NFL Picks: Backing the Falcons

NFL Picks: Backing the Falcons

This article is part of our NFL Picks series.

Overall, it wasn't a great week for the staff with only two of us over .500, and we lost our only unanimous pick, the Cardinals. DDD was in first place briefly a couple weeks ago, but after a 4-11 showing in Week 12, he's now closer to third.

This week, there's only one unanimous pick, the Falcons, and all five of us have different best bets.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Bears +7 at LionsLionsBearsLionsLionsLions
Eagles +3 at CowboysEaglesEaglesCowboysEaglesCowboys
Seahawks +1 at 49ers49ersSeahawks49ersSeahawks49ers
Redskins +9.5 at ColtsRedskinsColtsRedskinsColtsRedskins
Titans +6.5 at TexansTexansTexansTexansTexansTitans
Browns +2.5 at BillsBillsBillsBrownsBillsBills
Chargers +5.5 at RavensRavensRavensRavensChargersRavens
Giants -2.5 at JaguarsJaguarsJaguarsGiantsGiantsJaguars
Bengals -4 at BuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersBengalsBuccaneers
Raiders +7 at RamsRamsRaidersRamsRamsRams
Saints +4 at SteelersSteelersSteelersSteelersSteelersSaints
Panthers +2.5 at VikingsVikingsVikingsPanthersVikingsVikings
Cardinals -2.5 at FalconsFalconsFalconsFalconsFalconsFalcons
Patriots +3 at PackersPatriotsPatriotsPatriotsPatriotsPackers
Broncos -1.5 at ChiefsBroncosBroncosChiefsBroncosChiefs
Dolphins -6 at JetsDolphinsJetsDolphinsDolphinsJets
Best BetBroncosVikingsLionsPatriots49ers
Last Week's Record8-77-89-66-94-11
2014 Record83-91-289-85-298-76-284-90-293-81-2
Best Bet Record4-82-109-37-57-5
Majority Record97-77-2
Unanimous
Overall, it wasn't a great week for the staff with only two of us over .500, and we lost our only unanimous pick, the Cardinals. DDD was in first place briefly a couple weeks ago, but after a 4-11 showing in Week 12, he's now closer to third.

This week, there's only one unanimous pick, the Falcons, and all five of us have different best bets.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Bears +7 at LionsLionsBearsLionsLionsLions
Eagles +3 at CowboysEaglesEaglesCowboysEaglesCowboys
Seahawks +1 at 49ers49ersSeahawks49ersSeahawks49ers
Redskins +9.5 at ColtsRedskinsColtsRedskinsColtsRedskins
Titans +6.5 at TexansTexansTexansTexansTexansTitans
Browns +2.5 at BillsBillsBillsBrownsBillsBills
Chargers +5.5 at RavensRavensRavensRavensChargersRavens
Giants -2.5 at JaguarsJaguarsJaguarsGiantsGiantsJaguars
Bengals -4 at BuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersBengalsBuccaneers
Raiders +7 at RamsRamsRaidersRamsRamsRams
Saints +4 at SteelersSteelersSteelersSteelersSteelersSaints
Panthers +2.5 at VikingsVikingsVikingsPanthersVikingsVikings
Cardinals -2.5 at FalconsFalconsFalconsFalconsFalconsFalcons
Patriots +3 at PackersPatriotsPatriotsPatriotsPatriotsPackers
Broncos -1.5 at ChiefsBroncosBroncosChiefsBroncosChiefs
Dolphins -6 at JetsDolphinsJetsDolphinsDolphinsJets
Best BetBroncosVikingsLionsPatriots49ers
Last Week's Record8-77-89-66-94-11
2014 Record83-91-289-85-298-76-284-90-293-81-2
Best Bet Record4-82-109-37-57-5
Majority Record97-77-2
Unanimous Pick Record15-14
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 only one unanimous pick, the Falcons. Last week we went 0-1 on unanimous picks to go 15-14 on the year. And we went 8-7 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 97-77-2.

Comments:

WriterComment
EricksonThe NFL is so concerned about player safety they'll make the Cowboys play the Sunday night game on the road, then turn around and play at 4:30 ET on Thursday. But better make sure that every player is available for inane questions from reporters after the game... I don't know if this is a thing, but this is the third straight road game for the Bengals down south - I feel a letdown coming... I really, really, really hope that NE-GB lives up to its billing... I could see a lot of underdogs winning outright this week.
PianowskiI know a lot of people will complain about the Sunday split (nine early, two late), but that's what happens when a game like Green Bay and New England sits at 4:25 pm ET. And three of the five standalone games look excellent, so I can live with the Sunday imbalance. I am very tempted to boycott Monday's game in New York, however. Is Rex Ryan daring the Jets to fire him?... Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I'm thankful for you wonderful colleagues and friends, and interesting and insightful readers.
LissTough slate. I picked the Lions because I think their defense will hold up at home, and Matt Stafford will finally break through against the Bears defense. Also like the Giants, Ravens and Rams a little bit.
StopaI think Darrelle Revis will cover Jordy Nelson, and the Patriots will roll extra coverage towards Randall Cobb, slowing down the Packers just a bit. But how are the Packers going to slow down the Patriots? Give me the points in a game NE is probably 50/50 to win outright... Matthew Stafford usually plays better at Thanksgiving, and the Bears are just the turkeys to help him do so again.
Del DonI had a tough time with this week's slate, including coming up with a best bet, so I went with the homer route.

The players:

Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008, 2013 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 and 2011 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the Patriots.

Chris Liss: RotoWire Managing Editor, 2000, 2002, 2006 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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