This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
Erickson won the week at 9-3-1, but I was only a game off and have a nine-game lead on three writers tied for second. Stopa - after talking a good game early - is in last, though he's only one game out of second. We also went 7-5-1 on majority picks, though only 1-2 on unanimous ones.
This week, DDD and I both made the Broncos our best bets, while Stopa and Erickson both took the Saints.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings +9 at Packers | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Packers | Packers |
| Bears +2.5 at Panthers | Bears | Panthers | Panthers | Bears | Panthers |
| Browns +1.5 at Titans | Browns | Titans | Titans | Titans | Browns |
| Rams +7 at Eagles | Eagles | Rams | Eagles | Eagles | Rams |
| Falcons +4 at Giants | Giants | Falcons | Giants | Falcons | Giants |
| Buccaneers +10 at Saints | Saints | Buccaneers | Saints | Saints | Saints |
| Texans +5.5 at Cowboys | Texans | Texans | Texans | Cowboys | Texans |
| Bills +7 at Lions | Lions | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills |
| Ravens +3.5 at Colts | Colts | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens |
| Steelers -6.5 at Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Cardinals +7 at Broncos | Cardinals | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos |
| Chiefs +6 at 49ers | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| Jets +6.5 at Chargers | Chargers | Jets | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Bengals -1 at Patriots | Bengals | Patriots | Patriots | Bengals | Bengals |
| Seahawks -7 at Redskins | Seahawks | Redskins | Redskins | Seahawks | Redskins |
| Best Bet | Saints | Falcons | Broncos | Saints | Broncos |
| Last Week's Record | 9-3-1 | 4-8-1 | 8-4-1 | 5-7-1 | 7-5-1 |
| 2014 Record | 32-27-2 | 32-27-2 | 41-18-2 | 31-28-2 | 32-27-2 |
| Best Bet Record | 2-2 | 2-2 | 4-0 | 3-1 | 1-3 |
| Majority Record |
Erickson won the week at 9-3-1, but I was only a game off and have a nine-game lead on three writers tied for second. Stopa - after talking a good game early - is in last, though he's only one game out of second. We also went 7-5-1 on majority picks, though only 1-2 on unanimous ones.
Unanimous/Majority Picks
The players:
This week, DDD and I both made the Broncos our best bets, while Stopa and Erickson both took the Saints.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings +9 at Packers | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Packers | Packers |
| Bears +2.5 at Panthers | Bears | Panthers | Panthers | Bears | Panthers |
| Browns +1.5 at Titans | Browns | Titans | Titans | Titans | Browns |
| Rams +7 at Eagles | Eagles | Rams | Eagles | Eagles | Rams |
| Falcons +4 at Giants | Giants | Falcons | Giants | Falcons | Giants |
| Buccaneers +10 at Saints | Saints | Buccaneers | Saints | Saints | Saints |
| Texans +5.5 at Cowboys | Texans | Texans | Texans | Cowboys | Texans |
| Bills +7 at Lions | Lions | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills |
| Ravens +3.5 at Colts | Colts | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens |
| Steelers -6.5 at Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Cardinals +7 at Broncos | Cardinals | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos |
| Chiefs +6 at 49ers | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| Jets +6.5 at Chargers | Chargers | Jets | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Bengals -1 at Patriots | Bengals | Patriots | Patriots | Bengals | Bengals |
| Seahawks -7 at Redskins | Seahawks | Redskins | Redskins | Seahawks | Redskins |
| Best Bet | Saints | Falcons | Broncos | Saints | Broncos |
| Last Week's Record | 9-3-1 | 4-8-1 | 8-4-1 | 5-7-1 | 7-5-1 |
| 2014 Record | 32-27-2 | 32-27-2 | 41-18-2 | 31-28-2 | 32-27-2 |
| Best Bet Record | 2-2 | 2-2 | 4-0 | 3-1 | 1-3 |
| Majority Record | 38-21-2 | ||||
| Unanimous Pick Record | 9-6 | ||||
| 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 Jaguars and the Chiefs. Last week we went 1-2 on unanimous picks to go 9-6 on the year. And we went 7-5-1 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 38-21-2.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
| Erickson | If taking the big favorite is a sucker play, so be it. But I buy into the "Home Saints vs. Road Saints" notion and wonder how TB does the second week in a row on the road... That's also what swung the vote in favor of Detroit over Buffalo... I really don't know what to make of the Bears - two good road wins in prime time, but I still wonder how they stop anyone. I mentioned this in the Value Meter - I really want to fade Cam and the Carolina offense right now, but I also want to fade the Bears' defense. Ultimately I copped out and took the points... I'm a little surprised the total in the CIN-NE is as high as 46-47. The Bengals have a great defense and a week to heal, and the Pats' offense has looked terrible. I wouldn't exactly be surprised if NE wins because they're home, and it's prime time, but I don't foresee any type of shootout. It's more likely to be 20-17 than 30-27. |
| Pianowski | The Giants just showed their best foot on National TV, while the Falcons laid an egg in Minnesota. This is where the zig-zag theory comes into play, similar to Tampa and Pittsburgh last week. The Chiefs also seem to be getting too many points: they've played three good games in a row after a strange opening loss to Tennessee, and there are plenty of flaws with this Niners club. |
| Liss | While the Cardinals could slow down the Broncos a little bit, Denver's defense might be a big problem for Drew Stanton in Denver, so I'm laying the points. The Saints are auto-back at home, auto-fade on the road until further notice. The Falcons are borderline that way too. I feel most squeamish about the Vikings pick. |
| Stopa | One bad week is an anomaly; two bad weeks in a row will get in your head. So I looked at Massey-Peabody for a little guidance this time. They see the Saints as 10 points better than the Bucs on a neutral field, so put them in the Superdome and coming off a loss, and I'll make that my best bet... Losing with the Jaguars every week is the opposite of fun... This is the ultimate "show me" game for the Patriots. They almost never lose two in a row, but the Bengals are much better team, and they'll be rested. Another loss here would tell me more about the Pats than Monday night did, while a win would be equally telling. |
| Del Don | It seems like picking the Browns is the sucker side, but I mostly tried to buy low otherwise in this week's slate... The Bengals/Patriots game was probably my toughest decision, as I didn't buy low there, and I hate betting against Bill Belichick... The Cardinals are undefeated and coming off a bye, but it looks like Drew Stanton will get another start, and playing in Denver remains incredibly difficult. |
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.
