This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
After a strong Week 11, Week 12 was more of the same with Pianowski and Payne winning it at only 8-7-1. Pianowski remains in first place, five games ahead of DDD.
This week we all like the Jets and 49ers, and both Payne and I have the 49ers as our best bets. DDD and Pianowski both have the Falcons as theirs.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Payne | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions +3 at Bears | Bears | Lions | Bears | Lions | Bears |
| Bengals +11.5 at Dolphins | Bengals | Dolphins | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals |
| Colts -3 at Texans | Colts | Texans | Texans | Texans | Colts |
| Jaguars +9.5 at Vikings | Jaguars | Jaguars | jaguars | Vikings | Jaguars |
| Raiders -8 at Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets |
| Saints -3 at Falcons | Saints | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons |
| Browns +5.5 at Titans | Browns | Browns | Titans | Browns | Titans |
| Giants +10 at Seahawks | Giants | Giants | Giants | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Rams -3 at Cardinals | Rams | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Rams |
| Eagles +9.5 at Packers | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Packers |
| Patriots pick 'em at Chargers | Chargers | Patriots | Patriots | Chargers | Patriots |
| Broncos +14 at Chiefs | Broncos | Chiefs | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos |
| Bills -2.5 at 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers |
| Football Team +9.5 at Steelers | Football Team | Football Team | Football Team | Football Team | Steelers |
| Cowboys +7 at Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Cowboys | Ravens |
| Best Bet | Bears | Falcons | 49ers | 49ers | Falcons |
| Last week's Record | 5-10-1 | 8-7-1 | 7-8-1 | 8-7-1 | 5-10-1 |
| 2020 Record | 81-92-4 | 89-84-4 | 83-90-4 | 79-94-4 | 84-89-4 |
| Best Bet Record | 5-6-1 | 4-7-1 | 4-8 | 5-6-1 | 4-8 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 12-16 | ||||
| Majority Pick |
After a strong Week 11, Week 12 was more of the same with Pianowski and Payne winning it at only 8-7-1. Pianowski remains in first place, five games ahead of DDD.
This week we all like the Jets and 49ers, and both Payne and I have the 49ers as our best bets. DDD and Pianowski both have the Falcons as theirs.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Payne | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions +3 at Bears | Bears | Lions | Bears | Lions | Bears |
| Bengals +11.5 at Dolphins | Bengals | Dolphins | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals |
| Colts -3 at Texans | Colts | Texans | Texans | Texans | Colts |
| Jaguars +9.5 at Vikings | Jaguars | Jaguars | jaguars | Vikings | Jaguars |
| Raiders -8 at Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets |
| Saints -3 at Falcons | Saints | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons |
| Browns +5.5 at Titans | Browns | Browns | Titans | Browns | Titans |
| Giants +10 at Seahawks | Giants | Giants | Giants | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Rams -3 at Cardinals | Rams | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Rams |
| Eagles +9.5 at Packers | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Packers |
| Patriots pick 'em at Chargers | Chargers | Patriots | Patriots | Chargers | Patriots |
| Broncos +14 at Chiefs | Broncos | Chiefs | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos |
| Bills -2.5 at 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers | 49ers |
| Football Team +9.5 at Steelers | Football Team | Football Team | Football Team | Football Team | Steelers |
| Cowboys +7 at Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Cowboys | Ravens |
| Best Bet | Bears | Falcons | 49ers | 49ers | Falcons |
| Last week's Record | 5-10-1 | 8-7-1 | 7-8-1 | 8-7-1 | 5-10-1 |
| 2020 Record | 81-92-4 | 89-84-4 | 83-90-4 | 79-94-4 | 84-89-4 |
| Best Bet Record | 5-6-1 | 4-7-1 | 4-8 | 5-6-1 | 4-8 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 12-16 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 81-92-3 | ||||
| 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 Jets and 49ers. Last week we went 0-1 on unanimous picks, losing with the Vikings to go 12-16 on the year. We went 5-10 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 81-92-3 on the year. We were 23-17-1 on unanimous picks and 130-120-6 on majority picks last year.
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | I said earlier this week that I wouldn't make the Bears my best bet, in part because the Lions could get that new coach bounce, but my alternatives all have warts. For instance, the Niners are getting healthier each week, and I like them getting points from Buffalo, though you have to remember that this isn't a true home game, it's in Arizona. |
| Pianowski | Atlanta's defense has been much better since the coaching change, and even in the first New Orleans game, the defense wasn't the problem — the offense was. If the Falcons can show up on offense, and I realize that's no sure thing (largely tied to Julio Jones's status), they can take this game outright . . . I hated taking the Cardinals, given the coaching disadvantage and the uncertainty of Kyler Murray's shoulder (he's running far less proactively of late). But you have to play the number, and that number forced me to the home underdog. |
| Liss | I like the 49ers at home, getting points and with some of their key players (Deebo Samuel, Richard Sherman, Raheem Mostert) back. I also like the Titans and Bears. |
| Payne | The Bills traveling across the country is scary, and they haven't played great football lately. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Yet I keep taking Dallas. |
| Del Don | Atlanta has played much better since its coaching change, and I expect Taysom Hill to struggle this week ... I also like the Bears, Jets and Packers. |
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 and 2019 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.
