This article is part of our NFL Staff Picks series.
Jeff Erickson and Kevin Payne won wild-card week, each going 4-1-1. They also nailed their best bets, as did Nick Whalen, while regular-season champ Scott Pianowski pushed and Dalton Del Don missed.
Unanimous picks went 1-0-1 and majority picks were 4-1-1.
This week produced one unanimous pick — the Giants +7.5 at the Eagles.
Del Don, a die-hard 49ers fan, was the lone holdout with the Cowboys +3.5 in the Dallas-San Francisco game. (An emotional hedge, perhaps?) Erickson and Payne picked every game the same, as did Pianowski and Whalen. Each has a different best bet, however.
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| MATCHUP | ERICKSON | PIANOWSKI | WHALEN | PAYNE | DEL DON |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguars +8.5 at Chiefs | Jaguars | Chiefs | Chiefs | Jaguars | Chiefs |
| Giants +7.5 at Eagles | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants |
| Bengals +4.5 at Bills | Bills | Bengals | Bengals | Bills | Bengals |
| Cowboys +3.5 at 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | Cowboys |
| Best Bet | Bills | 49ers | Chiefs | Giants | Giants |
| Playoff Record | 4-1-1 | 2-3-1 | 3-2-1 | 4-1-1 | 3-2-1 |
| Playoff Best Bet Record | 1-0 | 0-0-1 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| 2022 Regular-Season Record | 127-136-8 | 149-114-8 | 124-139-8 | 131-132-8 | 133-130-8 |
| 2022 Best Bet Record | 9-10 | 8-9-2 | 10-9 | 9-9-1 | 10-9 |
| 2022 Unanimous Pick Record | 13-11-3 | ||||
| 2022 Majority Pick Record | 132-136-9 | ||||
| 2021 Playoff Record | 7-6 | 9-4 | NA | 7-6 | 8-5 |
| 2020 Playoff Record | 5-8 | 8-5 | NA | 6-7 | 7-6 |
| 2019 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | NA | 4-7 | 7-4 |
| 2018 Playoff Record | 3-6-1 | 1-8-1 | NA | N/A | 2-7-1 |
| 2017 Playoff Record | 5-6 |
Jeff Erickson and Kevin Payne won wild-card week, each going 4-1-1. They also nailed their best bets, as did Nick Whalen, while regular-season champ Scott Pianowski pushed and Dalton Del Don missed.
Unanimous picks went 1-0-1 and majority picks were 4-1-1.
This week produced one unanimous pick — the Giants +7.5 at the Eagles.
Del Don, a die-hard 49ers fan, was the lone holdout with the Cowboys +3.5 in the Dallas-San Francisco game. (An emotional hedge, perhaps?) Erickson and Payne picked every game the same, as did Pianowski and Whalen. Each has a different best bet, however.
Odds from BetMGM. Use the BetMGM Bonus Code for a risk-free bet up to $1,000.
| MATCHUP | ERICKSON | PIANOWSKI | WHALEN | PAYNE | DEL DON |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguars +8.5 at Chiefs | Jaguars | Chiefs | Chiefs | Jaguars | Chiefs |
| Giants +7.5 at Eagles | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants |
| Bengals +4.5 at Bills | Bills | Bengals | Bengals | Bills | Bengals |
| Cowboys +3.5 at 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | Cowboys |
| Best Bet | Bills | 49ers | Chiefs | Giants | Giants |
| Playoff Record | 4-1-1 | 2-3-1 | 3-2-1 | 4-1-1 | 3-2-1 |
| Playoff Best Bet Record | 1-0 | 0-0-1 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| 2022 Regular-Season Record | 127-136-8 | 149-114-8 | 124-139-8 | 131-132-8 | 133-130-8 |
| 2022 Best Bet Record | 9-10 | 8-9-2 | 10-9 | 9-9-1 | 10-9 |
| 2022 Unanimous Pick Record | 13-11-3 | ||||
| 2022 Majority Pick Record | 132-136-9 | ||||
| 2021 Playoff Record | 7-6 | 9-4 | NA | 7-6 | 8-5 |
| 2020 Playoff Record | 5-8 | 8-5 | NA | 6-7 | 7-6 |
| 2019 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | NA | 4-7 | 7-4 |
| 2018 Playoff Record | 3-6-1 | 1-8-1 | NA | N/A | 2-7-1 |
| 2017 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 5-6 | NA | N/A | 2-9 |
| 2016 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | NA | N/A | 6-5 |
| 2015 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 2-9 | NA | N/A | 1-10 |
| 2014 Playoff Record | 10-1 | 5-6 | NA | N/A | 9-2 |
| 2013 Playoff Record | 5-4-2 | 3-6-2 | NA | N/A | 4-5-2 |
| 2012 Playoff Record | 4-6-1 | 5-5-1 | NA | N/A | 8-2-1 |
| 2011 Playoff Record | 8-3 | 5-6 | NA | N/A | 7-4 |
| 2010 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | NA | N/A | 8-3 |
| 2009 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 4-7 | NA | N/A | 5-6 |
| 2008 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | NA | N/A | 4-7 |
| 2007 Playoff Record | 8-3 | 3-8 | NA | N/A | 2-9 |
| 2006 Playoff Record | 7-4 | N/A | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2005 Playoff Record | 5-6 | N/A | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2004 Playoff Record | 6-5 | N/A | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2003 Playoff Record | 6-5 | N/A | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2002 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 7-4 | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2001 Playoff Record | 6-4-1 | 7-3-1 | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 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 | I really don't have a best bet, but the Bills are the first that I decided on. I hate that the Bengals are likely to be down three offensive linemen with little time to adjust. I hope I'm wrong. |
| Pianowski | I love picking against the Cowboys after they have a back-patting win. They've also had a bunch of road games recently and eventually that reservoir will be empty. Andy Reid after basically a bye week is an autoplay; I also want a Jags fade right after an improbable comeback win. Buffalo-Cincinnati is difficult: Josh Allen's turnover problem against Cincinnati's wrecked offensive line. The Giants have also been road warriors lately, which makes me concerned their tank could be depleted, but perhaps Jalen Hurts will come back rusty and we'll see a competitive game. |
| Whalen | Against a quarterback who's 9-1 career off a bye, and a coach who's a borderline-laughable 28-5 in those situations, I can't back off Kansas City in this spot. Jacksonville shows up and makes it a game, but the Chiefs win and get the narrow cover. |
| Payne | I'm glad we don't have to read how great Tom Brady is for another nine months in the comments section. (Kidding, kidding.) |
| Del Don | Jalen Hurts is clearly compromised, and the Eagles become far more vulnerable with Lane Johnson banged up. ... As a 49ers fan, this second-round matchup is a nightmare. |
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 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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