This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
This week we had a whopping seven consensus picks (I had the wrong line on Carolina, so Pianowski changed his pick with the real line on Friday), something that rarely happens after early September, and also five games where four writers agreed. In fact, DDD and I have identical picks except I like the Saints, and he likes that Pats. For that reason, I'd be fine with going 1-14 as long as that win is the Saints.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giants +8 at Bears | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants |
| Raiders +9 at Chiefs | Chiefs | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders |
| Eagles -1 at Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaners | Buccaners | Buccaneers |
| Packers -3 at Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Packers | Packers | Packers |
| Lions -3 at Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns |
| Panthers +2.5 at Vikings | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers |
| Rams +7 at Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans |
| Steelers +2.5 at Jets | Jets | Jets | Steelers | Jets | Steelers |
| Bengals -7.5 at Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bengals | Bills |
| Titans +13.5 at Seahawks | Titans | Titans | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Jaguars +27.5 at Broncos | Broncos | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Cardinals +11 at 49ers | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals |
| Saints +2.5 at Patriots | Patriots | Saints | Saints | Patriots | Patriots |
| Redskins +5.5 at Cowboys | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins |
This week we had a whopping seven consensus picks (I had the wrong line on Carolina, so Pianowski changed his pick with the real line on Friday), something that rarely happens after early September, and also five games where four writers agreed. In fact, DDD and I have identical picks except I like the Saints, and he likes that Pats. For that reason, I'd be fine with going 1-14 as long as that win is the Saints.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giants +8 at Bears | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants |
| Raiders +9 at Chiefs | Chiefs | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders |
| Eagles -1 at Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaners | Buccaners | Buccaneers |
| Packers -3 at Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Packers | Packers | Packers |
| Lions -3 at Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns |
| Panthers +2.5 at Vikings | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers |
| Rams +7 at Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans |
| Steelers +2.5 at Jets | Jets | Jets | Steelers | Jets | Steelers |
| Bengals -7.5 at Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bengals | Bills |
| Titans +13.5 at Seahawks | Titans | Titans | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Jaguars +27.5 at Broncos | Broncos | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Cardinals +11 at 49ers | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals |
| Saints +2.5 at Patriots | Patriots | Saints | Saints | Patriots | Patriots |
| Redskins +5.5 at Cowboys | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins |
| Colts -1.5 at Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Colts | Chargers |
| Best Bet | Browns | Texans | Texans | Patriots | Jaguars |
| Last Week's Record | 9-5 | 7-7 | 5-9 | 4-10 | 7-7 |
| 2013 Record | 40-33-4 | 32-41-4 | 30-43-4 | 32-41-4 | 40-33-4 |
| Best Bet Record | 3-2 | 2-3 | 1-4 | 2-3 | 0-5 |
| 2013 Consensus Pick Record | 4-10-2 | ||||
| 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 a whopping six consensus picks: the Giants, Buccaneers, Panthers, Browns, Texans, Cardinals and Redskins. Last week we went 0-1 to put us at 4-10-2 on the season.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
| Erickson | The Giants are almost in Jaguars territory - I don't want to take them because I'm sick and tired of taking them - but I'll hold off just one more time, because I don't think the Bears merit overwhelming favorite status either... The Browns are worse off without Hoyer, I think... but they're still improved, and I'll happily take points with them at home, especially when Calvin Johnson's status is uncertain... I'm taking Liss's advice - 27 is a magic number, and anytime I'm given the hook on it, gotta take it... I changed my picks back-and-forth on Ravens/Packers, Panthers/Vikings and Saints/Patriots. |
| Pianowski | Houston strikes me as a bully team capable of pushing an inferior opponent to the side. And the Rams strike me as a team poorly equipped to handle what Houston is good at. |
| Liss | I was hoping to make up ground on DDD, but we differ on one game, the Pats-Saints, which I named as one of my coin flips. Contrary to the adage, great minds rarely think alike. |
| Stopa | Picking the Jaguars every week is a disease. I need rehab. [Ed. note: please start a support group for this so I can join.]Aldon Smith, are there any rooms left? In all seriousness, when it gets to 35-10, are the Broncos going to care that Chad Henne pads his fantasy stats with a late touchdown? I think not... I get the Carson Palmer stink factor, but how much worse are the Cardinals than the 49ers, really? Not this much - that D is terrific... The Saints won't go unbeaten, and this week feels like the right setup to lose - on the road, outdoors, on grass, with the Pats coming off a loss... I hate buying the Colts high but their underlying stats have convinced me, whereas the Chargers are entertaining but pitiful on defense. |
| Del Don | The Jags have been historically bad this season, just like my best bets. Seems like a natural time for them to come together, during the NFL's highest point spread in a game in the history of the league. |
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.
