This article is part of our Staff Picks series.
Kevin Payne took another week, going a season-best 13-3 last week to improve to 42-21-1 (66.7 percent, not including ties).
Payne also hit on his best bet, as did Jeff Erickson and Scott Pianowski, who is now 4-0 on his bests.
The group's lone unanimous pick won, though majority picks were 8-8.
This week, there are no unanimous picks and only three teams garnered four votes each.
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| MATCHUP | ERICKSON | PIANOWSKI | WHALEN | PAYNE | DEL DON |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buccaneers +1.5 at Falcons | Falcons | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Falcons | Buccaneers |
| Jets +2.5 vs. Vikings at London | Jets | Vikings | Vikings | Jets | Vikings |
| Panthers +3.5 at Bears | Bears | Panthers | Bears | Panthers | Panthers |
| Ravens -2.5 at Bengals | Ravens | Bengals | Ravens | Ravens | Bengals |
| Bills -1 at Texans | Texans | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills |
| Colts +3 at Jaguars | Colts | Colts | Colts | Jaguars | Colts |
| Dolphins +1 at Patriots | Patriots | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Patriots |
| Browns +3.5 at Commanders | Browns | Commanders | Commanders | Browns | Commanders |
| Raiders +3 at Broncos | Broncos | Raiders | Raiders | Broncos | Broncos |
| Cardinals +7.5 at 49ers | 49ers | Cardinals | 49ers | Cardinals | 49ers |
| Packers -3.5 at Rams | Rams | Rams | Packers | Rams | Packers |
| Giants +6 at Seahawks | Giants | Seahawks | Giants | Giants | Seahawks |
| Cowboys +2.5 at Steelers | Steelers | Cowboys | Steelers | Cowboys | Steelers |
| Saints +5 at Chiefs | Chiefs | Saints | Saints | Saints | Saints |
| Best Bet | 49ers | Saints | Vikings | Cardinals | Bills |
| Last Week Record | 6-10 | 8-8 | 6-10 | 13-3 | 8-8 |
| 2024 Record | 27-36-1 | 28-35-1 | 27-36-1 | 42-21-1 | 26-37-1 |
| 2024 Best Bet Record | 1-3 | 4-0 | 0-3-1 | 3-1 | 1-3 |
| 2024 |
Kevin Payne took another week, going a season-best 13-3 last week to improve to 42-21-1 (66.7 percent, not including ties).
Payne also hit on his best bet, as did Jeff Erickson and Scott Pianowski, who is now 4-0 on his bests.
The group's lone unanimous pick won, though majority picks were 8-8.
This week, there are no unanimous picks and only three teams garnered four votes each.
Odds from BetMGM. Use the BetMGM Bonus Code for a risk-free bet up to $1,000.
| MATCHUP | ERICKSON | PIANOWSKI | WHALEN | PAYNE | DEL DON |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buccaneers +1.5 at Falcons | Falcons | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Falcons | Buccaneers |
| Jets +2.5 vs. Vikings at London | Jets | Vikings | Vikings | Jets | Vikings |
| Panthers +3.5 at Bears | Bears | Panthers | Bears | Panthers | Panthers |
| Ravens -2.5 at Bengals | Ravens | Bengals | Ravens | Ravens | Bengals |
| Bills -1 at Texans | Texans | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills |
| Colts +3 at Jaguars | Colts | Colts | Colts | Jaguars | Colts |
| Dolphins +1 at Patriots | Patriots | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Patriots |
| Browns +3.5 at Commanders | Browns | Commanders | Commanders | Browns | Commanders |
| Raiders +3 at Broncos | Broncos | Raiders | Raiders | Broncos | Broncos |
| Cardinals +7.5 at 49ers | 49ers | Cardinals | 49ers | Cardinals | 49ers |
| Packers -3.5 at Rams | Rams | Rams | Packers | Rams | Packers |
| Giants +6 at Seahawks | Giants | Seahawks | Giants | Giants | Seahawks |
| Cowboys +2.5 at Steelers | Steelers | Cowboys | Steelers | Cowboys | Steelers |
