Jeff Erickson went 9-4 to win last week. Nick Whalen, who went 7-6, still leads the overall race at 61-57-3.
Erickson was also the only writer to nail his best bet.
The group missed its lone unanimous pick, and majority picks went 6-7.
This week, there again is one unanimous pick. The group likes the Cowboys -2.5, at home against the Cardinals. Four other teams got four votes each.
Kevin Payne and Mario Puig like the Cowboys so much, they made them their best bets. Erickson and Whalen took the Lions as their best bets, while Scott Pianowski is on the other side of the matchup with the Vikings.
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| MATCHUP | ERICKSON | PIANOWSKI | WHALEN | PAYNE | PUIG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravens -7.5 at Dolphins | Ravens | Ravens | Dolphins | Ravens | Ravens |
| Bears -2.5 at Bengals | Bears | Bengals | Bears | Bengals | Bengals |
| Vikings +8.5 at Lions | Lions | Vikings | Lions | Lions | Lions |
| Panthers +13 at Packers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Packers | Panthers |
| Broncos +1.5 at Texans | Texans | Texans | Broncos | Texans | Broncos |
| Falcons +6.5 at Patriots | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Patriots |
| 49ers -2.5 at Giants | 49ers | Giants | 49ers | Giants | 49ers |
| Colts -3 at Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Colts | Steelers | Colts |
| Chargers -9.5 at Titans | Chargers | Titans | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Saints +14 at Rams | Rams | Rams | Saints | Saints | Saints |
| Jaguars -3 at Raiders | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jags | Raiders | Raiders |
| Chiefs -2 at Bills | Bills | Bills | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| Seahawks -3.5 at Commanders | Seahawks | Commanders | Commanders | Commanders | Seahawks |
| Cardinals +2.5 at Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| Best Bet | Lions | Vikings | Lions | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| Last Week Record | 9-4 | 3-10 | 6-7 | 5-8 | 7-6 |
| 2025 Record | 52-66-3 | 49-69-3 | 61-57-3 | 45-73-3 | 49-69-3 |
| 2025 Best Bet Record | 4-4 | 2-6 | 5-3 | 2-6 | 5-3 |
| 2025 Unanimous Pick Record | 3-7-1 | ||||
| 2025 Majority Pick Record | 29-61-3 | ||||
| 2024 Record | 131-138-3 | 121-148-3 | 127-142-3 | 138-131-3 | N/A |
| 2023 Record | 133-131-8 | 125-139-8 | 129-135-8 | 140-124-8 | N/A |
| 2022 Record | 127-136-8 | 149-114-8 | 124-139-8 | 131-132-8 | N/A |
| 2021 Record | 129-140-3 | 134-135-3 | N/A | 145-124-3 | N/A |
| 2020 Record | 121-127-8 | 128-120-8 | N/A | 115-133-8 | N/A |
| 2019 Record | 126-124-6 | 140-110-6 | N/A | 127-123-6 | N/A |
| 2018 Record | 125-122-9 | 134-113-9 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2017 Record | 117-125-14 | 128-114-14 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2016 Record | 140-111-5 | 130-121-5 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2015 Record | 134-114-8 | 120-128-8 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2014 Record | 123-128-5 | 140-111-5 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2013 Record | 132-114-10 | 118-128-10 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2012 Record | 110-140-6 | 125-125-6 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2011 Record | 121-128-7 | 134-115-7 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2010 Record | 129-122-5 | 134-117-5 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2009 Record | 123-130-3 | 132-121-3 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2008 Record | 132-114-10 | 128-118-10 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2007 Record | 127-120 | 118-129 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2006 Record | 118-129 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2005 Record | 121-126 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2004 Record | 124-124 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2003 Record | 121-126 | 118-129 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2002 Record | 113-136 | 123-126 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2001 Record | 124-113 | 117-120 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2000 Record | 123-117 | 134-106 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| WRITER | COMMENT |
|---|---|
| Erickson | Love the confluence of the Lions coming off of a bye week, playing at home and against J.J. McCarthy. I also really like the Texans and the Bears. |
| Pianowski | Underdogs have been getting slaughtered, but I feel like the lines have finally adjusted to that. Let's get some barking going. |
| Whalen | The Lions are the rare team I consistently trust to cover a big line — especially at home and especially against J.J. McCarthy and a struggling Vikings team. |
| Payne | Went with a lot of underdogs this week, which might not be a good thing this year. The Cowboys' defense is putrid, but the Cardinals don't have the offense to take advantage. Plus, Dallas' offense should run circles around the Cardinals. Also like the Lions. |
| Puig | Dallas is definitely capable of inexplicable failure, but Arizona's offense is one of the worst in the league and it's asking a lot of Arizona's young corners to handle CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. |
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 and 2022 Staff Picks champ. Roots for the Patriots.
• Nick Whalen: RotoWire Senior Media Analyst. Writes Beating the Book. Roots for the Jaguars.
• Kevin Payne: RotoWire Staff Writer, 2021 and 2023 Staff Picks champ. Roots for the Bills.
• Mario Puig: RotoWire Senior Football Writer. Writes the WR vs. CB Matchup Report. Roots for the Packers.
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