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.