| Saints +5 at Chiefs | Chiefs | Saints | Saints | Saints | Saints |
| Best Bet | 49ers | Saints | Vikings | Cardinals | Bills |
| Last Week Record | 6-10 | 8-8 | 6-10 | 13-3 | 8-8 |
| 2024 Record | 27-36-1 | 28-35-1 | 27-36-1 | 42-21-1 | 26-37-1 |
| 2024 Best Bet Record | 1-3 | 4-0 | 0-3-1 | 3-1 | 1-3 |
| 2024 Unanimous Pick Record | 2-4 | ||||
| 2024 Majority Pick Record | 31-32-1 | ||||
| 2023 Record | 133-131-8 | 125-139-8 | 129-135-8 | 140-124-8 | 127-137-8 |
| 2022 Record | 127-136-8 | 149-114-8 | 124-139-8 | 131-132-8 | 133-130-8 |
| 2021 Record | 129-140-3 | 134-135-3 | N/A | 145-124-3 | 136-133-3 |
| 2020 Record | 121-127-8 | 128-120-8 | N/A | 115-133-8 | 118-130-8 |
| 2019 Record | 126-124-6 | 140-110-6 | N/A | 127-123-6 | 134-116-6 |
| 2018 Record | 125-122-9 | 134-113-9 | N/A | N/A | 120-127-9 |
| 2017 Record | 117-125-14 | 128-114-14 | N/A | N/A | 98-144-14 |
| 2016 Record | 140-111-5 | 130-121-5 | N/A | N/A | 132-119-5 |
| 2015 Record | 134-114-8 | 120-128-8 | N/A | N/A | 121-127-8 |
| 2014 Record | 123-128-5 | 140-111-5 | N/A | N/A | 128-123-5 |
| 2013 Record | 132-114-10 | 118-128-10 | N/A | N/A | 128-118-10 |
| 2012 Record | 110-140-6 | 125-125-6 | N/A | N/A | 123-127-6 |
| 2011 Record | 121-128-7 | 134-115-7 | N/A | N/A | 127-122-7 |
| 2010 Record | 129-122-5 | 134-117-5 | N/A | N/A | 134-117-5 |
| 2009 Record | 123-130-3 | 132-121-3 | N/A | N/A | 126-127-3 |
| 2008 Record | 132-114-10 | 128-118-10 | N/A | N/A | 130-116-10 |
| 2007 Record | 127-120 | 118-129 | N/A | N/A | 130-117 |
| 2006 Record | 118-129 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2005 Record | 121-126 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2004 Record | 124-124 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2003 Record | 121-126 | 118-129 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2002 Record | 113-136 | 123-126 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2001 Record | 124-113 | 117-120 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2000 Record | 123-117 | 134-106 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| WRITER | COMMENT |
|---|---|
| Erickson | Normally, I go by the maxim that if I have a big gap between my line and the actual line, it's a clear "what am I missing" moment and I should back the opposite of my instincts in a Costanza-esque fashion. Yet, I'm going to power through that and go with the Niners, who I think should be double-digit favorites for the second week in a row. |
| Pianowski | I hate this slate with the white-hot intensity of 1,000 suns. |
| Whalen | I know the London game can be an unpredictable variable, but the Vikings have been the vastly better, more consistent and healthier team thus far. |
| Payne | I know this is only five weeks of picking, but this is easily the week I didn't think I had a great feel on things. Can't wait for the Dolphins-Patriots! |
| Del Don | The Texans may be 3-1, but their offense has major issues. Buy Buffalo low here. |
The players:
• Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior Editor, 2001, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016 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. 2009, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2022 Staff Picks champ. Roots for the Patriots.
• Nick Whalen: RotoWire Senior Media Analyst. Writes Beating the Book. Roots for the Jaguars.
• Kevin Payne: RotoWire Staff Writer, 2021 and 2023 Staff Picks champ. Writes our Waiver Wire column. Roots for the Bills.
• Dalton Del Don: Fantasy Expert for Yahoo! Sports, 2007 Staff Picks champ. Roots for the 49ers.
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