This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
It was a brutal start for Pianow and me, but the other three writers did okay, particularly Dalton Del Don, who won the week at 9-6-1. We have another five consensus picks - Jets, Rams, Redskins, Cardinals and Jaguars.
Enjoy the games.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jets +12.5 at Patriots | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets |
| Chargers +7.5 at Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Browns +6.5 at Ravens | Browns | Browns | Ravens | Browns | Ravens |
| Titans +9 at Texans | Titans | Titans | Texans | Texans | Titans |
| Dolphins +3 at Colts | Dolphins | Colts | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Panthers -3 at Bills | Bills | Bills | Panthers | Panthers | Bills |
| Rams +7 at Falcons | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams |
| Redskins +7 at Packers | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins |
| Cowboys +2.5 at Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| Vikings +6.5 at Bears | Bears | Vikings | Vikings | Bears | Bears |
| Saints -3.5 at Buccaneeers | Buccaneers | Saints | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers |
| Lions -1 at Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals |
| Jaguars +6 at Raiders | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Broncos -4.5 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Broncos | Giants |
| 49ers +3 at Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | 49ers | Seahawks |
| Steelers +7 at Bengals | Bengals | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers |
| Best Bet | Jets | Redskins | Buccaneers | Jets | Giants |
| Last Week's Record | 8-7-1 | 4-11-1 | 5-10-1 | 8-7-1 | 9-6-1 |
| Best Bet Record | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| 2013 Consensus Pick Record | 1-4-1 | ||||
| 2012 Record | 110-140-6 | 124-126-6 | 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 |
It was a brutal start for Pianow and me, but the other three writers did okay, particularly Dalton Del Don, who won the week at 9-6-1. We have another five consensus picks - Jets, Rams, Redskins, Cardinals and Jaguars.
Consensus Picks
The players:
Enjoy the games.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jets +12.5 at Patriots | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets |
| Chargers +7.5 at Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Browns +6.5 at Ravens | Browns | Browns | Ravens | Browns | Ravens |
| Titans +9 at Texans | Titans | Titans | Texans | Texans | Titans |
| Dolphins +3 at Colts | Dolphins | Colts | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Panthers -3 at Bills | Bills | Bills | Panthers | Panthers | Bills |
| Rams +7 at Falcons | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams |
| Redskins +7 at Packers | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins |
| Cowboys +2.5 at Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| Vikings +6.5 at Bears | Bears | Vikings | Vikings | Bears | Bears |
| Saints -3.5 at Buccaneeers | Buccaneers | Saints | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers |
| Lions -1 at Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals |
| Jaguars +6 at Raiders | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Broncos -4.5 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Broncos | Giants |
| 49ers +3 at Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | 49ers | Seahawks |
| Steelers +7 at Bengals | Bengals | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers |
| Best Bet | Jets | Redskins | Buccaneers | Jets | Giants |
| Last Week's Record | 8-7-1 | 4-11-1 | 5-10-1 | 8-7-1 | 9-6-1 |
| Best Bet Record | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| 2013 Consensus Pick Record | 1-4-1 | ||||
| 2012 Record | 110-140-6 | 124-126-6 | 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 |
Consensus Picks
This week we have five consensus picks: the Jets, Rams, Redskins, Cardinals and Jaguars. Last week we went 1-4-1 on consensus picks.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
| Erickson | I'm just not convinced the Patriots are all that good. And the Jets' disastrous preseason means even less now than it did a week ago, when it meant virtually nothing... Two teams I feel like I'll end up picking while holding my nose this year, the Raiders and the Jaguars, at least cancel each other out... Tough calls for me: DAL/KC (feels like a trap line), CLE/BAL, MIA/IND. Of those three, I think Miami might very well win outright - that defense could really be pretty nasty. |
| Pianowski | I'm embarrassed to throw up such a horrible Week 1 record with the underdogs carrying the day. Inexcusable. |
| Liss | I like more games than usual on this slate. Stopa makes the case for the Jets, the Giants are always tough as an underdog (they killed Dallas when you take out the unlucky turnovers), and the Broncos, who are missing an all-world defensive player, won't have the thin air to their advantage. The Jaguars get a big upgrade with Chad Henne taking over, and it's insane the Raiders are laying six points against anyone. I also like the Ravens, who were toe to toe with Denver before running out of gas and the Rams who are roughly equal to the Falcons but getting seven. Most of all, I love the Bucs at home getting points against the Saints. That game should be Tampa minus three. |
| Stopa | Before I make picks, I often like to predict what I think the spread should be. If I'm off by a lot (which is rare), I know which team I like. With the Patriots, I thought they should be giving 7 or 7.5 - that's what would have made it hard for me to choose a side. Anything more than 10 is crazy. When you back a double-digit favorite, you have to love the offense. Here, I can't see how NE is going to score. Cromartie can cover Thompkins, and the Jets can devote extra defenders to Edelman. Just as we saw against the Bills (when they had zero touchdown drives - both TDs were on short fields after turnovers), the Patriots will have to labor for everything. Sure, the Patriots might run it well, and some Jets turnovers could create easy points, but I can't see NE scoring above 20 or so, making the Jets at anything more than 10 a ridiculous bargain. This is my favorite bet of the year to date, and I doubt I see one I like more at any point in Weeks 3-17, either. I also love the under here for these same reasons. I like some of the other games, but nothing close to how strongly I feel about the Jets. |
| Del Don | I'm going dog heavy this week, backing a whopping 13 of them. And the three favorites I took are probably the shakiest I feel as far as confidence level. The teams I like most this week are the Bucs, Cardinals, Jaguars and Giants. My teaser of the week: Ravens, Bears and Packers (six points). |
The players:
•Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008 Staff Picks Champ. Writes the Value Meter. 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 Surviving the Week in addition to Staff Picks. Covers and roots for the Giants.
•Mark Stopa: Staff Writer, 2010, 2012 Staff Picks Champ, Writes Working the Wire. Roots for the Bills.
•Dalton Del Don: Fantasy Expert for Yahoo! Sports, 2007 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the 49ers.
