Staff Picks: Backing the Lions

Staff Picks: Backing the Lions

This article is part of our NFL Picks series.

Last week was a decent one for the Staff -- only Kevin Payne and I failed to break .500, and we went 2-1 on unanimous picks. Unfortunately, I'm still in last place, a full three games behind not-splitting-the-atom Dalton Del Don. Pianowski remains in first, three games ahead of Erickson. 

This week, we all like the Lions, and Erickson even has them as his best bet. 

 EricksonPianowskiLissPayneDel Don
Chiefs -3 at BroncosBroncosBroncosBroncosChiefsBroncos
Cardinals +3 at GiantsCardinalsGiantsGiantsGiantsCardinals
Texans +1 at ColtsColtsColtsColtsColtsTexans
Dolphins +17 at BillsBillsDolphinsDolphinsDolphinsDolphins
Vikings -1 at LionsLionsLionsLionsLionsLions
Raiders +6 at PackersRaidersPackersPackersRaidersRaiders
Jaguars -3.5 at BengalsJaguarsBengalsBengalsBengalsBengals
Rams -3 at FalconsFalconsFalconsRamsRamsFalcons
49ers -10 at RedskinsRedskinsRedskins49ersRedskins49ers
Chargers +2 at TitansTitansTitansChargersChargersChargers
Ravens +3.5 at SeahawksSeahawksRavensSeahawksRavensRavens
Saints +3 at BearsSaintsBearsSaintsBearsSaints
Eagles +3 at CowboysCowboysEaglesEaglesEaglesEagles
Patriots -9.5 at JetsPatriotsJetsJetsJetsJets
Best BetLionsJetsBroncosBengals49ers
Last week's Record9-59-57-76-89-5
2019 Record50-4253-3939-5345-4742-50
Best Bet Record3-34-23-35-13-3
Unanimous Pick Record6-5    
Majority Pick Record43-49    
2018 Record125-122-9134-113-9141-106-9

Last week was a decent one for the Staff -- only Kevin Payne and I failed to break .500, and we went 2-1 on unanimous picks. Unfortunately, I'm still in last place, a full three games behind not-splitting-the-atom Dalton Del Don. Pianowski remains in first, three games ahead of Erickson. 

This week, we all like the Lions, and Erickson even has them as his best bet. 

 EricksonPianowskiLissPayneDel Don
Chiefs -3 at BroncosBroncosBroncosBroncosChiefsBroncos
Cardinals +3 at GiantsCardinalsGiantsGiantsGiantsCardinals
Texans +1 at ColtsColtsColtsColtsColtsTexans
Dolphins +17 at BillsBillsDolphinsDolphinsDolphinsDolphins
Vikings -1 at LionsLionsLionsLionsLionsLions
Raiders +6 at PackersRaidersPackersPackersRaidersRaiders
Jaguars -3.5 at BengalsJaguarsBengalsBengalsBengalsBengals
Rams -3 at FalconsFalconsFalconsRamsRamsFalcons
49ers -10 at RedskinsRedskinsRedskins49ersRedskins49ers
Chargers +2 at TitansTitansTitansChargersChargersChargers
Ravens +3.5 at SeahawksSeahawksRavensSeahawksRavensRavens
Saints +3 at BearsSaintsBearsSaintsBearsSaints
Eagles +3 at CowboysCowboysEaglesEaglesEaglesEagles
Patriots -9.5 at JetsPatriotsJetsJetsJetsJets
Best BetLionsJetsBroncosBengals49ers
Last week's Record9-59-57-76-89-5
2019 Record50-4253-3939-5345-4742-50
Best Bet Record3-34-23-35-13-3
Unanimous Pick Record6-5    
Majority Pick Record43-49    
2018 Record125-122-9134-113-9141-106-9N/A120-127-9
2017 Record117-125-14128-114-14117-125-14N/A98-144-14
2016 Record140-111-5130-121-5123-128-5N/A132-119-5
2015 Record134-114-8120-128-8114-134-8N/A121-127-8
2014 Record123-128-5140-111-5135-116-5N/A128-123-5
2013 Record132-114-10118-128-10123-123-10N/A128-118-10
2012 Record110-140-6125-125-6121-129-6N/A123-127-6
2011 Record121-128-7134-115-7124-125-7N/A127-122-7
2010 Record129-122-5134-117-5126-125-5N/A134-117-5
2009 Record123-130-3132-121-3131-122-3N/A126-127-3
2008 Record132-114-10128-118-10124-122-10N/A130-116-10
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

This week we have one unanimous pick, the Lions. Last week, we won with the Dolphins and Broncos, but lost with the Eagles, bringing our record to 6-5 on unanimous picks . We also went 8-6 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 43-49 on the year. We were 26-21-1 on unanimous picks and 132-115-9 on majority picks in 2018. 

WriterComment
EricksonI think there's a lot of recency-bias in lines, based on what happened the previous week. The Vikings had a perfect matchup to throw against the Eagles, they won't have that this week on the road against the Lions. I also really like the Pats, Falcons and Broncos this week.
PianowskiThis isn't a juggernaut Patriots team, it's merely a smart and sound one. The Jets should put up a fight now that Sam Darnold is around to stabilize the offense. New York's defense is credible, too. 
LissMy three favorite games are the Broncos getting points at home against a banged-up Chiefs team off a short week, the Jets getting too many points at home against a good, but overrated Pats squad and the Seahawks laying only 3.5 against an inferior Ravens team. 
PayneI did terrible last week for the slate as a whole. The silver lining is I ran my best bet record to 5-1. Has Vegas adjusted to the last 2-3 weeks of football considering how many teams have done a 180?
Del DonLooks like I'm heavy on underdogs aside from the Niners in the Kyle Shanahan revenge game. I also like the Raiders, Texans and Saints 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, 2018 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.

• Kevin Payne: Staff Writer, Writes our Waiver Wire column. 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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