This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
This week, everyone likes the Steelers on Thursday night, and both Erickson and I have the Patriots as our best bets. Oddly, Stopa is the only writer to pick the Buccaners, and they're his best bet.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titans +7 at Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers |
| Lions -3 at Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | Lions | Lions |
| Chiefs -10.5 at Giants | Chiefs | Chiefs | Giants | Giants | Giants |
| Buccaneers +1 at Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Buccaneers | Dolphins |
| Ravens -2 at Packers | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Packers |
| Rams +2.5 at Vikings | Vikings | Rams | Rams | Vikings | Vikings |
| Cardinals +1 at Texans | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Texans |
| Jaguars -7.5 at Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Jaguars | Browns |
| Redskins +7.5 at Saints | Saints | Redskins | Redskins | Saints | Saints |
| Bills +4 at Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Bills |
| Bengals +2.5 at Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Bengals | Broncos | Broncos |
| Raiders +6.5 vs* Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Raiders | Patriots |
| Eagles -3.5 at Cowboys | Eagles | Cowboys | Cowboys | Eagles | Cowboys |
| Falcons +3 at Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Falcons | Seahawks |
| Best Bet | Patriots | Bears | Patriots | Buccaneers | Saints |
| Last Week's Record | 6-8 | 7-7 | 4-10 | 6-8 | 7-7 |
| 2017 Record | 68-73-5 | 78-63-5 | 69-72-5 | 67-74-5 | 57-84-5 |
| Best Bet Record | 5-5 | 5-5 | 7-3 | 4-4-2 | 5-5 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 12-13-1 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 71-70-5 | ||||
| 2016 |
This week, everyone likes the Steelers on Thursday night, and both Erickson and I have the Patriots as our best bets. Oddly, Stopa is the only writer to pick the Buccaners, and they're his best bet.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titans +7 at Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers |
| Lions -3 at Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | Lions | Lions |
| Chiefs -10.5 at Giants | Chiefs | Chiefs | Giants | Giants | Giants |
| Buccaneers +1 at Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Buccaneers | Dolphins |
| Ravens -2 at Packers | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Packers |
| Rams +2.5 at Vikings | Vikings | Rams | Rams | Vikings | Vikings |
| Cardinals +1 at Texans | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Texans |
| Jaguars -7.5 at Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Jaguars | Browns |
| Redskins +7.5 at Saints | Saints | Redskins | Redskins | Saints | Saints |
| Bills +4 at Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Bills |
| Bengals +2.5 at Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Bengals | Broncos | Broncos |
| Raiders +6.5 vs* Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Raiders | Patriots |
| Eagles -3.5 at Cowboys | Eagles | Cowboys | Cowboys | Eagles | Cowboys |
| Falcons +3 at Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Falcons | Seahawks |
| Best Bet | Patriots | Bears | Patriots | Buccaneers | Saints |
| Last Week's Record | 6-8 | 7-7 | 4-10 | 6-8 | 7-7 |
| 2017 Record | 68-73-5 | 78-63-5 | 69-72-5 | 67-74-5 | 57-84-5 |
| Best Bet Record | 5-5 | 5-5 | 7-3 | 4-4-2 | 5-5 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 12-13-1 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 71-70-5 | ||||
| 2016 Record | 133-102-5 | 122-113-5 | 115-120-5 | 108-127-5 | 123-112-5 |
| 2015 Record | 134-114-8 | 120-128-8 | 114-134-8 | 127-121-8 | 121-127-8 |
| 2014 Record | 123-128-5 | 140-111-5 | 135-116-5 | 124-127-5 | 128-123-5 |
| 2013 Record | 132-114-10 | 118-128-10 | 123-123-10 | 111-135-10 | 128-118-10 |
| 2012 Record | 110-140-6 | 125-125-6 | 121-129-6 | 143-107-6 | 123-127-6 |
| 2011 Record | 121-128-7 | 134-115-7 | 124-125-7 | 123-126-7 | 127-122-7 |
| 2010 Record | 129-122-5 | 134-117-5 | 126-125-5 | 136-115-5 | 134-117-5 |
| 2009 Record | 123-130-3 | 132-121-3 | 131-122-3 | 130-123-3 | 126-127-3 |
| 2008 Record | 132-114-10 | 128-118-10 | 124-122-10 | 125-121-10 | 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 |
Unanimous/Majority Picks
This week we have one unanimous pick: the Steelers. Last week we were 0-2 on unanimous picks, losing with the Browns and Cowboys to put us at 12-13-1 on the season. We went 5-9 on majority picks (three or more writers) to bring our season record to 71-70-5. Last year we went 27-22-2 on unanimous picks and 138-124-5 on majority picks.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | This isn't in Oakland - it's a neutral field. The Patriots are on a roll, and even though the Raiders have the bye week to prepare, I don't think their defense can stop them. |
| Pianowski | I'm petitioning to have all Ravens and Dolphins games off TV. I can live with the Browns and the Giants, they are so bad there's actually some entertainment value there. I've been getting crushed with road dogs in the stand-alone games; maybe it's anecdotal, maybe there's something I need to reevaluate. Whatever Javert mission I go on, it's not going to happen this week. Pittsburgh is the classic team that mails it in against an obvious patsy, but shows up against real competition. I should have pounded the Colts last week. They're pretty easy in retrospect, eh? |
| Liss | I expect the Pats to crush the Raiders on a neutral site. I don't see how Oakland will stop them. I also like the Chargers at home against the road-challenged Bills who are starting a backup quarterback. |
| Stopa | Miami is last in the NFL in DVOA, even worse than the Browns (and, yes, worse than Liss' Giants). Fading the Dolphins and getting points has to be my best bet, and likely something I'll put my own $$ on. I also like the Chargers, who I expect to somehow sneak into the AFC's sixth seed in a conference full of misfits. Although I can't bet on it here, the under in the Oakland-New England game is interesting. After opening at 50, that line is up to 53.5 in some books, even though the Pats D has been holding everyone under 20 points in recent weeks. Fade the public. |
| Del Don | I'm all in on the Saints. They have a strong argument they're the best team in football right now, and the lines have yet to catch up... I also like the Seahawks, Broncos, Patriots and Cowboys this 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 and 2014 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.
