This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
I paced the Staff last week with a 9-4-1 mark, putting me just one game behind Pianowski (7-6-1) in second place.This week we have three unanimous picks, the Seahawks (Erickson's best bet), the Colts and Cardinals (DDD's best bet.) Both Pianowski and Stopa made the Falcons their best bets.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packers +2.5 at Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Panthers -3.5 at Lions | Panthers | Lions | Lions | Panthers | Lions |
| Cowboys +3 at Falcons | Cowboys | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Cowboys |
| Bengals +4 at Ravens | Ravens | Bengals | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens |
| Titans +2.5 at Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts |
| Texans -3 at Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Texans | Texans |
| Buccaneers +1.5 at Giants | Giants | Buccaneers | Giants | Buccaneers | Giants |
| Steelers -5.5 at Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Steelers | Jaguars |
| Broncos +7 at Chargers | Broncos | Broncos | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Raiders +4 at Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals |
| Eagles +8.5 at Saints | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Saints |
| Vikings +2.5 at Bears | Bears | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings |
| Chiefs +3.5 at Rams | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Rams |
| Best Bet | Seahawks | Falcons | Eagles | Falcons | Cardinals |
| Last Week's Record | 6-7-1 | 7-6-1 | 9-4-1 | 5-9-1 | 6-7-1 |
| 2018 Record | 72-71-5 | 78-65-5 | 77-66-5 | 66-78-5 | 69-74-5 |
| Best Bet Record | 5-5 | 8-2 | 6-4 | 5-4-1 | 3-6-1 |
| 2017 Best Bet Record | 8-7-2 | 9-7-1 | 12-4-1 | 8-7-2 | 11-6 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 15-13-1 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 72-71-5 | ||||
| 2017 Record | 117-125-14 | 128-114-14 | 117-125-14 | 119-123-14 | 98-144-14 |
| 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 three unanimous picks: the Seahawks, Colts and Cardinals. Last week we went 1-1 on unanimous picks, winning with the Bills and losing with the Lions, bringing our season record to 15-13-2. We went 6-7-1 on majority picks (three or more writers) to bring our season record to 72-71-5. Last year we went 23-28-4 on unanimous picks and 121-121-14 on majority picks.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | It's rare to go with a Thursday night game and always tough to bet against Aaron Rodgers, but I like Seattle giving less than the full three points on a week where Green Bay had to fly across the country on short rest... The Redskins aren't a comfortable pick, but my guess at the line was way off from the actual line - I view them and the Texans as relatively equal teams, and thought that they would be the standard three-point home favorites, and instead are three-point underdogs. |
| Pianowski | I love fading the Cowboys off a strong public performance. This is where Jason Garrett lets up, and the team loses its sharpness. I also think the Buccaneers are a little misunderstood after last week's loss - they did throw for an insane amount of yards and moved the ball easily. It's not Dirk Koetter's fault Ryan Fitzpatrick played poorly in the red zone. Tampa Bay will score here; it comes down to if Eli Manning can keep up. Maybe he can. The Washington line also seems like a good value. |
| Liss | I like this slate more than usual - in particular, I love the Eagles, Giants, Cardinals, Jaguars and Vikings. I like the Falcons, Redskins and Seahawks a little bit too. The Eagles are the defending Super Bowl champs with their backs to the wall getting a ton of points. |
| Stopa | I really like the Falcons, Colts, Texans, and Chiefs this week. The Rams miss Cooper Kupp; they haven't been the same since he got hurt. I think that line should be less than three, not more. The Colts are underrated and better than Tennessee, IMO, so that line should be more than three, not less. Good time to sell Titans high, too. The Redskins aren't as good as their record suggests. Finally, let's sell Dallas high and buy Falcons low. |
| Del Don | The Cardinals are competent enough and at home against a Raiders team that appears truly checked out (and lacking talent even if that anecdotal evidence isn't true), so give me Arizona barely giving more than the requisite three. I also like the Seahawks, Giants, Colts and Ravens 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.
