This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
Last week was a momentous one in the Staff Picks, as it condensed the standings dramatically. I went 11-5 to get out of last place, while frontrunners Pianowski (5-11) and Stopa (4-12) fell back to the pack. As it stands, with three weeks to go, only eight games separate Stopa (first) and DDD (last). Erickson had a 10-6 week to pull within three games of the lead.
This week, Stopa and Pianowski picked the Jets as their best bets, while I went the opposite route on the Steelers.
Enjoy the games.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
| 49ers +9 at Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Bills +5.5 at Dolphins | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills |
| Browns +1.5 at Bengals | Browns | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals |
| Lions +6 at Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Lions | Lions | Buccaneers | Lions |
| Jaguars +5 at Colts | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Colts |
| Cardinals +2.5 at Panthers | Panthers | Cardinals | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers |
| Saints +1 at Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Saints | Saints | Ravens |
| Eagles +3 at Giants | Giants | Eagles | Giants | Eagles | Eagles |
| Chiefs +1 at Rams | Rams | Rams | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| Redskins +6 at Cowboys | Redskins | Cowboys | Redskins | Cowboys | Redskins |
| Texans +1.5 at Titans | Texans | Titans | Titans | Texans | Titans |
| Falcons -7 at Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Falcons | Seahawks |
| Jets +6 at Steelers | Jets | Jets | Steelers | Jets | Jets |
| Broncos +6.5 at Raiders | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Raiders | Broncos |
| Packers +11 at Patriots | Patriots | Packers | Patriots | Packers | Packers |
| Bears -3 at Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Bears | Bears |
| Best Bet | Texans | Jets | Steelers | Jets | Ravens |
| Last Week's |
Last week was a momentous one in the Staff Picks, as it condensed the standings dramatically. I went 11-5 to get out of last place, while frontrunners Pianowski (5-11) and Stopa (4-12) fell back to the pack. As it stands, with three weeks to go, only eight games separate Stopa (first) and DDD (last). Erickson had a 10-6 week to pull within three games of the lead.
This week, Stopa and Pianowski picked the Jets as their best bets, while I went the opposite route on the Steelers.
Enjoy the games.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
| 49ers +9 at Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Bills +5.5 at Dolphins | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills |
| Browns +1.5 at Bengals | Browns | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals |
| Lions +6 at Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Lions | Lions | Buccaneers | Lions |
| Jaguars +5 at Colts | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Colts |
| Cardinals +2.5 at Panthers | Panthers | Cardinals | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers |
| Saints +1 at Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Saints | Saints | Ravens |
| Eagles +3 at Giants | Giants | Eagles | Giants | Eagles | Eagles |
| Chiefs +1 at Rams | Rams | Rams | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| Redskins +6 at Cowboys | Redskins | Cowboys | Redskins | Cowboys | Redskins |
| Texans +1.5 at Titans | Texans | Titans | Titans | Texans | Titans |
| Falcons -7 at Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Falcons | Seahawks |
| Jets +6 at Steelers | Jets | Jets | Steelers | Jets | Jets |
| Broncos +6.5 at Raiders | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Raiders | Broncos |
| Packers +11 at Patriots | Patriots | Packers | Patriots | Packers | Packers |
| Bears -3 at Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Bears | Bears |
| Best Bet | Texans | Jets | Steelers | Jets | Ravens |
| Last Week's Record | 10-6 | 5-11 | 11-5 | 4-12 | 6-10 |
| 2010 Record | 104-99-5 | 106-97-5 | 100-103-5 | 107-96-5 | 99-104-5 |
| Best Bet Record | 5-8-1 | 6-7-1 | 8-6 | 9-4-1 | 8-5-1 |
| Consensus Pick Record | 25-21-1 | ||||
| 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 |
Consensus Picks
This week we have two consensus picks: the Chargers and Bills.
Last week we went 0-3, putting us at 25-21-1 on the year. We finished 2009 at 19-23-1 on consensus picks, and were 24-19-2 on them in 2008.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
| Erickson | Time for the Texans to make their "fall just short of the playoffs" run. |
| Pianowski | Jets are more desperate, Steelers are vulnerable, line has overreacted. |
| Liss | The Titans are the sharp play, but I went with the Steelers as my best bet because the Jets look broken to me, and Pittsburgh's not the place for repairs. |
| Stopa | What would the Jets/Steelers line have been two weeks ago? Three? The Broncos and Titans seem to have mailed it in... The Colts defense can't stop the Jags running game - the Colts will cover only if they get a big lead early. I'll refrain from any more commentary until I start winning again. You go 4-12, you start thinking everything is a trap. |
| Del Don | I was close to making the Panthers my best bet but just couldn't stomach it. The Eagles/Giants game was the one I had the toughest time with, and I also switched to the Redskins at the last second. No clue why the Ravens are giving fewer than the standard three points. |
The players:
•Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008 Staff Picks Champ. Writes the Value Meter. Covers and roots for the Bengals.
•Scott Pianowski: Fantasy expert for Yahoo! Sports, and also contributes to Rotowire.com. 2009 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the Patriots.
•Chris Liss: RotoWire Managing Editor, 2000, 2002, 2006 Staff Picks Champ, 2003, 2004 co-champ. Writes Beating the Book and Surviving the Week in addition to Staff Picks. Covers and roots for the Giants.
•Mark Stopa: Staff Writer, Writes Working the Wire. Roots for the Bills.
•Dalton Del Don: RotoWire Senior Staff Writer. 2007 Staff Picks Champ. Writes the Game Capsules and the Barometer. Covers the Eagles and roots for the 49ers.
