NFL Picks: Bengals, Texans, Dolphins, Broncos and Panthers

NFL Picks: Bengals, Texans, Dolphins, Broncos and Panthers

This article is part of our NFL Picks series.

This is the 19th year of Staff Picks. Erickson, Pianowski and I have been here since the inception in 2000 and had you told me in 2006 - when I had won or tied for the title five out of the first seven years - that I wouldn't win again through 2017, I probably would have shut it down. But here we are.

For some reason, Week 1 always seems to be our groupthink week. Last year we had nine unanimous picks, and this year five: the Bengals, Texans, Dolphins, Broncos and Panthers. Both Stopa and I have the Bengals as our best bets.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Falcons +2 at EaglesEaglesFalconsFalconsFalconsEagles
Steelers -4 at BrownsBrownsBrownsSteelersBrownsBrowns 
49ers +6 at VikingsVikings49ersVikingsVikings49ers
Bengals +3 at ColtsBengalsBengalsBengalsBengalsBengals
Bills +7 at RavensRavensRavensRavensBillsRavens 
Jaguars -3 at GiantsGiantsJaguarsGiantsJaguarsJaguars
Buccaneers +9.5 at SaintsSaintsBuccaneersSaintsSaintsSaints
Texans +6.5 at PatriotsTexansTexansTexansTexansTexans
Titans -1.5 at DolphinsDolphinsDolphinsDolphinsDolphinsDolphins 
Chiefs +3.5 at ChargersChargersChargersChiefsChargersChiefs
Seahawks +3 at BroncosBroncosBroncosBroncosBroncosBroncos 
Cowboys +3 at PanthersPanthersPanthersPanthersPanthersPanthers
Redskins pick 'em at CardinalsCardinalsRedskinsCardinalsCardinalsCardinals 
Bears +7.5 at PackersBearsBearsPackersPackersPackers
Jets +6.5 at LionsLionsJetsLionsJetsJets
Rams -4 at Raiders
This is the 19th year of Staff Picks. Erickson, Pianowski and I have been here since the inception in 2000 and had you told me in 2006 - when I had won or tied for the title five out of the first seven years - that I wouldn't win again through 2017, I probably would have shut it down. But here we are.

For some reason, Week 1 always seems to be our groupthink week. Last year we had nine unanimous picks, and this year five: the Bengals, Texans, Dolphins, Broncos and Panthers. Both Stopa and I have the Bengals as our best bets.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Falcons +2 at EaglesEaglesFalconsFalconsFalconsEagles
Steelers -4 at BrownsBrownsBrownsSteelersBrownsBrowns 
49ers +6 at VikingsVikings49ersVikingsVikings49ers
Bengals +3 at ColtsBengalsBengalsBengalsBengalsBengals
Bills +7 at RavensRavensRavensRavensBillsRavens 
Jaguars -3 at GiantsGiantsJaguarsGiantsJaguarsJaguars
Buccaneers +9.5 at SaintsSaintsBuccaneersSaintsSaintsSaints
Texans +6.5 at PatriotsTexansTexansTexansTexansTexans
Titans -1.5 at DolphinsDolphinsDolphinsDolphinsDolphinsDolphins 
Chiefs +3.5 at ChargersChargersChargersChiefsChargersChiefs
Seahawks +3 at BroncosBroncosBroncosBroncosBroncosBroncos 
Cowboys +3 at PanthersPanthersPanthersPanthersPanthersPanthers
Redskins pick 'em at CardinalsCardinalsRedskinsCardinalsCardinalsCardinals 
Bears +7.5 at PackersBearsBearsPackersPackersPackers
Jets +6.5 at LionsLionsJetsLionsJetsJets
Rams -4 at RaidersRamsRaidersRamsRamsRams 
Best BetRavensBrownsBengalsBengalsBroncos
2017 Best Bet Record8-7-29-7-112-4-18-7-211-6
2017 Unanimous Pick Record23-28-4
2017 Majority Pick Record121-121-14
2017 Record117-125-14128-114-14117-125-14119-123-1498-144-14
2016 Record133-102-5122-113-5115-120-5108-127-5123-112-5
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 five unanimous picks: the Bengals, Texans, Dolphins, Broncos and Panthers. Last year we went 23-28-4 on unanimous picks and 121-121-14 on majority picks (three or more writers).

Comments:

WriterComment
Erickson I still can't shake that notion that the Bills are going to be truly terrible this year. I get that we shouldn't invest too much in the preseason results or even our assessment of offseason moves, but I feel like that this is a Cleveland-like purposeful tank job to accumulate many high-value draft picks the next two years... My perception is that neither Dallas nor Washington is all that strong, so I was surprised by their respective lines. Dallas is being treated as just as strong as Carolina, and I don't think that's true, and Washington is getting treated as if they'd be favorites on a neutral field against the Cardinals... I feel least confident about the Thursday game, the PIT-CLE game, and the stupid Giants are already annoying me, tricking me into thinking that this is a "value" pick.
PianowskiI'm on some of the ugly sides, almost reflexively. But it's not hard to sidle up to Cleveland, when you consider how unreliable the Steelers are as a road favorite. They love to play down to the level of their competition.
LissI like the Chiefs getting the hook with extra prep time for Andy Reid, the Panthers laying only the customary three at home against a weak Cowboys team, the Ravens laying only a TD at home against Nathan Peterman and the Bengals getting the full three on the road against a shaky Colts squad. I also like the Saints as less than 10 point favorites at home against the Ryan Fitzpatrick-led Bucs.
StopaI'm most confident, for whatever that's worth, in the Bengals, Chargers, Panthers and Rams. The Colts D is devoid of talent on all levels, so getting points there is a gift... I have significant under bets on the season-long win totals of Cowboys and Raiders, and that was before the former's o-line imploded and the latter traded their best player. Week 1 feels like the start of the public, and Vegas, realizing how bad these two teams are. The Chiefs D profiles as a bottom five unit, whereas the Chargers are the AFC's most talented team. Patrick Mahomes will have some fun fantasy games, but this is a tough spot to start the year. I'd be really surprised if the Chargers don't win.
Del DonWeek 1 is annually my favorite ATS, with this year no exception, as the sides came easily for me (for better or worse) on almost every game. The Broncos at home giving just a field goal to a Seattle team that was always vulnerable on the road even before the roster was devastated are my best bet, while others I like include the Ravens and Browns, though those lines have moved steadily since opening.

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 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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