Staff Picks: Week 1

Staff Picks: Week 1

This article is part of our NFL Picks series.

This is the 21st year of the Staff Picks. All five writers from last year are back, including defending champ Scott Pianowski who won it by a comfortable margin. 

For Week 1, we have three unanimous picks, the Panthers, Lions and Bengals. The Bengals also happen to be Pianowski's, DDD's and my best bets. 

 EricksonPianowskiLissPayneDel Don
Texans +9 at ChiefsChiefsTexansTexansChiefsChiefs
Dolphins +6.5 at PatriotsPatriotsDolphinsPatriotsPatriotsDolphins
Browns +8 at RavensBrownsRavensRavensBrownsRavens
Jets +6.5 at BillsBillsBillsBillsBillsJets
Raiders -3 at PanthersPanthersPanthersPanthersPanthersPanthers
Seahawks -1.5 at FalconsSeahawksSeahawksSeahawksFalconsSeahawks
Eagles -6 at Football TeamEaglesFootball TeamFootball TeamFootball TeamFootball Team
Bears +3 at LionsLionsLionsLionsLionsLions
Colts -8 at JaguarsJaguarsJaguarsColtsColtsColts
Packers +2.5 at VikingsVikingsPackersPackersVikingsVikings
Chargers -3.5 at BengalsBengalsBengalsBengalsBengalsBengals
Cardinals +7 at 49ers49ersCardinals49ersCardinalsCardinals
Buccaneers +3.5 at SaintsSaintsBuccaneersSaintsSaintsSaints
Cowboys -3 at RamsCowboysRamsCowboysCowboysCowboys
Steelers -6 at GiantsSteelersSteelersSteelersGiantsSteelers
Titans pick 'em at BroncosBroncosTitansTitansBroncosBroncos
Best BetPanthersBengalsBengalsBillsBengals
2019 Best Bet Record9-89-7-18-912-4-18-9
2019 Unanimous Pick Record23-17-1    
2019 Majority Pick Record130-120-6    
2019 Record126-124-6140-110-6127-123-6

This is the 21st year of the Staff Picks. All five writers from last year are back, including defending champ Scott Pianowski who won it by a comfortable margin. 

For Week 1, we have three unanimous picks, the Panthers, Lions and Bengals. The Bengals also happen to be Pianowski's, DDD's and my best bets. 

 EricksonPianowskiLissPayneDel Don
Texans +9 at ChiefsChiefsTexansTexansChiefsChiefs
Dolphins +6.5 at PatriotsPatriotsDolphinsPatriotsPatriotsDolphins
Browns +8 at RavensBrownsRavensRavensBrownsRavens
Jets +6.5 at BillsBillsBillsBillsBillsJets
Raiders -3 at PanthersPanthersPanthersPanthersPanthersPanthers
Seahawks -1.5 at FalconsSeahawksSeahawksSeahawksFalconsSeahawks
Eagles -6 at Football TeamEaglesFootball TeamFootball TeamFootball TeamFootball Team
Bears +3 at LionsLionsLionsLionsLionsLions
Colts -8 at JaguarsJaguarsJaguarsColtsColtsColts
Packers +2.5 at VikingsVikingsPackersPackersVikingsVikings
Chargers -3.5 at BengalsBengalsBengalsBengalsBengalsBengals
Cardinals +7 at 49ers49ersCardinals49ersCardinalsCardinals
Buccaneers +3.5 at SaintsSaintsBuccaneersSaintsSaintsSaints
Cowboys -3 at RamsCowboysRamsCowboysCowboysCowboys
Steelers -6 at GiantsSteelersSteelersSteelersGiantsSteelers
Titans pick 'em at BroncosBroncosTitansTitansBroncosBroncos
Best BetPanthersBengalsBengalsBillsBengals
2019 Best Bet Record9-89-7-18-912-4-18-9
2019 Unanimous Pick Record23-17-1    
2019 Majority Pick Record130-120-6    
2019 Record126-124-6140-110-6127-123-6127-123-6134-116-6
2018 Record125-122-9134-113-9141-106-9N/A120-127-9
2017 Record117-125-14128-114-14117-125-14N/A98-144-14
2016 Record140-111-5130-121-5123-128-5N/A132-119-5
2015 Record134-114-8120-128-8114-134-8N/A121-127-8
2014 Record123-128-5140-111-5135-116-5N/A128-123-5
2013 Record132-114-10118-128-10123-123-10N/A128-118-10
2012 Record110-140-6125-125-6121-129-6N/A123-127-6
2011 Record121-128-7134-115-7124-125-7N/A127-122-7
2010 Record129-122-5134-117-5126-125-5N/A134-117-5
2009 Record123-130-3132-121-3131-122-3N/A126-127-3
2008 Record132-114-10128-118-10124-122-10N/A130-116-10
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

This week we have three unanimous picks, the Panthers, Lions and Bengals. We were 23-17-1 on unanimous picks  and 130-120-6 on majority picks (three or more writers) last year. 

WriterComment
EricksonI understand most perceive the Panthers to be one of the dregs of the league, but I don't understand the Raiders being a road favorite, particularly when they have to travel for an early East Coast game. I also really like the Broncos, Niners, and kind of like the Bengals as a pick
Pianowski I'm not only drinking the Joe Burrow Kool-Aid, I've mixed a big batch of it.
Liss I made the Bengals 2.5-point home favorites, and they're getting 3.5. I also like Football Team in this spot. 
Payne I'm a homer. I used my favorite team as my best bet. (Payne failed to submit a comment, so I helped him out.)
Del DonI expect Joe Burrow to be good right away, and the rest of Cincy's roster is a bit underrated, so the wrong team is favored 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.com. 2009, 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2019 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.

Want to Read More?
Subscribe to RotoWire to see the full article.

We reserve some of our best content for our paid subscribers. Plus, if you choose to subscribe you can discuss this article with the author and the rest of the RotoWire community.

Get Instant Access To This Article Get Access To This Article
RotoWire Community
Join Our Subscriber-Only NFL Chat
Chat with our writers and other RotoWire NFL fans for all the pre-game info and in-game banter.
Join The Discussion
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.
Thursday Night Football DFS Breakdown: Bengals vs. Ravens
Thursday Night Football DFS Breakdown: Bengals vs. Ravens
NFL Game Previews: Bengals-Ravens Matchup
NFL Game Previews: Bengals-Ravens Matchup
Exploiting the Matchups: Week 10 Start/Sit and Fantasy Streamers
Exploiting the Matchups: Week 10 Start/Sit and Fantasy Streamers
NFL Week 10 Picks, Predictions, Props and Best Bets for Every Game
NFL Week 10 Picks, Predictions, Props and Best Bets for Every Game