NFL Picks: Backing the Vikings

NFL Picks: Backing the Vikings

This article is part of our NFL Picks series.

I thought for sure I'd be in second place after going 6-9-1, but DDD trumped that with a 3-12-1 week, leaving me three games ahead in first. But with formerly-in-last-place Jeff Erickson going 10-5-1, only seven games separate the entire staff from top to bottom with 48 games to go.

Oddly, Pianowski and I differed on three picks last week but improbably wound up with the same record when one of those on which we differed wound up as a push. He's now tied with DDD for second as a result.

This week, we have only one unanimous pick, the Vikings.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Cardinals +4.5 at RamsRamsRamsRamsCardinalsRams
Raiders +10 at ChiefsRaidersRaidersChiefsChiefsChiefs
Jaguars +13.5 at RavensJaguarsJaguarsRavensRavensRavens
Steelers -2.5 at FalconsSteelersSteelersFalconsSteelersSteelers
Texans +6.5 at ColtsColtsTexansTexansColtsTexans
Bengals pick 'em at BrownsBrownsBrownsBengalsBengalsBrowns
Dolphins +7.5 at PatriotsPatriotsPatriotsDolphinsDolphinsPatriots
Buccaneers +3.5 at PanthersPanthersBuccaneersBuccaneersPanthersBuccaneers
Redskins +6.5 at GiantsRedskinsGiantsGiantsGiantsRedskins
Packers -5 at BillsBillsBillsBillsPackersBills
Vikings +7.5 at LionsVikingsVikingsVikingsVikingsVikings
Jets -1.5 at TitansTitansTitansJetsTitansTitans
Broncos -4 at ChargersChargersChargersChargersBroncosChargers
49ers +10 at Seahawks49ers49ersSeahawksSeahawksSeahawks
Cowboys +3.5 at EaglesCowboysCowboysEaglesCowboysCowboys
Saints -3 at BearsBearsSaintsBears
I thought for sure I'd be in second place after going 6-9-1, but DDD trumped that with a 3-12-1 week, leaving me three games ahead in first. But with formerly-in-last-place Jeff Erickson going 10-5-1, only seven games separate the entire staff from top to bottom with 48 games to go.

Oddly, Pianowski and I differed on three picks last week but improbably wound up with the same record when one of those on which we differed wound up as a push. He's now tied with DDD for second as a result.

This week, we have only one unanimous pick, the Vikings.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Cardinals +4.5 at RamsRamsRamsRamsCardinalsRams
Raiders +10 at ChiefsRaidersRaidersChiefsChiefsChiefs
Jaguars +13.5 at RavensJaguarsJaguarsRavensRavensRavens
Steelers -2.5 at FalconsSteelersSteelersFalconsSteelersSteelers
Texans +6.5 at ColtsColtsTexansTexansColtsTexans
Bengals pick 'em at BrownsBrownsBrownsBengalsBengalsBrowns
Dolphins +7.5 at PatriotsPatriotsPatriotsDolphinsDolphinsPatriots
Buccaneers +3.5 at PanthersPanthersBuccaneersBuccaneersPanthersBuccaneers
Redskins +6.5 at GiantsRedskinsGiantsGiantsGiantsRedskins
Packers -5 at BillsBillsBillsBillsPackersBills
Vikings +7.5 at LionsVikingsVikingsVikingsVikingsVikings
Jets -1.5 at TitansTitansTitansJetsTitansTitans
Broncos -4 at ChargersChargersChargersChargersBroncosChargers
49ers +10 at Seahawks49ers49ersSeahawksSeahawksSeahawks
Cowboys +3.5 at EaglesCowboysCowboysEaglesCowboysCowboys
Saints -3 at BearsBearsSaintsBearsSaintsBears
Best BetBearsBrownsJetsSeahawksChiefs
Last Week's Record10-5-16-9-16-9-17-8-13-12-1
2014 Record103-102-3106-99-3109-96-3102-103-3106-99-3
Best Bet Record5-94-1010-48-67-7
Majority Record112-93-3
Unanimous Pick Record17-15
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 Vikings. Last week we went 1-1 on unanimous picks to go 17-15 on the year. And we went 5-10-1 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 112-93-3.

Comments:

WriterComment
EricksonSure, the Bears suck, but so do the Saints. How are they giving three points on the road? I don't get that one... Jake Locker's slogan: "Not as bad as you might think.".. I think if Derek Anderson starts for Carolina they'll still win, and that the change in that line is an over-correction.
PianowskiI'm sick of taking teams like the Jaguars, Buccaneers, and Bears just about every week. I actually flipped on Chicago and took the type of road favorite I generally steer from. If Jay Cutler picks this week to have his occasional block party, good for him.
LissThe Jets are a random best bet because I really don't have one. (You know you're lost when the best you can do is lay points on the road with Geno Smith.) Other candidates were the Chiefs, Giants and Seahawks.
StopaSunday is the funeral for the Jim Harbaugh Niners. Seattle is hosting the festivities... Buffalo's defense has become a bit overrated. Aaron Rodgers won't have any problems putting up 30-plus points.
Del DonIt seems odd a 6-7 team would be four-point favorites over a 10-3 team, but Arizona has been vulnerable on the road, and St. Louis has played far better lately... I'm almost positive taking the Steelers is the sucker side, but the Falcons are just 1-8 outside their division this season, for what it's worth... After three straight losses, I expect the Chiefs to roll against Oakland.

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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