This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
Week 16 was not a good one for the Staff as Stopa won it at 8-7-1, and we lost three of four consenus picks. This week, we all like the Chargers and Redskins, and both Pianow and DDD like the Packers while Stopa and Erickson like the Texans as best bets.
One development lost this season amdist Stopa's run at the Staff Picks record is Pianow's 12-4 mark on best bets. I'm pretty sure that beats the vig.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jets + 3.5 at Bills | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Bills |
| Ravens +1.5 at Bengals | Ravens | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals |
| Browns +7* at Steelers | Steelers | Browns | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers |
| Texans -7 at Colts | Texans | Colts | Colts | Texans | Texans |
| Jaguars +4 at Titans | Jaguars | Jaguars | Titans | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Eagles +7 at Giants | Giants | Eagles | Giants | Eagles | Eagles |
| Bears -3 at Lions | Lions | Lions | Lions | Bears | Bears |
| Buccaneers +3* at Falcons | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Falcons | Falcons |
| Panthers +5 at Saints | Saints | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Saints |
| Dolphins +10 at Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Dolphins | Patriots | Patriots |
| Packers -3 at Vikings | Packers | Packers | Packers | Vikings | Packers |
| Chiefs +16 at Broncos | Broncos | Chiefs | Chiefs | Broncos | Chiefs |
| Raiders +4.5* at Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Cardinals +16.5 at 49ers | Niners | Cardinals | 49ers | 49ers | Cardinals |
| Rams +10.5 at Seahawks | Seahawks | Rams | Rams | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Cowboys +3 at Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins |
| Best Bet | Texans | Packers | Rams | Texans | Packers |
| Last Week's Record | 7-8-1 | 7-8-1 | 5-10-1 | 8-7-1 | 5-10-1 |
| 2012 Record | 103-131-6 | 115-119-6 | 111-123-6 | 136-98-6 |
Week 16 was not a good one for the Staff as Stopa won it at 8-7-1, and we lost three of four consenus picks. This week, we all like the Chargers and Redskins, and both Pianow and DDD like the Packers while Stopa and Erickson like the Texans as best bets.
Consensus Picks
The players:
One development lost this season amdist Stopa's run at the Staff Picks record is Pianow's 12-4 mark on best bets. I'm pretty sure that beats the vig.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jets + 3.5 at Bills | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Bills |
| Ravens +1.5 at Bengals | Ravens | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals |
| Browns +7* at Steelers | Steelers | Browns | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers |
| Texans -7 at Colts | Texans | Colts | Colts | Texans | Texans |
| Jaguars +4 at Titans | Jaguars | Jaguars | Titans | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Eagles +7 at Giants | Giants | Eagles | Giants | Eagles | Eagles |
| Bears -3 at Lions | Lions | Lions | Lions | Bears | Bears |
| Buccaneers +3* at Falcons | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Falcons | Falcons |
| Panthers +5 at Saints | Saints | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Saints |
| Dolphins +10 at Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Dolphins | Patriots | Patriots |
| Packers -3 at Vikings | Packers | Packers | Packers | Vikings | Packers |
| Chiefs +16 at Broncos | Broncos | Chiefs | Chiefs | Broncos | Chiefs |
| Raiders +4.5* at Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Cardinals +16.5 at 49ers | Niners | Cardinals | 49ers | 49ers | Cardinals |
| Rams +10.5 at Seahawks | Seahawks | Rams | Rams | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Cowboys +3 at Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins | Redskins |
| Best Bet | Texans | Packers | Rams | Texans | Packers |
| Last Week's Record | 7-8-1 | 7-8-1 | 5-10-1 | 8-7-1 | 5-10-1 |
| 2012 Record | 103-131-6 | 115-119-6 | 111-123-6 | 136-98-6 | 117-117-6 |
| Best Bet Record | 3-11-2 | 12-4 | 6-10 | 8-8 | 10-6 |
| Consensus Pick Record | 21-29-1 | ||||
| 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 |
Consensus Picks
This week we have two consensus picks: the Chargers and Redskins. Last week we went 1-3 to put us at 21-29-1 on the season. Last year we were 30-24-2 on consensus picks.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
| Erickson | Colts have little to play for and are a touch overrated. |
| Pianowski | The Vikings need to get ahead this week, lest Christian Ponder be asked to spark a comeback. Adrian Peterson might be the best running back we've ever seen, but quarterbacks drive outcomes in 2012 - and Aaron Rodgers is still the best player in the league. |
| Liss | I think the Rams will put up a fight in Seattle this week in their bid to finish above .500. St. Louis has no problem playing its physical NFC West rivals. |
| Stopa | I really loved this slate - and my chances of taking down Liss' 141-99 record - when I saw Hou -4.5 and Philly +9.5 on Tuesday. Alas, both lines moved to 7, so my optimism is more guarded. I still like the Texans, as that feels like a game where they get a double-digit lead, and the Colts realize they're better-served by pulling Luck... The two extremes you get with the Giants are ridiculous - they might come out like gangbusters, or the same unit that quit the last two weeks. That's why I like the Eagles money line +275 more than the +7... The Jets have been an awful matchup for the Bills in recent years, so I'll take the hook and the money line (+165)... The Ravens will go through the motions, a veteran team that's resting Ray Lewis and preparing for next week. Cincy is more likely to try... The Titans just lost 55-7, but their line is set as if they're better than the Jaguars and still trying. Neither is accurate... The Steelers will show pride and roll against the Browns second-string offense... The Panthers are 5-5 since their bye, with four of the losses by 6 or less and the fifth to Denver. They're a 2013 playoff sleeper. ... When the line opened at 3.5, I liked Dallas, thinking it had a better defense. But I looked at the stats and the Cowboys defense isn't any better than the Redskins. I'm a little worried Wash might back into the playoffs before the game starts, but if the Staff Picks record comes down to the Sunday night game, I want my wagon tied to RGIII, not Jason Garrett. |
| Del Don | As usual, Week 17 features some crazy lines. In fact, three are still off the board in most places as of Thursday afternoon. The Vikings have incentive to win and have been playing better of late, but Green Bay has quietly started to look more and more like last year's version and will be giving 100 percent in order to secure the NFC's No. 2 seed. |
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 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 Surviving the Week in addition to Staff Picks. Covers and roots for the Giants.
•Mark Stopa: Staff Writer, 2012, 2010 Staff Picks Champ, Writes Working the Wire. Roots for the Bills.
•Dalton Del Don: Fantasy Expert for Yahoo! Sports, 2007 Staff Picks Champ. Roots for the 49ers.
