Welcome to the 2026 edition of Staff Picks, where each week this season our writers will pick every NFL game against the spread.
Eight-time Staff Picks champ Scott Pianowski is back to defend his 2025 crown, looking for his third title in the last five years. Pianowski finished 132-132-8 last year to run his career record to 2,830-2,687-118.
Pianowski is joined by returning pickers Jeff Erickson and Nick Whalen, and newcomers Jim Coventry and Ian Hartitz.
Week 1 features five unanimous picks: Steelers -3.5, Eagles -5.5, Dolphins +3.5, Cowboys -3, Broncos +2.5. Four teams garnered four votes, just missing unanimity.
Pianowski and Coventry each like the Broncos as a best bet.
Odds from BetMGM. Use the BetMGM Bonus Code for a risk-free bet up to $1,500.
| MATCHUP | ERICKSON | PIANOWSKI | WHALEN | COVENTRY | HARTITZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriots +3 at Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Patriots | Seahawks |
| 49ers +3.5 vs. Rams at Melbourne | Rams | 49ers | Rams | Rams | 49ers |
| Buccaneers +3.5 at Bengals | Bengals | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Bengals |
| Ravens -3.5 at Colts | Colts | Ravens | Colts | Ravens | Ravens |
| Bills -1 at Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Bills |
| Saints +7 at Lions | Saints | Lions | Lions | Lions | Saints |
| Browns +8.5 at Jaguars | Browns | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Jets +1.5 at Titans | Titans | Titans | Jets | Jets | Jets |
| Falcons +3.5 at Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers |
| Bears -3 at Panthers | Panthers | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears |
| Packers +1.5 at Vikings | Vikings | Packers | Vikings | Vikings | Packers |
| Commanders +5.5 at Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles |
| Cardinals +9.5 at Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Cardinals |
Welcome to the 2026 edition of Staff Picks, where each week this season our writers will pick every NFL game against the spread.
Eight-time Staff Picks champ Scott Pianowski is back to defend his 2025 crown, looking for his third title in the last five years. Pianowski finished 132-132-8 last year to run his career record to 2,830-2,687-118.
Pianowski is joined by returning pickers Jeff Erickson and Nick Whalen, and newcomers Jim Coventry and Ian Hartitz.
Week 1 features five unanimous picks: Steelers -3.5, Eagles -5.5, Dolphins +3.5, Cowboys -3, Broncos +2.5. Four teams garnered four votes, just missing unanimity.
Pianowski and Coventry each like the Broncos as a best bet.
Odds from BetMGM. Use the BetMGM Bonus Code for a risk-free bet up to $1,500.
| MATCHUP | ERICKSON | PIANOWSKI | WHALEN | COVENTRY | HARTITZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriots +3 at Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Patriots | Seahawks |
| 49ers +3.5 vs. Rams at Melbourne | Rams | 49ers | Rams | Rams | 49ers |
| Buccaneers +3.5 at Bengals | Bengals | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Bengals |
| Ravens -3.5 at Colts | Colts | Ravens | Colts | Ravens | Ravens |
| Bills -1 at Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Bills |
| Saints +7 at Lions | Saints | Lions | Lions | Lions | Saints |
| Browns +8.5 at Jaguars | Browns | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Jets +1.5 at Titans | Titans | Titans | Jets | Jets | Jets |
| Falcons +3.5 at Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers |
| Bears -3 at Panthers | Panthers | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears |
| Packers +1.5 at Vikings | Vikings | Packers | Vikings | Vikings | Packers |
| Commanders +5.5 at Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles |
| Cardinals +9.5 at Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Cardinals | Cardinals | Chargers |
| Dolphins +3.5 at Raiders | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Cowboys -3 at Giants | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| Broncos +2.5 at Chiefs | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos |
| Best Bet | Texans | Broncos | Vikings | Broncos | Jets |
| 2025 Record | 127-137-8 | 132-132-8 | 118-146-8 | NA | NA |
| 2025 Best Bet Record | 9-9 | 5-13 | 9-9 | NA | NA |
| 2025 Unanimous Pick Record | 7-12-1 | ||||
| 2025 Majority Pick Record | 103-161-8 | ||||
| 2024 Record | 131-138-3 | 121-148-3 | 127-142-3 | NA | N/A |
| 2023 Record | 133-131-8 | 125-139-8 | 129-135-8 | NA | N/A |
| 2022 Record | 127-136-8 | 149-114-8 | 124-139-8 | NA | N/A |
| 2000-2021 Record | 2,733-2,730-99 | 2,435-2,286-99* *DNP 2004-06 | N/A | NA | N/A |
| WRITER | COMMENT |
|---|---|
| Erickson | I thought that the Texans should have been a slight favorite in this one. Josh Allen had a nightmare game against them last time, getting sacked eight times. Maybe I have recency bias. I also thought that the Broncos should have been a pick 'em against the Chiefs. |
| Pianowski | This line is disrespectful to the Broncos. I need prove-it games, plural, from the Chiefs, a team that was all hat, no cattle last year. I hope you faded Rashee Rice. |
| Whalen | I see Kyler Murray as a massive upgrade at quarterback for a Vikings team that somehow won nine games last season, despite bottom-5 QB play and leading the NFL in turnovers. Minnesota is catching Green Bay at a good time with no Micah Parsons, no Josh Jacobs, a banged-up offensive line and Tucker Kraft coming off of a torn ACL. |
| Coventry | The Chargers are the biggest favorite on the board. Despite optimism about their offense, they are not a team I would trust laying almost double digits to just about any team — even the Cardinals. |
| Hartitz | The Jets? A best bet? I know. Absolutely ridiculous. But here's my take: The Titans don't deserve to be favored against anyone. Even the Jets. Cool? Cool. |
The players:
• Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior Editor, 2001, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016 Staff Picks champ. Writes the Weekly Rankings. Roots for the Bengals.
• Scott Pianowski: Fantasy expert for Yahoo! Sports, and also contributes to RotoWire. 2009, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2025 Staff Picks champ. Roots for the Patriots.
• Nick Whalen: RotoWire Senior Media Analyst. Writes Beating the Book. Roots for the Jaguars.
• Jim Coventry: RotoWire Football Writer. Writes NFL Weekly Recap. Roots for the 49ers.
• Ian Hartitz: RotoWire Football Writer. Writes Weekly Position Rankings. Roots for the Cowboys.
-
Did you know you can bet on the NFL in most states? You can sign up for the best sports betting sites and bet on anything NFL. In addition, you can get thousands in bonuses by redeeming various sportsbook promo codes that give users bonus bets upon registration.
