NFL Picks: Texans, Jaguars and Rams

NFL Picks: Texans, Jaguars and Rams

This article is part of our NFL Picks series.

It was a mixed week for the staff with Erickson going 7-8-1 and slipping to a mere seven games ahead of Del Don. Still, with two weeks to play that lead is insurmountable, barring the greatest choke in the history of human endeavor. (Incidentally, they differ on seven games this week.)

Also worth noting, Erickson and I differ on only one game. This on a week where he was traveling and we didn't co-host the SXM show together. I'm assuming he hacked my computer (with Vladimir Putin's help, of course) - I'm just trying to discern a motive as winning can be ruled out.

We have three unanimous picks this week, the Jaguars, Rams and Texans. Interestingly, Stopa personally blocked the Bears, Dolphins, Packers and Ravens.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Giants -2.5 at EaglesEaglesEaglesEaglesGiantsGiants
Redskins -3 at BearsBearsBearsBearsRedskinsBears
Dolphins +4 at BillsDolphinsDolphins DolphinsBillsDolphins
Falcons -2.5 at PanthersPanthersFalconsPanthersFalconsPanthers
Vikings +6.5 at PackersPackersPackersPackersVikingsPackers
Jets +16.5 at PatriotsPatriotsJetsPatriotsPatriotsJets
Titans -4.5 at JaguarsJaguarsJaguars JaguarsJaguarsJaguars
Chargers -6 at BrownsChargersBrownsChargersChargersBrowns
Colts +3.5 at RaidersRaidersColtsRaidersColtsColts
Buccaneers +3 at SaintsBuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersSaints
49ers +3.5 at RamsRamsRamsRamsRamsRams
Cardinals +8.5 at SeahawksCardinalsCardinalsSeahawksCardinalsCardinals
Bengals +2.5 at TexansTexansTexansTexansTexansTexans
Ravens
It was a mixed week for the staff with Erickson going 7-8-1 and slipping to a mere seven games ahead of Del Don. Still, with two weeks to play that lead is insurmountable, barring the greatest choke in the history of human endeavor. (Incidentally, they differ on seven games this week.)

Also worth noting, Erickson and I differ on only one game. This on a week where he was traveling and we didn't co-host the SXM show together. I'm assuming he hacked my computer (with Vladimir Putin's help, of course) - I'm just trying to discern a motive as winning can be ruled out.

We have three unanimous picks this week, the Jaguars, Rams and Texans. Interestingly, Stopa personally blocked the Bears, Dolphins, Packers and Ravens.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Giants -2.5 at EaglesEaglesEaglesEaglesGiantsGiants
Redskins -3 at BearsBearsBearsBearsRedskinsBears
Dolphins +4 at BillsDolphinsDolphins DolphinsBillsDolphins
Falcons -2.5 at PanthersPanthersFalconsPanthersFalconsPanthers
Vikings +6.5 at PackersPackersPackersPackersVikingsPackers
Jets +16.5 at PatriotsPatriotsJetsPatriotsPatriotsJets
Titans -4.5 at JaguarsJaguarsJaguars JaguarsJaguarsJaguars
Chargers -6 at BrownsChargersBrownsChargersChargersBrowns
Colts +3.5 at RaidersRaidersColtsRaidersColtsColts
Buccaneers +3 at SaintsBuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersSaints
49ers +3.5 at RamsRamsRamsRamsRamsRams
Cardinals +8.5 at SeahawksCardinalsCardinalsSeahawksCardinalsCardinals
Bengals +2.5 at TexansTexansTexansTexansTexansTexans
Ravens +5 at SteelersRavensRavensRavensSteelersRavens
Broncos +4 at ChiefsChiefsBroncos BroncosBroncosBroncos
Lions +7 at CowboysCowboysLionsCowboysCowboysLions
Best BetPackersBuccaneersCowboysTexansColts
Last week's Record7-8-19-6-16-9-19-6-110-5-1
2016 Record123-96-5114-105-5107-112-5102-117-5116-103-5
Best Bet Record9-610-57-86-99-6
2016 Unanimous Pick Record24-18-2
2016 Majority Pick Record117-102-5
2015 Record134-114-8120-128-8114-134-8127-121-8121-127-8
2014 Record123-128-5140-111-5135-116-5124-127-5128-123-5
2013 Record132-114-10118-128-10123-123-10111-135-10128-118-10
2012 Record110-140-6125-125-6121-129-6143-107-6123-127-6
2011 Record121-128-7134-115-7124-125-7123-126-7127-122-7
2010 Record129-122-5134-117-5126-125-5136-115-5134-117-5
2009 Record123-130-3132-121-3131-122-3130-123-3126-127-3
2008 Record132-114-10128-118-10124-122-10125-121-10130-116-10
2007 Record127-120118-129127-120N/A130-117
2006 Record118-129N/A139-108N/AN/A
2005 Record121-126N/A127-120N/AN/A
2004 Record124-124N/A130-118N/AN/A
2003 Record121-126118-129124-123N/AN/A
2002 Record113-136123-126141-108N/AN/A
2001 Record124-113117-120118-119N/AN/A
2000 Record123-117134-106141-99N/AN/A

Unanimous/Majority Picks

This week we have three unanimous picks, the Jaguars, Rams and Texans. We went 2-1 on unanimous picks last week, winning with the Bears and Buccaneers and losing with the Cardinals to bring our season record to 24-18-2. We went 9-6-1 on majority (three or more writers) picks to bring our season record to 117-102-5.

Comments:

WriterComment
EricksonI know I'm chasing last week with this pick, but whatever that was from the Vikings, it wasn't a team that was checked in for one last push... Very nervous about this set of picks, it's super chalky... Hated taking the Rams and Chargers as favorites, as they've done nothing at all to deserve it, but the Niners and Browns keep defying their very low expectations.
PianowskiIt's not predictive, but I hated this card. Took Tampa Bay because I buy into the defense being significantly improved - I'd definitely take the Bucs over New Orleans if site were neutral. September hardly matters to me any longer. Happy Holidays, everyone.
LissI like the Cowboys to blow out the Lions at home - I don't see how Detroit slows them down, and Matthew Stafford's dink and dunk show won't keep up. I also like the Rams to roll at home after getting blown out by the 49ers in Week 1. And as a Giants fan, I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think Eli Manning will be up to the task in Philly on the short week.
StopaI wish we had more games where I could fade a team that needs to win this week for playoff purposes. History has taught me those teams struggle ATS at this time of year. Alas, many such teams square off this week.
Del Don I went heavy dogs this week, including the Colts, whom I see having a good shot at winning outright.

The players:

• Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008, 2013, 2015 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, 2011 and 2014 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.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Liss
Chris Liss was RotoWire's Managing Editor and Host of RotoWire Fantasy Sports Today on Sirius XM radio from 2001-2022.
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