This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
This week we have a whopping nine unanimous picks, a record, and this is the case despite the slate losing a game to a hurricane. It's either "great minds think alike" or an illustration of the herd mentality. I suppose we'll be judged on the results.
Not surprisingly, all five best bets are unanimous picks, and three writers have the same best bet, the Titans. Finally, it turns out DDD and I have the exact same picks, the first time I believe that has ever happened. It's hard to make the "great minds" case when you share one with DDD.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
| Chiefs +8.5 at Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots |
| Jets +9 at Bills | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets |
| Falcons -7 at Bears | Bears | Falcons | Bears | Falcons | Bears |
| Jaguars +5 at Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Jaguars | Texans |
| Eagles -1 at Redskins | Redskins | Eagles | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins |
| Cardinals -1.5 at Lions | Lions | Cardinals | Lions | Cardinals | Lions |
| Raiders +2 at Titans | Titans | Titans | Titans | Titans | Titans |
| Ravens +3 at Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals |
| Steelers -8.5 at Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns |
| Colts +3.5 at Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams |
| Seahawks +3 at Packers | Packers | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Panthers -5.5 at 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers |
| Giants +3.5 |
This week we have a whopping nine unanimous picks, a record, and this is the case despite the slate losing a game to a hurricane. It's either "great minds think alike" or an illustration of the herd mentality. I suppose we'll be judged on the results.
Not surprisingly, all five best bets are unanimous picks, and three writers have the same best bet, the Titans. Finally, it turns out DDD and I have the exact same picks, the first time I believe that has ever happened. It's hard to make the "great minds" case when you share one with DDD.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
| Chiefs +8.5 at Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots |
| Jets +9 at Bills | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets |
| Falcons -7 at Bears | Bears | Falcons | Bears | Falcons | Bears |
| Jaguars +5 at Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Jaguars | Texans |
| Eagles -1 at Redskins | Redskins | Eagles | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins |
| Cardinals -1.5 at Lions | Lions | Cardinals | Lions | Cardinals | Lions |
| Raiders +2 at Titans | Titans | Titans | Titans | Titans | Titans |
| Ravens +3 at Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals |
| Steelers -8.5 at Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns |
| Colts +3.5 at Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams |
| Seahawks +3 at Packers | Packers | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Panthers -5.5 at 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers |
| Giants +3.5 at Cowboys | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants |
| Saints +3.5 at Vikings | Vikings | Saints | Saints | Saints | Saints |
| Chargers +3.5 at Broncos | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Best Bet | Titans | Titans | Browns | Jets | Titans |
| 2016 Unanimous Pick Record | 27-22-2 | ||||
| 2016 Majority Pick Record | 138-124-5 | ||||
| 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 a record nine unanimous picks out of 15 games: Patriots, Jets, Titans, Bengals, Browns, Rams, 49ers, Giants and Chargers. Last year we went 27-22-2 on unanimous picks and 138-124-5 on majority (three or more writers) picks.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | The Titans should be at least getting the standard three-point home advantage with the Raiders having to travel two time zones, but the Raiders are a trendy favorite for the season. The Titans have had a ton of early draft picks in recent years to bolster their defense, already have an elite offensive line and Mariota ready to make the leap. I was really conflicted about the Bengals-Ravens game. The Ravens have had a terrible offseason with injuries and player defections, and probably aren't that great. But the Bengals are also missing Vontaze Burfict, Adam Jones and Shawn Williams from their starting defense for this game. I should generically just take the points, but I'm still going to take the Bengals anyways. Toughest call on this slate for me, followed by Seahawks-Packers. |
| Pianowski | If the Titans were in the NFC, I'd be toying with them as a possible Super Bowl contender. As for the season, call it Patriots over Seahawks. |
| Liss | Best bets are Browns, Rams, Redskins, Giants, Lions and Titans. The Seahawks-Packers, Bengals-Ravens and Falcons-Bears were coin flips. |
| Stopa | Nobody wants to pick the Jets, but the line is all the way up to nine, more than accounting for the tanking factor. And the Bills have their own problems. I also really like the Giants against a distracted Dallas team. |
| Del Don | Tennessee is one of my favorite teams to back this year, whereas Oakland is going to be one of my favorite to fade. The former is at home giving less than the standard three, so this best bet came quickly for me. When in doubt, go with the underdog, and this is especially true in Week 1. The toughest game by far for me was Packers/Seahawks. I'm fired up football is back. |
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.
