NFL Picks: Backing the Vikings

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Updated on December 11, 2014 12:27AM EST

I thought for sure I'd be in second place after going 6-9-1, but DDD trumped that with a 3-12-1 week, leaving me three games ahead in first. But with formerly-in-last-place Jeff Erickson going 10-5-1, only seven games separate the entire staff from top to bottom with 48 games to go.

Oddly, Pianowski and I differed on three picks last week but improbably wound up with the same record when one of those on which we differed wound up as a push. He's now tied with DDD for second as a result.

This week, we have only one unanimous pick, the Vikings.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Cardinals +4.5 at Rams	Rams	Rams	Rams	Cardinals	Rams
Raiders +10 at Chiefs	Raiders	Raiders	Chiefs	Chiefs	Chiefs
Jaguars +13.5 at Ravens	Jaguars	Jaguars	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens
Steelers -2.5 at Falcons	Steelers	Steelers	Falcons	Steelers	Steelers
Texans +6.5 at Colts	Colts	Texans	Texans	Colts	Texans
Bengals pick 'em at Browns	Browns	Browns	Bengals	Bengals	Browns
Dolphins +7.5 at Patriots	Patriots	Patriots	Dolphins	Dolphins	Patriots
Buccaneers +3.5 at Panthers	Panthers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Panthers	Buccaneers
Redskins +6.5 at Giants	Redskins	Giants	Giants	Giants	Redskins
Packers -5 at Bills	Bills	Bills	Bills	Packers	Bills
Vikings +7.5 at Lions	Vikings	Vikings	Vikings	Vikings	Vikings
Jets -1.5 at Titans	Titans	Titans	Jets	Titans	Titans
Broncos -4 at Chargers	Chargers	Chargers	Chargers	Broncos	Chargers
49ers +10 at Seahawks	49ers	49ers	Seahawks	Seahawks	Seahawks
Cowboys +3.5 at Eagles	Cowboys	Cowboys	Eagles	Cowboys	Cowboys
Saints -3 at Bears	Bears	Saints	Bears

This week, we have only one unanimous pick, the Vikings.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Cardinals +4.5 at Rams	Rams	Rams	Rams	Cardinals	Rams
Raiders +10 at Chiefs	Raiders	Raiders	Chiefs	Chiefs	Chiefs
Jaguars +13.5 at Ravens	Jaguars	Jaguars	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens
Steelers -2.5 at Falcons	Steelers	Steelers	Falcons	Steelers	Steelers
Texans +6.5 at Colts	Colts	Texans	Texans	Colts	Texans
Bengals pick 'em at Browns	Browns	Browns	Bengals	Bengals	Browns
Dolphins +7.5 at Patriots	Patriots	Patriots	Dolphins	Dolphins	Patriots
Buccaneers +3.5 at Panthers	Panthers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Panthers	Buccaneers
Redskins +6.5 at Giants	Redskins	Giants	Giants	Giants	Redskins
Packers -5 at Bills	Bills	Bills	Bills	Packers	Bills
Vikings +7.5 at Lions	Vikings	Vikings	Vikings	Vikings	Vikings
Jets -1.5 at Titans	Titans	Titans	Jets	Titans	Titans
Broncos -4 at Chargers	Chargers	Chargers	Chargers	Broncos	Chargers
49ers +10 at Seahawks	49ers	49ers	Seahawks	Seahawks	Seahawks
Cowboys +3.5 at Eagles	Cowboys	Cowboys	Eagles	Cowboys	Cowboys
Saints -3 at Bears	Bears	Saints	Bears	Saints	Bears
Best Bet	Bears	Browns	Jets	Seahawks	Chiefs
Last Week's Record	10-5-1	6-9-1	6-9-1	7-8-1	3-12-1
2014 Record	103-102-3	106-99-3	109-96-3	102-103-3	106-99-3
Best Bet Record	5-9	4-10	10-4	8-6	7-7
Majority Record	112-93-3
Unanimous Pick Record	17-15
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 Vikings. Last week we went 1-1 on unanimous picks to go 17-15 on the year. And we went 5-10-1 on majority picks (three or more writers) to go 112-93-3.

Comments:

Writer	Comment
Erickson	Sure, the Bears suck, but so do the Saints. How are they giving three points on the road? I don't get that one... Jake Locker's slogan: "Not as bad as you might think.".. I think if Derek Anderson starts for Carolina they'll still win, and that the change in that line is an over-correction.
Pianowski	I'm sick of taking teams like the Jaguars, Buccaneers, and Bears just about every week. I actually flipped on Chicago and took the type of road favorite I generally steer from. If Jay Cutler picks this week to have his occasional block party, good for him.
Liss	The Jets are a random best bet because I really don't have one. (You know you're lost when the best you can do is lay points on the road with Geno Smith.) Other candidates were the Chiefs, Giants and Seahawks.
Stopa	Sunday is the funeral for the Jim Harbaugh Niners. Seattle is hosting the festivities... Buffalo's defense has become a bit overrated. Aaron Rodgers won't have any problems putting up 30-plus points.
Del Don	It seems odd a 6-7 team would be four-point favorites over a 10-3 team, but Arizona has been vulnerable on the road, and St. Louis has played far better lately... I'm almost positive taking the Steelers is the sucker side, but the Falcons are just 1-8 outside their division this season, for what it's worth... After three straight losses, I expect the Chiefs to roll against Oakland.

The players:

•Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008, 2013 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 and 2011 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.