chiefs
Seahawks -5 at Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers
Bills +3 at Jets	Bills	Jets	Jets	Jets	Jets
Dolphins -6 at Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins
Texans -2 at Titans	Texans	Texans	Texans	Texans	Texans
Ravens +1.5 at Bengals	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Bengals
Eagles +2.5 at Cardinals	Cardinals	Eagles	Cardinals	Eagles	Cardinals
Colts -3 at Steelers	Steelers	Colts	Steelers	Colts	Steelers
Raiders +7 at Browns	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders
Packers +1.5 at Saints	Packers	Packers	Saints	Packers	Packers
Redskins +9.5 at Cowboys	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Cowboys
Best Bet	Ravens	Raiders	Dolphins	Packers	Cardinals
Last Week's Record	6-9	9-6	8-7	6-9	8-7
2014 Record	48-56-2	57-47-2	61-43-2	51-53-2	58-46-2
Best Bet Record	2-5	2-5	5-2	4-3	4-3
Majority Record	59-45-2
Unanimous Pick Record	11-9
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

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Chargers +7.5 at Broncos	Broncos	Chargers	Chargers	Chargers	Chargers
Lions -4 vs. Falcons	Lions	Falcons	Lions	Falcons	Falcons
Vikings +3 at Buccaneers	Vikings	Buccaneers	Vikings	Vikings	Buccaneers
Bears +6 at Patriots	Bears	Bears	Patriots	Bears	Bears
Rams +7 at Chiefs	Rams	Rams	Rams	Chiefs	Chiefs
Seahawks -5 at Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers
Bills +3 at Jets	Bills	Jets	Jets	Jets	Jets
Dolphins -6 at Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins
Texans -2 at Titans	Texans	Texans	Texans	Texans	Texans
Ravens +1.5 at Bengals	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Bengals
Eagles +2.5 at Cardinals	Cardinals	Eagles	Cardinals	Eagles	Cardinals
Colts -3 at Steelers	Steelers	Colts	Steelers	Colts	Steelers
Raiders +7 at Browns	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders
Packers +1.5 at Saints	Packers	Packers	Saints	Packers	Packers
Redskins +9.5 at Cowboys	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins	Cowboys
Best Bet	Ravens	Raiders	Dolphins	Packers	Cardinals
Last Week's Record	6-9	9-6	8-7	6-9	8-7
2014 Record	48-56-2	57-47-2	61-43-2	51-53-2	58-46-2
Best Bet Record	2-5	2-5	5-2	4-3	4-3
Majority Record	59-45-2
Unanimous Pick Record	11-9
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, Texans and Raiders. Last week we went 1-1 on unanimous picks to go 11-9 on the year. And we went 8-7 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 59-45-2.

Comments:

Writer	Comment
Erickson	Another "square" pick from me - but the Ravens are clearly playing closer to their peak, and the Bengals are nowhere near it. Home field won't flip that status nearly enough... I feel a letdown week for the Colts coming... I still think that the Cardinals are one of the best teams in the NFL when they have the quarterback position settled, and this line doesn't treat them as such.
Pianowski	Oakland's showed signs of life the last few weeks. I'd be shocked if they went 0-16, even with a daunting schedule.
Liss	Nothing really jumped out at me here. The easiest picks for me to make were the Ravens (too obvious?), the Dolphins (heavy road favorite!) and Cardinals (facing arguably the best-coached team off a bye.) You can see this is not my favorite slate.
Stopa	The Saints defense is terrible and the offense is mediocre. Why are they favored against Aaron Rodgers?
Del Don	No best bet jumped out at me this week, while I found the DET/ATL and MIN/TB games especially tough... I do like a Chiefs and Cowboys teaser, however.

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.