NFL Picks: Bengals, Texans, Dolphins, Panthers and 49ers

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Updated on December 27, 2017 4:28PM EST

Congratulations to Scott Pianowski for winning the 2017 Staff Picks, his fourth overall title in the last nine years. And no, this isn't a jinx with one week left as he's eight games up on Erickson and nine up on Stopa and me, and his picks differ from ours by less than that margin.

It hasn't been a great year for anyone else, but take a look at our cumulative best bet records - 48-28-6 (62.16%.) And yes, that was a not so humble brag by me.

This week, we have five unanimous picks, the Texans, Bengals, Dolphins, Panthers and 49ers.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Packers +7 at Lions	Packers	Packers	Packers	Lions	Lions
Jets +15.5 at Patriots	Patriots	Jets	Jets	Patriots	Patriots
Texans +4 at Colts	Texans	Texans	Texans	Texans	Texans
Browns +13 at Steelers	Steelers	Steelers	Steelers	Browns	Steelers
Redskins -3.5 at Giants	Giants	Giants	Giants	Redskins	Redskins
Bears +12 at Vikings	Bears	Vikings	Vikings	Vikings	Bears
Cowboys -2.5 at Eagles	Eagles	Cowboys	Cowboys	Cowboys	Cowboys
Bengals +9.5 at Ravens	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals
Bills -3 at Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins
Panthers +3.5 at Falcons	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers
Saints -7 at Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Saints	Saints
Jaguars +4 at Titans	Titans	Titans	Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars
Raiders +8 at Chargers	Raiders	Chargers	Raiders	Raiders	Chargers
Cardinals +8.5 at Seahawks	Seahawks	Cardinals	Cardinals	Cardinals	Seahawks
Chiefs +3.5 at Broncos	Broncos	Broncos	Broncos	Chiefs	Broncos
49ers +3 at Rams	49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers

It hasn't been a great year for anyone else, but take a look at our cumulative best bet records - 48-28-6 (62.16%.) And yes, that was a not so humble brag by me.

This week, we have five unanimous picks, the Texans, Bengals, Dolphins, Panthers and 49ers.

	Erickson	Pianowski	Liss	Stopa	Del Don
Packers +7 at Lions	Packers	Packers	Packers	Lions	Lions
Jets +15.5 at Patriots	Patriots	Jets	Jets	Patriots	Patriots
Texans +4 at Colts	Texans	Texans	Texans	Texans	Texans
Browns +13 at Steelers	Steelers	Steelers	Steelers	Browns	Steelers
Redskins -3.5 at Giants	Giants	Giants	Giants	Redskins	Redskins
Bears +12 at Vikings	Bears	Vikings	Vikings	Vikings	Bears
Cowboys -2.5 at Eagles	Eagles	Cowboys	Cowboys	Cowboys	Cowboys
Bengals +9.5 at Ravens	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals	Bengals
Bills -3 at Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins	Dolphins
Panthers +3.5 at Falcons	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers	Panthers
Saints -7 at Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Saints	Saints
Jaguars +4 at Titans	Titans	Titans	Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars
Raiders +8 at Chargers	Raiders	Chargers	Raiders	Raiders	Chargers
Cardinals +8.5 at Seahawks	Seahawks	Cardinals	Cardinals	Cardinals	Seahawks
Chiefs +3.5 at Broncos	Broncos	Broncos	Broncos	Chiefs	Broncos
49ers +3 at Rams	49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers	49ers
Best Bet	Seahawks	Cowboys	Raiders	Jaguars	49ers
Last Week's Record	8-6-2	7-7-2	7-7-2	7-7-2	7-7-2
2017 Record	111-115-14	119-107-14	110-116-14	110-116-14	92-134-14
Best Bet Record	8-6-2	8-7-1	12-3-1	8-6-2	10-6
Unanimous Pick Record	21-25-4
Majority Pick Record	113-113-14
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 Texans, Bengals, Dolphins, Panthers and 49ers. Last week we went 1-0 on unanimous picks, winning with the Seahawks, to put us at 21-25-4 on the season. We went 7-7-2 on majority picks (three or more writers) to bring our season record to 113-113-14. Last year we went 27-22-2 on unanimous picks and 138-124-5 on majority picks.

Comments:

Writer	Comment
Erickson	Some teams choke under the yoke of 'having to win,' but I trust that the Seahawks instead are more of a rise to the occasion type of team. Plus the Cardinals are such a weak road team.
Pianowski	Some Week 17s are pretty clean. This one is a mess. I have no idea what I'm picking.
Liss	The Raiders offense is bad, but Marshawn Lynch is running well, and Amari Cooper is back. The Chargers choke in these spots, and this is a division rival that knows them well. I also like the Cowboys. I loved the Dolphins until I read Jay Cutler might sit the second half for David Fales. I don't see how one can succeed betting on Fales.
Stopa	When in doubt in Week 17, fade the teams that need to win and you'll come out ahead in the long run.
Del Don	Week 17 always brings extra crazy variables, making an already difficult exercise tougher having to try to predict motivation and playing time. I'll go back to the well with San Francisco, who's playing about as well as any team in the league right now, and the Rams don't have a lot to play for this week.

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.