NFL Picks: Bengals, Texans, Dolphins, Broncos and Panthers

Written by

Updated on September 5, 2018 5:01PM EST

This is the 19th year of Staff Picks. Erickson, Pianowski and I have been here since the inception in 2000 and had you told me in 2006 - when I had won or tied for the title five out of the first seven years - that I wouldn't win again through 2017, I probably would have shut it down. But here we are.

For some reason, Week 1 always seems to be our groupthink week. Last year we had nine unanimous picks, and this year five: the Bengals, Texans, Dolphins, Broncos and Panthers. Both Stopa and I have the Bengals as our best bets.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Falcons +2 at Eagles	Eagles	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons	Eagles
Steelers -4 at Browns	Browns	Browns	Steelers	Browns	Browns
49ers +6 at Vikings	Vikings	49ers	Vikings	Vikings	49ers
Bengals +3 at Colts	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals
Bills +7 at Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Bills	Ravens
Jaguars -3 at Giants	Giants	Jaguars	Giants	Jaguars	Jaguars
Buccaneers +9.5 at Saints	Saints	Buccaneers	Saints	Saints	Saints
Texans +6.5 at Patriots	Texans	Texans	Texans	Texans	Texans
Titans -1.5 at Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins
Chiefs +3.5 at Chargers	Chargers	Chargers	Chiefs	Chargers	Chiefs
Seahawks +3 at Broncos	Broncos	Broncos	Broncos	Broncos	Broncos
Cowboys +3 at Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers
Redskins pick 'em at Cardinals	Cardinals	Redskins	Cardinals	Cardinals	Cardinals
Bears +7.5 at Packers	Bears	Bears	Packers	Packers	Packers
Jets +6.5 at Lions	Lions	Jets	Lions	Jets	Jets
Rams -4 at Raiders

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Falcons +2 at Eagles	Eagles	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons	Eagles
Steelers -4 at Browns	Browns	Browns	Steelers	Browns	Browns
49ers +6 at Vikings	Vikings	49ers	Vikings	Vikings	49ers
Bengals +3 at Colts	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals
Bills +7 at Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Ravens	Bills	Ravens
Jaguars -3 at Giants	Giants	Jaguars	Giants	Jaguars	Jaguars
Buccaneers +9.5 at Saints	Saints	Buccaneers	Saints	Saints	Saints
Texans +6.5 at Patriots	Texans	Texans	Texans	Texans	Texans
Titans -1.5 at Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins
Chiefs +3.5 at Chargers	Chargers	Chargers	Chiefs	Chargers	Chiefs
Seahawks +3 at Broncos	Broncos	Broncos	Broncos	Broncos	Broncos
Cowboys +3 at Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers
Redskins pick 'em at Cardinals	Cardinals	Redskins	Cardinals	Cardinals	Cardinals
Bears +7.5 at Packers	Bears	Bears	Packers	Packers	Packers
Jets +6.5 at Lions	Lions	Jets	Lions	Jets	Jets
Rams -4 at Raiders	Rams	Raiders	Rams	Rams	Rams
Best Bet	Ravens	Browns	Bengals	Bengals	Broncos
2017 Best Bet Record	8-7-2	9-7-1	12-4-1	8-7-2	11-6
2017 Unanimous Pick Record	23-28-4
2017 Majority Pick Record	121-121-14
2017 Record	117-125-14	128-114-14	117-125-14	119-123-14	98-144-14
2016 Record	133-102-5	122-113-5	115-120-5	108-127-5	123-112-5
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 five unanimous picks: the Bengals, Texans, Dolphins, Broncos and Panthers. Last year we went 23-28-4 on unanimous picks and 121-121-14 on majority picks (three or more writers).

Comments:

Writer	Comment
Erickson	I still can't shake that notion that the Bills are going to be truly terrible this year. I get that we shouldn't invest too much in the preseason results or even our assessment of offseason moves, but I feel like that this is a Cleveland-like purposeful tank job to accumulate many high-value draft picks the next two years... My perception is that neither Dallas nor Washington is all that strong, so I was surprised by their respective lines. Dallas is being treated as just as strong as Carolina, and I don't think that's true, and Washington is getting treated as if they'd be favorites on a neutral field against the Cardinals... I feel least confident about the Thursday game, the PIT-CLE game, and the stupid Giants are already annoying me, tricking me into thinking that this is a "value" pick.
Pianowski	I'm on some of the ugly sides, almost reflexively. But it's not hard to sidle up to Cleveland, when you consider how unreliable the Steelers are as a road favorite. They love to play down to the level of their competition.
Liss	I like the Chiefs getting the hook with extra prep time for Andy Reid, the Panthers laying only the customary three at home against a weak Cowboys team, the Ravens laying only a TD at home against Nathan Peterman and the Bengals getting the full three on the road against a shaky Colts squad. I also like the Saints as less than 10 point favorites at home against the Ryan Fitzpatrick-led Bucs.
Stopa	I'm most confident, for whatever that's worth, in the Bengals, Chargers, Panthers and Rams. The Colts D is devoid of talent on all levels, so getting points there is a gift... I have significant under bets on the season-long win totals of Cowboys and Raiders, and that was before the former's o-line imploded and the latter traded their best player. Week 1 feels like the start of the public, and Vegas, realizing how bad these two teams are. The Chiefs D profiles as a bottom five unit, whereas the Chargers are the AFC's most talented team. Patrick Mahomes will have some fun fantasy games, but this is a tough spot to start the year. I'd be really surprised if the Chargers don't win.
Del Don	Week 1 is annually my favorite ATS, with this year no exception, as the sides came easily for me (for better or worse) on almost every game. The Broncos at home giving just a field goal to a Seattle team that was always vulnerable on the road even before the roster was devastated are my best bet, while others I like include the Ravens and Browns, though those lines have moved steadily since opening.

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 and 2017 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.