This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
Another brutal week for the Staff -- none of us broke .500, our majority picks went 4-11-1 and only Payne won his best bet. Pianowski still leads by six games over Erickson and me, but Erickson and he differ on eight, meaning Pianowski hasn't clinched just yet.
This week, we have one unanimous pick, the Vikings.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Payne | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys -3 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Cowboys | Giants |
| Steelers +10 at Browns | Steelers | Browns | Browns | Steelers | Browns |
| Jets +3 at Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Jets | Patriots |
| Vikings -7 at Lions | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings |
| Falcons +6.5 at Buccaneers | Falcons | Buccaneers | Falcons | Falcons | Buccaneers |
| Ravens -12 at Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Ravens |
| Dolphins +1 at Bills | Bills | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Jaguars +14 at Colts | Jaguars | Colts | Jaguars | Jaguars | Colts |
| Packers -5.5 at Bears | Packers | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears |
| Titans -7.5 at Texans | Texans | Texans | Titans | Titans | Texans |
| Saints -6.5 at Panthers | Saints | Saints | Saints | Panthers | Panthers |
| Chargers -3.5 at Chiefs | Chiefs | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chiefs |
| Seahawks -5.5 at 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | Seahawks | 49ers | Seahawks |
| Raiders -2.5 at Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Raiders | Broncos |
| Cardinals +1.5 at Rams | Cardinals | Rams | Cardinals | Rams | Rams |
| Football Team -1.5 at Eagles | Eagles | Football Team | Football Team | Football Team | Eagles |
| Best Bet | Saints | Patriots | Cardinals | Jaguars | Chiefs |
| Last week's Record | 6-9-1 | 6-9-1 | 7-8-1 | 7-8-1 | 6-9-1 |
| 2020 Record | 112-121-7 | 118-115-7 | 112-121-7 | 110-123-7 | 111-122-7 |
| Best Bet Record | 7-8-1 | 4-11-1 | 5-11 | 8-7-1 | 5-11 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 17-22 | ||||
| Majority |
Another brutal week for the Staff -- none of us broke .500, our majority picks went 4-11-1 and only Payne won his best bet. Pianowski still leads by six games over Erickson and me, but Erickson and he differ on eight, meaning Pianowski hasn't clinched just yet.
This week, we have one unanimous pick, the Vikings.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Payne | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys -3 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Cowboys | Giants |
| Steelers +10 at Browns | Steelers | Browns | Browns | Steelers | Browns |
| Jets +3 at Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Jets | Patriots |
| Vikings -7 at Lions | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings |
| Falcons +6.5 at Buccaneers | Falcons | Buccaneers | Falcons | Falcons | Buccaneers |
| Ravens -12 at Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Ravens |
| Dolphins +1 at Bills | Bills | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Jaguars +14 at Colts | Jaguars | Colts | Jaguars | Jaguars | Colts |
| Packers -5.5 at Bears | Packers | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears |
| Titans -7.5 at Texans | Texans | Texans | Titans | Titans | Texans |
| Saints -6.5 at Panthers | Saints | Saints | Saints | Panthers | Panthers |
| Chargers -3.5 at Chiefs | Chiefs | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chiefs |
| Seahawks -5.5 at 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | Seahawks | 49ers | Seahawks |
| Raiders -2.5 at Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Raiders | Broncos |
| Cardinals +1.5 at Rams | Cardinals | Rams | Cardinals | Rams | Rams |
| Football Team -1.5 at Eagles | Eagles | Football Team | Football Team | Football Team | Eagles |
| Best Bet | Saints | Patriots | Cardinals | Jaguars | Chiefs |
| Last week's Record | 6-9-1 | 6-9-1 | 7-8-1 | 7-8-1 | 6-9-1 |
| 2020 Record | 112-121-7 | 118-115-7 | 112-121-7 | 110-123-7 | 111-122-7 |
| Best Bet Record | 7-8-1 | 4-11-1 | 5-11 | 8-7-1 | 5-11 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 17-22 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 109-124-7 | ||||
| 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 Vikings . Last week we won with the Steelers, but lost with the Jaguars to go 17-22 on the year. We went 4-11-1 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 109-124-7 on the year. We were 23-17-1 on unanimous picks and 130-120-6 on majority picks last year.
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | The Saints have a lot to play for, even though they need the Packers to lose to get the first seed. I like the Broncos a lot, and I'm confused at the Arizona-Rams line. Also, the line in BUF-MIA seems to imply that the Bills will bench some of their starters, for at least a good portion of the game. |
| Pianowski | There are 1,000 things wrong with the Patriots, but Bill Belichick hates the Jets more than anything. The line has certainly adjusted, so do the sell-high, buy-low thing. I also like the Broncos, feeling that at least the thin air preserves some semblance of home-field advantage. I took the Chargers on the feeling that Kansas City will basically gift the game away. Buffalo and Pittsburgh might do the same. I did take some Buffalo AFC stock this week, feeling there's some overlay. |
| Liss | If Kyler Murray might play, and Jared Goff is out, why aren't the Cardinals favored? In Week 17, I typically like the teams who have nothing for which to play more than the market does -- everyone likes to go out on a positive note. I also like the Bears in a must-win at home against the Packers, getting 5.5. |
| Payne | With the first overall pick locked up I totally expect the Jaguars to unleash the Kraken this week. There was a game years ago where the Bills were facing the Steelers second/third string the last week of the season to make the playoffs and...they lost. So what will the Browns do for you this week? |
| Del Don | I'll take KC's backups and more than a field goal over the Chargers coaching. I also like the Broncos 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, 2017 and 2019 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.
