This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
Congrats to Scott Pianowski for winning the Staff Picks for the second straight year and third in the last four. (He also finished second in 2018.) It wasn't a great year for anyone, but at least he was above .500.
Lest you think this isn't important to him, I got the following text Sunday morning:
I'll have you know I placed a "Pianow chokes away staff picks" eight team parlay, using your picks where we disagree. I bought some alternate lines, so there's a little wiggle room on some. But for $5, I got insurance, about $300 worth.
Of course, I'd rather win Staff Picks.
This week, everyone's on the Bills and Ravens, and Pianowski made the Bills his best bet.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Payne | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colts +6.5 at Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills |
| Rams +4 at Seahawks | Rams | Rams | Rams | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Buccaneers -8.5 at Football Team | Football Team | Football Team | Football Team | Football Team | Buccaneers |
| Ravens -3 at Titans | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens |
| Bears +9.5 at Saints | Bears | Saints | Saints | Bears | Saints |
| Browns +6 at Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Browns |
| Best Bet | Ravens | Bills | Saints | Seahawks | Buccaneers |
| Last week's Record | 9-6-1 | 10-5-1 | 6-9-1 | 5-10-1 | 7-8-1 |
| Best Bet Record | 8-8-1 | 5-11-1 | 5-12 | 8-7-2 | 5-12 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 17-23 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 118-130-8 | ||||
| 2019 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 6-5 | 4-7 | 7-4 |
| 2018 Playoff Record | 3-6-1 | 1-8-1 | 3-6-1 | N/A | 2-7-1 |
| 2017 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 5-6 | 5-6 | N/A | 2-9 |
Congrats to Scott Pianowski for winning the Staff Picks for the second straight year and third in the last four. (He also finished second in 2018.) It wasn't a great year for anyone, but at least he was above .500.
Lest you think this isn't important to him, I got the following text Sunday morning:
I'll have you know I placed a "Pianow chokes away staff picks" eight team parlay, using your picks where we disagree. I bought some alternate lines, so there's a little wiggle room on some. But for $5, I got insurance, about $300 worth.
Of course, I'd rather win Staff Picks.
This week, everyone's on the Bills and Ravens, and Pianowski made the Bills his best bet.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Payne | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colts +6.5 at Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills |
| Rams +4 at Seahawks | Rams | Rams | Rams | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Buccaneers -8.5 at Football Team | Football Team | Football Team | Football Team | Football Team | Buccaneers |
| Ravens -3 at Titans | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens |
| Bears +9.5 at Saints | Bears | Saints | Saints | Bears | Saints |
| Browns +6 at Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Browns |
| Best Bet | Ravens | Bills | Saints | Seahawks | Buccaneers |
| Last week's Record | 9-6-1 | 10-5-1 | 6-9-1 | 5-10-1 | 7-8-1 |
| Best Bet Record | 8-8-1 | 5-11-1 | 5-12 | 8-7-2 | 5-12 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 17-23 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 118-130-8 | ||||
| 2019 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 6-5 | 4-7 | 7-4 |
| 2018 Playoff Record | 3-6-1 | 1-8-1 | 3-6-1 | N/A | 2-7-1 |
| 2017 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 5-6 | 5-6 | N/A | 2-9 |
| 2016 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 6-5 | N/A | 6-5 |
| 2015 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 2-9 | 3-8 | N/A | 1-10 |
| 2014 Playoff Record | 10-1 | 5-6 | 9-2 | N/A | 9-2 |
| 2013 Playoff Record | 5-4-2 | 3-6-2 | 4-5-2 | N/A | 4-5-2 |
| 2012 Playoff Record | 4-6-1 | 5-5-1 | 6-4-1 | N/A | 8-2-1 |
| 2011 Playoff Record | 8-3 | 5-6 | 9-2 | N/A | 7-4 |
| 2010 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 5-6 | N/A | 8-3 |
| 2009 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 4-7 | 1-10 | N/A | 5-6 |
| 2008 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 5-6 | N/A | 4-7 |
| 2007 Playoff Record | 8-3 | 3-8 | 6-5 | N/A | 2-9 |
| 2006 Playoff Record | 7-4 | N/A | 4-7 | N/A | N/A |
| 2005 Playoff Record | 5-6 | N/A | 3-8 | N/A | N/A |
| 2004 Playoff Record | 6-5 | N/A | 4-7 | N/A | N/A |
| 2003 Playoff Record | 6-5 | N/A | 4-7 | N/A | N/A |
| 2002 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 7-4 | 5-6 | N/A | N/A |
| 2001 Playoff Record | 6-4-1 | 7-3-1 | 4-6-1 | N/A | N/A |
| 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 two unanimous picks: the Bills and Ravens. Last week we lost with the Vikings to go 17-23 on the year. We went 9-6-1 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 118-130-8 on the year. We were 23-17-1 on unanimous picks and 130-120-6 on majority picks last year.
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | The Titans can't stop anyone and the Ravens are on a roll - it's a perfect matchup. I also like the Football Team. |
| Pianowski | I rarely give out totals, but I will be going under with Rams-Seahawks. Seattle wants to play balanced football these days, while the Rams want to hide their quarterback, whoever it is. LA has the best defense in the league. |
| Liss | The Saints were good enough to roll last week on the road without their skill players. This week they're at home against a Bears team that backed its way in. I also like the Bills against Philip Rivers. |
| Payne | I can't bet against Russell Wilson, and the Seattle defense has drastically improved. The Bills will have fans in the stadium this week, FWIW. Cleveland is a Petri dish so I don't trust them at all. |
| Del Don | There's some concern Washington pressures Brady, but that game could get ugly should WFT fall behind early ... I love the new six-game setup this weekend. |
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.
