Staff Picks: Backing the Steelers

Staff Picks: Backing the Steelers

This article is part of our NFL Picks series.

Erickson won Week 4 at 9-6, while Pianowski didn't give up much ground at 8-7. It was a disaster week for me (5-10), but I'm just happy DDD is around to provide cover. 

This week we have no unanimous picks, but both Erickson and I like the Steelers as our best bets. 

 EricksonPianowskiLissPayneDel Don
Rams +1.5 at SeahawksSeahawksSeahawksSeahawksRamsSeahawks
Ravens -3.5 at SteelersSteelersSteelersSteelersRavensSteelers
Bears -4.5 at Raiders (in London)BearsBearsBearsBearsRaiders
Cardinals +3.5 at BengalsBengalsCardinalsCardinalsBengalsBengals
Jaguars +3.5 at PanthersPanthersJaguarsPanthersPanthersPanthers
Vikings -5.5 at GiantsGiantsVikingsGiantsVikingsGiants
Patriots -15.5 at RedskinsRedskinsRedskinsRedskinsRedskinsPatriots
Jets +13.5 at EaglesJetsJetsJetsEaglesEagles
Buccaneers +3.5 at SaintsSaintsBuccaneersBuccaneersSaintsBuccaneers
Falcons +5 at TexansTexansFalconsFalconsTexansTexans
Bills +3 at TitansTitansBillsTitansBillsTitans
Broncos +6.5 at ChargersBroncosBroncosChargersBroncosBroncos
Packers +3.5 at CowboysPackersCowboysCowboysCowboysCowboys
Colts +11 at ChiefsColtsColtsColtsChiefsChiefs
Browns +3.5 at 49ersBrownsBrownsBrownsBrowns49ers
Best BetSteelersSeahawksSteelersVikings49ers
Last week's Record9-68-75-108-75-10
2019 Record34-2938-2528-3531-3225-38
Best Bet Record1-33-12-23-11-3
Unanimous Pick Record4-4    
Majority Pick Record30-33    
2018 Record125-122-9134-113-9141-106-9N/A120-127-9
2017

Erickson won Week 4 at 9-6, while Pianowski didn't give up much ground at 8-7. It was a disaster week for me (5-10), but I'm just happy DDD is around to provide cover. 

This week we have no unanimous picks, but both Erickson and I like the Steelers as our best bets. 

 EricksonPianowskiLissPayneDel Don
Rams +1.5 at SeahawksSeahawksSeahawksSeahawksRamsSeahawks
Ravens -3.5 at SteelersSteelersSteelersSteelersRavensSteelers
Bears -4.5 at Raiders (in London)BearsBearsBearsBearsRaiders
Cardinals +3.5 at BengalsBengalsCardinalsCardinalsBengalsBengals
Jaguars +3.5 at PanthersPanthersJaguarsPanthersPanthersPanthers
Vikings -5.5 at GiantsGiantsVikingsGiantsVikingsGiants
Patriots -15.5 at RedskinsRedskinsRedskinsRedskinsRedskinsPatriots
Jets +13.5 at EaglesJetsJetsJetsEaglesEagles
Buccaneers +3.5 at SaintsSaintsBuccaneersBuccaneersSaintsBuccaneers
Falcons +5 at TexansTexansFalconsFalconsTexansTexans
Bills +3 at TitansTitansBillsTitansBillsTitans
Broncos +6.5 at ChargersBroncosBroncosChargersBroncosBroncos
Packers +3.5 at CowboysPackersCowboysCowboysCowboysCowboys
Colts +11 at ChiefsColtsColtsColtsChiefsChiefs
Browns +3.5 at 49ersBrownsBrownsBrownsBrowns49ers
Best BetSteelersSeahawksSteelersVikings49ers
Last week's Record9-68-75-108-75-10
2019 Record34-2938-2528-3531-3225-38
Best Bet Record1-33-12-23-11-3
Unanimous Pick Record4-4    
Majority Pick Record30-33    
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 no unanimous picks. Last week, we went 1-2, winning with the Eagles, but losing with Dolphins and Cardinals to bring our record to 4-4. We also went 8-7 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 30-33 on the year. We were 26-21-1 on unanimous picks and 132-115-9 on majority picks in 2018. 

WriterComment
EricksonWhen Liss and I did "Guess the Lines," my estimate of the Steelers line was wildly off from reality. Perhaps we really should discount the result against the Bengals more than I did, but my personal line was Steelers -1. Second best bet is the Browns. Least best bet is the Jets.
PianowskiHome field seems to have become less important in recent years, but it definitely matters on Thursday night, and it probably matters in Seattle, too. Laying the tiny number, Seattle is an auto-pick.
LissI had the Steelers as a pick 'em, but thought I'd be on the Ravens getting points, so like Erickson, I was surprised to see it at -3.5. I also like the Giants getting 5.5 at home (but didn't want to make the homer pick as my best bet) and the Redskins getting 15.5 at home, but didn't want to tie myself to a terrible team yet again. 
PayneTen early and only two late games is puzzling to say the least. I also dislike having byes this early. Now get off my damn lawn (I still love the NFL FWIW).
Del DonI also like the Bucs and Giants this week, but it continues to be profitable fading me.

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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