NFL Picks: Backing the Chargers

NFL Picks: Backing the Chargers

This article is part of our NFL Picks series.

Wild card weekend was a poor one for the Staff as everyone except Stopa (2-1-1) had losing records, and three of us went 0-3-1.

This week the Chargers are our only unanimous pick, and three writers made them their best bets.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Colts +5.5 at ChiefsColtsColtsChiefsColts Colts
Cowboys +7 at RamsRamsCowboysCowboysCowboysRams
Chargers +4 at PatriotsChargersChargersChargersChargersChargers  
Eagles +8 at SaintsSaintsSaintsEaglesSaintsEagles
Best BetSaintsChargersChiefsChargersChargers
Last Week's Record0-3-11-2-10-3-12-1-10-3-1
2018 Record125-122-9134-113-9141-106-9117-130-9120-127-9
Playoff Best Bet Record0-10-10-11-00-1
Best Bet Record12-511-610-78-8-17-9-1
2017 Best Bet Record8-7-29-7-112-4-18-7-211-6
Unanimous Pick Record26-21-1
Majority Pick Record132-115-9
2017 Playoff Record5-65-65-67-42-9
2016 Playoff Record6-55-66-54-76-5
2015 Playoff Record5-62-93-82-91-10
2014 Playoff Record10-15-69-24-79-2
2013 Playoff Record5-4-23-6-24-5-24-5-24-5-2
2012 Playoff Record4-6-15-5-16-4-14-6-18-2-1
2011 Playoff Record8-35-69-26-57-4
2010 Playoff Record6-55-65-67-48-3
2009 Playoff Record5-64-71-106-55-6
2008 Playoff Record6-55-65-68-34-7
2007 Playoff Record8-33-86-5N/A2-9
2006 Playoff Record7-4N/A4-7N/AN/A
2005 Playoff Record5-6N/A3-8N/AN/A
2004 Playoff Record6-5N/A4-7N/A
Wild card weekend was a poor one for the Staff as everyone except Stopa (2-1-1) had losing records, and three of us went 0-3-1.

This week the Chargers are our only unanimous pick, and three writers made them their best bets.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Colts +5.5 at ChiefsColtsColtsChiefsColts Colts
Cowboys +7 at RamsRamsCowboysCowboysCowboysRams
Chargers +4 at PatriotsChargersChargersChargersChargersChargers  
Eagles +8 at SaintsSaintsSaintsEaglesSaintsEagles
Best BetSaintsChargersChiefsChargersChargers
Last Week's Record0-3-11-2-10-3-12-1-10-3-1
2018 Record125-122-9134-113-9141-106-9117-130-9120-127-9
Playoff Best Bet Record0-10-10-11-00-1
Best Bet Record12-511-610-78-8-17-9-1
2017 Best Bet Record8-7-29-7-112-4-18-7-211-6
Unanimous Pick Record26-21-1
Majority Pick Record132-115-9
2017 Playoff Record5-65-65-67-42-9
2016 Playoff Record6-55-66-54-76-5
2015 Playoff Record5-62-93-82-91-10
2014 Playoff Record10-15-69-24-79-2
2013 Playoff Record5-4-23-6-24-5-24-5-24-5-2
2012 Playoff Record4-6-15-5-16-4-14-6-18-2-1
2011 Playoff Record8-35-69-26-57-4
2010 Playoff Record6-55-65-67-48-3
2009 Playoff Record5-64-71-106-55-6
2008 Playoff Record6-55-65-68-34-7
2007 Playoff Record8-33-86-5N/A2-9
2006 Playoff Record7-4N/A4-7N/AN/A
2005 Playoff Record5-6N/A3-8N/AN/A
2004 Playoff Record6-5N/A4-7N/AN/A
2003 Playoff Record6-5N/A4-7N/AN/A
2002 Playoff Record6-57-45-6N/AN/A
2001 Playoff Record6-4-17-3-14-6-1N/AN/A
2017 Record117-125-14128-114-14117-125-14119-123-1498-144-14
2016 Record140-111-5130-121-5123-128-5115-136-5132-119-5
2015 Record134-114-8120-128-8114-134-8127-121-8121-127-8
2014 Record123-128-5140-111-5135-116-5124-127-5128-123-5
2013 Record132-114-10118-128-10123-123-10111-135-10128-118-10
2012 Record110-140-6125-125-6121-129-6143-107-6123-127-6
2011 Record121-128-7134-115-7124-125-7123-126-7127-122-7
2010 Record129-122-5134-117-5126-125-5136-115-5134-117-5
2009 Record123-130-3132-121-3131-122-3130-123-3126-127-3
2008 Record132-114-10128-118-10124-122-10125-121-10130-116-10
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

Unanimous/Majority Picks

This week we have one unanimous pick, the Chargers. Last week we had no unanimous picks, keeping our season record at 26-21-1. We went 0-3-1 on majority picks (three or more writers) where our regular season record was 132-115-9.

Comments:

WriterComment
Erickson It's weird to go against the Eagles given their recent run and of course their playoff run last year, but this is a really poor matchup for Philly's injured and weak secondary... I feel pretty strongly about the Chargers too, despite all the history in favor of the Pats.
PianowskiGenerally this is a week where rested teams clean out Wild Card heroes, but it's not difficult to shoot holes in the top seeds. I want to take the Chiefs, but KC's playoff resume can't be completely ignored. The Patriots never give games away, but the Chargers have a talent edge almost everywhere - maybe they simply take it. I wish LAC wasn't battling the travel and weather issues. I can't lay a touchdown with the Rams given their recent form.
LissI like the Saturday games better than the Sunday ones. I know the Colts are hot, but their resume is thin, and the Chiefs have been a dominant offensive juggernaut all year, have two weeks to prep and host a dome team in Arrowhead. I also like the Cowboys getting the full TD against a Rams team that hasn't been great since the first half of the season.
Stopa Indy's offensive line plus Andy Reid off a bye week will make for an offensive explosion in KC. I'd have set the O/U at 60.5, so I like over 56 a lot... The Patriots look old and slow, while the Chargers are young and fast. Give me the +170 money line there... I feel less confident about the NFC, but this feels like time time the party ends for Philly. The Rams, though, don't seem like a TD favorite to me against a good defense like Dallas.
Del Don I could see both AFC dogs winning outright, but give me the Chargers as my best bet. The Patriots would have much preferred the Texans winning last week.

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 and 2017 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.

• 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.

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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.
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