This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
Last week was a strong one for the Staff, as everyone was over .500, and we went 5-2 on our unanimous picks. Payne is still in first with a two game lead over DDD.
This week, we have only one unanimous pick (Patriots), and both Erickson and Pianowski made them their best bets.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Payne | Del Don | |
| Ravens -7.5 at Dolphins | Ravens | Ravens | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Jaguars +10.5 at Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts | Jaguars | Colts |
| Browns +1.5 at Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots |
| Falcons +9.5 at Cowboys | Falcons | Falcons | Cowboys | Cowboys | Falcons |
| Bills -13 at Jets | Bills | Jets | Jets | Bills | Jets |
| Saints +3 at Titans | Saints | Titans | Titans | Saints | Saints |
| Buccaneers -9.5 at Team | Team | Buccaneers | Team | Team | Buccaneers |
| Lions +9 at Steelers | Steelers | Lions | Lions | Steelers | Lions |
| Vikings +2.5 at Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Vikings | Chargers | Chargers |
| Panthers +10.5 at Cardinals | Cardinals | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers |
| Seahawks +3.5 at Packers | Packers | Packers | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Eagles +2.5 at Broncos | Eagles | Broncos | Broncos | Eagles | Eagles |
| Chiefs -2.5 at Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Chiefs | Raiders |
| Rams -4 at 49ers | Rams | Rams | 49ers | Rams | 49ers |
| Best Bet | Patriots | Patriots | Raiders | Saints | Jets |
| Last Week's Record | 8-6 | 9-5 | 9-5 | 9-5 | 9-5 |
| 2021 Record | 63-70-3 | 69-64-3 | 66-67-3 | 72-61-3 | 70-63-3 |
| 2021 Best Bet Record | 5-4 | 4-5 | 9-0 | 6-3 | 3-6 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 14-12 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 66-67-3 | ||||
| 2020 Record | 121-127-8 | 128-120-8 | 118-130-8 | 115-133-8 | 118-130-8 |
| 2019 |
Last week was a strong one for the Staff, as everyone was over .500, and we went 5-2 on our unanimous picks. Payne is still in first with a two game lead over DDD.
This week, we have only one unanimous pick (Patriots), and both Erickson and Pianowski made them their best bets.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Payne | Del Don | |
| Ravens -7.5 at Dolphins | Ravens | Ravens | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Jaguars +10.5 at Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts | Jaguars | Colts |
| Browns +1.5 at Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots |
| Falcons +9.5 at Cowboys | Falcons | Falcons | Cowboys | Cowboys | Falcons |
| Bills -13 at Jets | Bills | Jets | Jets | Bills | Jets |
| Saints +3 at Titans | Saints | Titans | Titans | Saints | Saints |
| Buccaneers -9.5 at Team | Team | Buccaneers | Team | Team | Buccaneers |
| Lions +9 at Steelers | Steelers | Lions | Lions | Steelers | Lions |
| Vikings +2.5 at Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Vikings | Chargers | Chargers |
| Panthers +10.5 at Cardinals | Cardinals | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers |
| Seahawks +3.5 at Packers | Packers | Packers | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Eagles +2.5 at Broncos | Eagles | Broncos | Broncos | Eagles | Eagles |
| Chiefs -2.5 at Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Chiefs | Raiders |
| Rams -4 at 49ers | Rams | Rams | 49ers | Rams | 49ers |
| Best Bet | Patriots | Patriots | Raiders | Saints | Jets |
| Last Week's Record | 8-6 | 9-5 | 9-5 | 9-5 | 9-5 |
| 2021 Record | 63-70-3 | 69-64-3 | 66-67-3 | 72-61-3 | 70-63-3 |
| 2021 Best Bet Record | 5-4 | 4-5 | 9-0 | 6-3 | 3-6 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 14-12 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 66-67-3 | ||||
| 2020 Record | 121-127-8 | 128-120-8 | 118-130-8 | 115-133-8 | 118-130-8 |
| 2019 Record | 126-124-6 | 140-110-6 | 127-123-6 | 127-123-6 | 134-116-6 |
| 2018 Record | 125-122-9 | 134-113-9 | 141-106-9 | N/A | 120-127-9 |
| 2017 Record | 117-125-14 | 128-114-14 | 117-125-14 | N/A | 98-144-14 |
| 2016 Record | 140-111-5 | 130-121-5 | 123-128-5 | N/A | 132-119-5 |
| 2015 Record | 134-114-8 | 120-128-8 | 114-134-8 | N/A | 121-127-8 |
| 2014 Record | 123-128-5 | 140-111-5 | 135-116-5 | N/A | 128-123-5 |
| 2013 Record | 132-114-10 | 118-128-10 | 123-123-10 | N/A | 128-118-10 |
| 2012 Record | 110-140-6 | 125-125-6 | 121-129-6 | N/A | 123-127-6 |
| 2011 Record | 121-128-7 | 134-115-7 | 124-125-7 | N/A | 127-122-7 |
| 2010 Record | 129-122-5 | 134-117-5 | 126-125-5 | N/A | 134-117-5 |
| 2009 Record | 123-130-3 | 132-121-3 | 131-122-3 | N/A | 126-127-3 |
| 2008 Record | 132-114-10 | 128-118-10 | 124-122-10 | N/A | 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 |
This week, we have one unanimous pick: the Patriots. We went 5-2 on unanimous picks last week, winning with the Giants, Chargers, Packers, Titans and Bears, but losing with the Bengals and 49ers to bring our record to 14-12 on the year. We went 9-5 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 66-67-3 on the year. We went 17-23 on unanimous picks and 118-130-8 on majority picks in 2020.
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | This is an endorsement of the Pats' continuing improvement rather than a fade of the Browns. The Pats are a top-5 defense the rest of the way for me. Taking the Bills here is a "what am I missing?" pick -- my line from "Guess the Lines" was significantly skewed towards the Jets, but that's not always a good sign, and usually when it's that far off I've been wrong. So... I'm guessing I'm missing a critical factor and will take the Bills instead this week. |
| Pianowski | New England understands that the team that makes the fewest mistakes usually wins. |
| Liss | The Chiefs might flex their muscles one day and remind us of the team they once were, but it's on them to do that now, not me to expect it. Give me the Raiders and the points at home. I also like the Colts to smash the Jaguars and the Dolphins getting 7.5 at home against the Ravens. |
| Payne | A ton of lines this week around a field goal or less. Coming off what they did last week the Saints and Titans on a neutral field would be a pick 'em? Doesn't make sense. |
| Del Don | That's an awful lot of points to give Magic Mike on the road. I also like the Raiders and Seahawks, and I can't imagine having a strong opinion on the Min/LAC game, which is the biggest coin flip of the season. |
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, 2017, 2019 and 2020 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.
