NFL Picks: Bengals, Texans, Dolphins, Panthers and 49ers

NFL Picks: Bengals, Texans, Dolphins, Panthers and 49ers

This article is part of our NFL Picks series.

Congratulations to Scott Pianowski for winning the 2017 Staff Picks, his fourth overall title in the last nine years. And no, this isn't a jinx with one week left as he's eight games up on Erickson and nine up on Stopa and me, and his picks differ from ours by less than that margin.

It hasn't been a great year for anyone else, but take a look at our cumulative best bet records - 48-28-6 (62.16%.) And yes, that was a not so humble brag by me.

This week, we have five unanimous picks, the Texans, Bengals, Dolphins, Panthers and 49ers.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Packers +7 at LionsPackersPackersPackersLionsLions
Jets +15.5 at PatriotsPatriotsJetsJetsPatriotsPatriots
Texans +4 at ColtsTexansTexansTexansTexansTexans
Browns +13 at SteelersSteelersSteelersSteelersBrownsSteelers
Redskins -3.5 at GiantsGiantsGiantsGiantsRedskinsRedskins
Bears +12 at VikingsBearsVikingsVikingsVikingsBears
Cowboys -2.5 at EaglesEaglesCowboysCowboysCowboysCowboys
Bengals +9.5 at RavensBengalsBengalsBengalsBengalsBengals
Bills -3 at DolphinsDolphinsDolphinsDolphinsDolphinsDolphins
Panthers +3.5 at FalconsPanthersPanthersPanthersPanthersPanthers
Saints -7 at BuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersSaintsSaints
Jaguars +4 at TitansTitansTitansJaguarsJaguarsJaguars
Raiders +8 at ChargersRaidersChargersRaidersRaidersChargers
Cardinals +8.5 at SeahawksSeahawksCardinalsCardinalsCardinalsSeahawks
Chiefs +3.5 at BroncosBroncosBroncosBroncosChiefsBroncos
49ers +3 at Rams49ers49ers49ers49ers
Congratulations to Scott Pianowski for winning the 2017 Staff Picks, his fourth overall title in the last nine years. And no, this isn't a jinx with one week left as he's eight games up on Erickson and nine up on Stopa and me, and his picks differ from ours by less than that margin.

It hasn't been a great year for anyone else, but take a look at our cumulative best bet records - 48-28-6 (62.16%.) And yes, that was a not so humble brag by me.

This week, we have five unanimous picks, the Texans, Bengals, Dolphins, Panthers and 49ers.

EricksonPianowskiLissStopaDel Don
Packers +7 at LionsPackersPackersPackersLionsLions
Jets +15.5 at PatriotsPatriotsJetsJetsPatriotsPatriots
Texans +4 at ColtsTexansTexansTexansTexansTexans
Browns +13 at SteelersSteelersSteelersSteelersBrownsSteelers
Redskins -3.5 at GiantsGiantsGiantsGiantsRedskinsRedskins
Bears +12 at VikingsBearsVikingsVikingsVikingsBears
Cowboys -2.5 at EaglesEaglesCowboysCowboysCowboysCowboys
Bengals +9.5 at RavensBengalsBengalsBengalsBengalsBengals
Bills -3 at DolphinsDolphinsDolphinsDolphinsDolphinsDolphins
Panthers +3.5 at FalconsPanthersPanthersPanthersPanthersPanthers
Saints -7 at BuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersBuccaneersSaintsSaints
Jaguars +4 at TitansTitansTitansJaguarsJaguarsJaguars
Raiders +8 at ChargersRaidersChargersRaidersRaidersChargers
Cardinals +8.5 at SeahawksSeahawksCardinalsCardinalsCardinalsSeahawks
Chiefs +3.5 at BroncosBroncosBroncosBroncosChiefsBroncos
49ers +3 at Rams49ers49ers49ers49ers49ers
Best BetSeahawksCowboysRaidersJaguars49ers
Last Week's Record8-6-27-7-27-7-27-7-27-7-2
2017 Record111-115-14119-107-14110-116-14110-116-1492-134-14
Best Bet Record8-6-28-7-112-3-18-6-210-6
Unanimous Pick Record21-25-4
Majority Pick Record113-113-14
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 Texans, Bengals, Dolphins, Panthers and 49ers. Last week we went 1-0 on unanimous picks, winning with the Seahawks, to put us at 21-25-4 on the season. We went 7-7-2 on majority picks (three or more writers) to bring our season record to 113-113-14. Last year we went 27-22-2 on unanimous picks and 138-124-5 on majority picks.

Comments:

WriterComment
EricksonSome teams choke under the yoke of 'having to win,' but I trust that the Seahawks instead are more of a rise to the occasion type of team. Plus the Cardinals are such a weak road team.
PianowskiSome Week 17s are pretty clean. This one is a mess. I have no idea what I'm picking.
LissThe Raiders offense is bad, but Marshawn Lynch is running well, and Amari Cooper is back. The Chargers choke in these spots, and this is a division rival that knows them well. I also like the Cowboys. I loved the Dolphins until I read Jay Cutler might sit the second half for David Fales. I don't see how one can succeed betting on Fales.
StopaWhen in doubt in Week 17, fade the teams that need to win and you'll come out ahead in the long run.
Del DonWeek 17 always brings extra crazy variables, making an already difficult exercise tougher having to try to predict motivation and playing time. I'll go back to the well with San Francisco, who's playing about as well as any team in the league right now, and the Rams don't have a lot to play for 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, 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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