This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
Payne and Pianow won Week 2, leaving Payne in first place, two games ahead of Pianow and DDD. This week, we have three unanimous picks, the Jaguars, Football Team and Bears, none of which were anyone's best bet.
Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Payne | Del Don | |
| Panthers -8 at Texans | Texans | Panthers | Panthers | Texans | Texans |
| Cardinals -7.5 at Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Colts +5.5 at Titans | Titans | Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts |
| Ravens -8 at Lions | Lions | Lions | Ravens | Lions | Lions |
| Football Team +8.5 at Bills | Football Team | Football Team | Football Team | Football Team | Football Team |
| Saints +3 at Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Saints | Saints | Saints |
| Chargers +6.5 at Chiefs | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chiefs | Chargers |
| Falcons +3 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Falcons |
| Bears +7 at Browns | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears |
| Bengals +3.5 at Steelers | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Steelers | Bengals |
| Dolphins +4 at Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Jets +10.5 at Broncos | Jets | Jets | Broncos | Jets | Jets |
| Buccaneers -1 at Rams | Rams | Buccaneers | Rams | Rams | Buccaneers |
| Seahawks -2 at Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Seahawks |
| Packers +3.5 at 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | Packers | 49ers |
| Eagles +4 at Cowboys | Cowboys | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles |
| Best Bet | Vikings | Giants | Chargers | Rams | Dolphins |
| Last Week's Record | 6-9-1 | 9-6-1 | 8-7-1 | 9-6-1 | 7-8-1 |
| 2021 Record | 13-18-1 | 17-14-1 | 15-16-1 | 19-12-1 | 17-14-1 |
| 2021 Best Bet Record | 0-2 | 1-1 | 2-0 | 1-1 | 0-2 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 4-3 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 14-17-1 | ||||
| 2020 Record | 121-127-8 | 128-120-8 | 118-130-8 | 115-133-8 | 118-130-8 |
| 2019 |
Payne and Pianow won Week 2, leaving Payne in first place, two games ahead of Pianow and DDD. This week, we have three unanimous picks, the Jaguars, Football Team and Bears, none of which were anyone's best bet.
Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Payne | Del Don | |
| Panthers -8 at Texans | Texans | Panthers | Panthers | Texans | Texans |
| Cardinals -7.5 at Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Colts +5.5 at Titans | Titans | Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts |
| Ravens -8 at Lions | Lions | Lions | Ravens | Lions | Lions |
| Football Team +8.5 at Bills | Football Team | Football Team | Football Team | Football Team | Football Team |
| Saints +3 at Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Saints | Saints | Saints |
| Chargers +6.5 at Chiefs | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chiefs | Chargers |
| Falcons +3 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Falcons |
| Bears +7 at Browns | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears |
| Bengals +3.5 at Steelers | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Steelers | Bengals |
| Dolphins +4 at Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Jets +10.5 at Broncos | Jets | Jets | Broncos | Jets | Jets |
| Buccaneers -1 at Rams | Rams | Buccaneers | Rams | Rams | Buccaneers |
| Seahawks -2 at Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Seahawks |
| Packers +3.5 at 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | Packers | 49ers |
| Eagles +4 at Cowboys | Cowboys | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles |
| Best Bet | Vikings | Giants | Chargers | Rams | Dolphins |
| Last Week's Record | 6-9-1 | 9-6-1 | 8-7-1 | 9-6-1 | 7-8-1 |
| 2021 Record | 13-18-1 | 17-14-1 | 15-16-1 | 19-12-1 | 17-14-1 |
| 2021 Best Bet Record | 0-2 | 1-1 | 2-0 | 1-1 | 0-2 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 4-3 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 14-17-1 | ||||
| 2020 Record | 121-127-8 | 128-120-8 | 118-130-8 | 115-133-8 | 118-130-8 |
| 2019 Record | 126-124-6 | 140-110-6 | 127-123-6 | 127-123-6 | 134-116-6 |
| 2018 Record | 125-122-9 | 134-113-9 | 141-106-9 | N/A | 120-127-9 |
| 2017 Record | 117-125-14 | 128-114-14 | 117-125-14 | N/A | 98-144-14 |
| 2016 Record | 140-111-5 | 130-121-5 | 123-128-5 | N/A | 132-119-5 |
| 2015 Record | 134-114-8 | 120-128-8 | 114-134-8 | N/A | 121-127-8 |
| 2014 Record | 123-128-5 | 140-111-5 | 135-116-5 | N/A | 128-123-5 |
| 2013 Record | 132-114-10 | 118-128-10 | 123-123-10 | N/A | 128-118-10 |
| 2012 Record | 110-140-6 | 125-125-6 | 121-129-6 | N/A | 123-127-6 |
| 2011 Record | 121-128-7 | 134-115-7 | 124-125-7 | N/A | 127-122-7 |
| 2010 Record | 129-122-5 | 134-117-5 | 126-125-5 | N/A | 134-117-5 |
| 2009 Record | 123-130-3 | 132-121-3 | 131-122-3 | N/A | 126-127-3 |
| 2008 Record | 132-114-10 | 128-118-10 | 124-122-10 | N/A | 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 |
This week, we have three unanimous picks: Jaguars, Football Team and Bears. We went 2-2 on unanimous picks last week, winning with the Colts and Ravens, but losing with the Browns and Eagles to bring our record to 4-3 on the year. We went and 7-8-1 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 14-17-1 on the year. We went 17-23 on unanimous picks and 118-130-8 on majority picks in 2020.
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | The Vikings are better than their record - arguably they should be 2-0, if not for a bad review on a Dalvin Cook fumble and a missed 37-yard field goal. Now they get their home debut. They should be a pick 'em at worst. |
| Pianowski | The Giants narrative is all messed up now because of the loss Thursday; it's all outcome bias. If NYG wins that game, the story becomes "hey, Daniel Jones is playing well; hey, this Giants team isn't so bad." I struggle to find any Falcons optimism, though I share the sentiment that Kyle Pitts is going to break out soon. I'd grab the -3 now, I suspect this line will move higher. |
| Liss | I like the Chargers to shoot it out with the Chiefs, the Bears to keep pace in Cleveland and the Ravens to throttle the Lions. |
| Payne | We're now starting to get into the division games, and my tendency is to take the points especially if it's anything over three. Do we start to believe the Raiders are good? Who's the worst team in the league, the Jets (I think), the Falcons? Tampa goes down to the Rams this week. |
| Del Don | It's a small sample, but road teams have outscored home teams to open the season even with crowds returning, for what it's worth. |
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.com. 2009, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2020 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the Patriots.
• Chris Liss: RotoWire Managing Editor, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2018 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.
• Kevin Payne: Staff Writer, 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.
