This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
This week we have only one unanimous pick, the Texans, which also happen to be Erickson's best and my second best bets.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguars +3.5 at Titans | Titans | Titans | Jaguars | Titans | Titans |
| Redskins +3 at Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Redskins | Bengals | Bengals |
| Lions +2.5 at Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans |
| Seahawks -3 at Saints | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Saints | Saints |
| Patriots -6.5 at Bills | Patriots | Patriots | Bills | Patriots | Bills |
| Jets -3 at Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Jets | Browns |
| Raiders +1 at Buccaneers | Raiders | Raiders | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Raiders |
| Chiefs -3 at Colts | Chiefs | Chiefs | Colts | Chiefs | Colts |
| Cardinals +2.5 at Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Cardinals | Cardinals |
| Chargers +5 at Broncos | Chargers | Broncos | Broncos | Chargers | Chargers |
| Packers +3 at Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Packers | Falcons |
| Eagles +4.5 at Cowboys | Eagles | Eagles | Cowboys | Eagles | Eagles |
| Vikings -6 at Bears | Vikings | Vikings | Bears | Bears | Bears |
| Best Bet | Texans | Patriots | Panthers | Patriots | Chargers |
| Last week's Record | 8-7 | 8-7 | 7-8 | 8-7 | 8-7 |
| 2016 Record | 60-46-1 | 55-51-1 | 53-53-1 | 50-56-1 | 52-54-1 |
| Best Bet Record | 4-3 | 4-3 | 3-4 | 4-3 | 4-3 |
| 2016 Unanimous Pick Record | 15-11-1 | ||||
| 2016 Majority Pick Record | 56-50-1 | ||||
| 2015 Record | 134-114-8 | 120-128-8 | 114-134-8 | 127-121-8 | 121-127-8 |
| 2014 Record | 123-128-5 | 140-111-5 | 135-116-5 | 124-127-5 | 128-123-5 |
| 2013 Record | 132-114-10 | 118-128-10 | 123-123-10 | 111-135-10 | 128-118-10 |
| 2012 Record | 110-140-6 | 125-125-6 | 121-129-6 | 143-107-6 | 123-127-6 |
| 2011 Record | 121-128-7 | 134-115-7 | 124-125-7 | 123-126-7 | 127-122-7 |
| 2010 Record | 129-122-5 | 134-117-5 | 126-125-5 |
This week we have only one unanimous pick, the Texans, which also happen to be Erickson's best and my second best bets.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguars +3.5 at Titans | Titans | Titans | Jaguars | Titans | Titans |
| Redskins +3 at Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Redskins | Bengals | Bengals |
| Lions +2.5 at Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans |
| Seahawks -3 at Saints | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Saints | Saints |
| Patriots -6.5 at Bills | Patriots | Patriots | Bills | Patriots | Bills |
| Jets -3 at Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Jets | Browns |
| Raiders +1 at Buccaneers | Raiders | Raiders | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Raiders |
| Chiefs -3 at Colts | Chiefs | Chiefs | Colts | Chiefs | Colts |
| Cardinals +2.5 at Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Cardinals | Cardinals |
| Chargers +5 at Broncos | Chargers | Broncos | Broncos | Chargers | Chargers |
| Packers +3 at Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Packers | Falcons |
| Eagles +4.5 at Cowboys | Eagles | Eagles | Cowboys | Eagles | Eagles |
| Vikings -6 at Bears | Vikings | Vikings | Bears | Bears | Bears |
| Best Bet | Texans | Patriots | Panthers | Patriots | Chargers |
| Last week's Record | 8-7 | 8-7 | 7-8 | 8-7 | 8-7 |
| 2016 Record | 60-46-1 | 55-51-1 | 53-53-1 | 50-56-1 | 52-54-1 |
| Best Bet Record | 4-3 | 4-3 | 3-4 | 4-3 | 4-3 |
| 2016 Unanimous Pick Record | 15-11-1 | ||||
| 2016 Majority Pick Record | 56-50-1 | ||||
| 2015 Record | 134-114-8 | 120-128-8 | 114-134-8 | 127-121-8 | 121-127-8 |
| 2014 Record | 123-128-5 | 140-111-5 | 135-116-5 | 124-127-5 | 128-123-5 |
| 2013 Record | 132-114-10 | 118-128-10 | 123-123-10 | 111-135-10 | 128-118-10 |
| 2012 Record | 110-140-6 | 125-125-6 | 121-129-6 | 143-107-6 | 123-127-6 |
| 2011 Record | 121-128-7 | 134-115-7 | 124-125-7 | 123-126-7 | 127-122-7 |
| 2010 Record | 129-122-5 | 134-117-5 | 126-125-5 | 136-115-5 | 134-117-5 |
| 2009 Record | 123-130-3 | 132-121-3 | 131-122-3 | 130-123-3 | 126-127-3 |
| 2008 Record | 132-114-10 | 128-118-10 | 124-122-10 | 125-121-10 | 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 |
Unanimous/Majority Picks
This week we have one unanimous pick: the Texans. We went 3-2 on unanimous picks last week, winning with the Giants, Chargers and Broncos and losing with the Bears and Browns to bring our season record to 15-11. We went 9-6 on majority (three or more writers) picks to bring our season record to 56-50-1.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | Seems weird to make one team my best bet one week after I made their opponent my best the week before. But the Texans' defense is still legit, and I expect them to give Stafford all sorts of fits... I don't know what to make out of the Chiefs or the Colts right now - easily my toughest game to pick... Jaguars v. Titans is the battle of two teams I hate to pick - Mariota is so, so mediocre, but Bortles just hopes to be mediocre... I'm really impressed with the improvement of the Chargers defense now that Joey Bosa has been playing and playing well - they are my second pick. |
| Pianowski | I've been wrong on New England most of the year, but I'd be shocked if the Patriots were swept by an ordinary Buffalo team. I know one game is already in the books so this sounds like gambler's fallacy, but just look at Belichick and Ryan on the sidelines for 10 seconds, you'll know you're on the right side. Heck, if you had merely backed Belichick for the entire Belichick/Brady era, you'd be covering around 58 percent, last I checked. |
| Liss | I like the Panthers coming off the bye and laying less than three at home against a beat-up Cardinals squad. I also like the Texans laying less than three against an abysmal Lions defense, the Cowboys at home against the Eagles and the Falcons laying only three at home against the Packers. |
| Stopa | Buffalo has shown unexpected spunk in going 4-3 despite no downfield passing threat. But the Patriots won't overlook the Bills after losing to them earlier this year. With the Pats offense healthy, this is a spot where they assert their dominance. NE 34-13. |
| Del Don | I had a tough time coming up with a best bet this week, but I do like San Diego keeping it close... The Jets more than a field goal favorite on the road is pretty funny, but I guess it makes since with Cleveland's QB situation. |
The players:
• Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008, 2013, 2015 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 and 2014 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the Patriots.
• Chris Liss: RotoWire Managing Editor, 2000, 2002, 2006 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.
• Mark Stopa: Staff Writer, 2010, 2012 Staff Picks Champ, Writes Run 'N' Shoot. Roots for the Bills.
• Dalton Del Don: Fantasy Expert for Yahoo! Sports, 2007 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the 49ers.
