This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
Week 16 wasn't particularly eventful for anyone, and with one week to go, we're separated by increments of five or six games from top to bottom. As such, DDD has a chance to catch Erickson for the title as they differ on seven games. If he were to go 6-1 on those, it would be a tie, and 7-0, obviously a win. I can catch DDD for second, too, if I were to go 6-0 on the games in which we differ. Not that anyone cares about second.
We have four more consenus picks: Falcons, Packers, Chargers and Cowboys.
Happy Holidays.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panthers -6.5 at Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons |
| Packers -2.5 at Bears | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers |
| Texans +7 at Titans | Titans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans |
| Browns +7 at Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Browns |
| Redskins +3.5 at Giants | Redskins | Redskins | Giants | Redskins | Redskins |
| Ravens +6 at Bengals | Bengals | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens |
| Jaguars +11.5 at Colts | Jaguars | Jaguars | Colts | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Jets +6.5 at Dolphins | Dolphins | Jets | Dolphins | Jets | Dolphins |
| Lions +3 at Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Lions | Lions | Lions |
| Bills +9.5 at Patriots | Bills | Patriots | Bills | Bills | Bills |
| Buccaneers +12.5 at Saints | Saints | Saints | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers |
| Broncos -12.5 at Raiders | Broncos | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Broncos |
| 49ers -1.5 at Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | 49ers |
| Chiefs +9.5 at Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Rams +10.5 at Seahawks | Rams | Seahawks | Rams | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Eagles -6.5 at Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys |
Week 16 wasn't particularly eventful for anyone, and with one week to go, we're separated by increments of five or six games from top to bottom. As such, DDD has a chance to catch Erickson for the title as they differ on seven games. If he were to go 6-1 on those, it would be a tie, and 7-0, obviously a win. I can catch DDD for second, too, if I were to go 6-0 on the games in which we differ. Not that anyone cares about second.
Consensus Picks
The players:
We have four more consenus picks: Falcons, Packers, Chargers and Cowboys.
Happy Holidays.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panthers -6.5 at Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons |
| Packers -2.5 at Bears | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers |
| Texans +7 at Titans | Titans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans |
| Browns +7 at Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Browns |
| Redskins +3.5 at Giants | Redskins | Redskins | Giants | Redskins | Redskins |
| Ravens +6 at Bengals | Bengals | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens |
| Jaguars +11.5 at Colts | Jaguars | Jaguars | Colts | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Jets +6.5 at Dolphins | Dolphins | Jets | Dolphins | Jets | Dolphins |
| Lions +3 at Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Lions | Lions | Lions |
| Bills +9.5 at Patriots | Bills | Patriots | Bills | Bills | Bills |
| Buccaneers +12.5 at Saints | Saints | Saints | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers |
| Broncos -12.5 at Raiders | Broncos | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Broncos |
| 49ers -1.5 at Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | 49ers |
| Chiefs +9.5 at Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Rams +10.5 at Seahawks | Rams | Seahawks | Rams | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Eagles -6.5 at Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| Best Bet | Dolphins | Chargers | Steelers | Jaguars | Ravens |
| Last Week's Record | 7-9 | 7-9 | 8-8 | 8-8 | 9-7 |
| 2013 Record | 125-105-10 | 109-121-10 | 115-115-10 | 103-127-10 | 120-110-10 |
| Best Bet Record | 9-6-1 | 5-11 | 8-8 | 9-7 | 6-10 |
| 2013 Consensus Pick Record | 20-28-3 | ||||
| 2012 Record | 110-140-6 | 124-126-6 | 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 |
Consensus Picks
This week we have four consensus picks: the Falcons, Packers, Chargers and Cowboys. Last week we went 1-2 to put us at 20-28-3 on the season.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
| Erickson | On one hand, "having something to play for" is one of the more overrated handicapping memes around. It's already been factored in the line where it's a factor, and there are plenty of instances where the team that supposedly had no motivation prevailed anyhow. On the other hand, there are certain players that move the needle more than they're credited for, as we've frequently seen with Aaron Rodgers. So that's why I took the Chargers, for instance... The Dolphins pick is a standard fade of the Jets on the road, and not about playoff motivations for Miami... Second pick is the Titans... I could see the DEN-OAK game going much like the DEN-HOU game did - close at first, with the Broncos piling on the points late. |
| Pianowski | I hate to put stock in a "need it" team against a team with no incentive - that's a classic sucker play. That said, it sounds like the Chiefs are going to aggressively lift key players in this game, and that changes the calculus... Not a fan of spotting big numbers, but the Drew Brees in a bounce-back spot at home - that's too good to pass up. The Seahawks offer a similar slant. |
| Liss | I don't really have a best bet so much as five or six pretty good bets. The Steelers, Colts, Giants, Falcons and Cardinals all qualify. I'm warming up to the Rams and Chargers, too. |
| Stopa | Teams "needing" a win for playoff positioning are always overrated in Week 17. If those teams were so good, they wouldn't need to win now. For non-playoff teams, Week 17 motivation is difficult to predict; same for teams like KC and Indy. This has me gravitating to the points more often than not, as they're the only certainty here. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone. |
| Del Don | Baltimore is just 2-5 on the road this season, whereas Cincy is undefeated at home, but I expect this game to be close between division rivals. Maybe Joe Flacco's knee injury is a bigger deal than I'm accounting for, and I've admittedly faded Cincy all year to my detriment, but I expect the defending champs to put up a fight in Week 17... The Chargers/Chiefs game is a true crap shoot, and the main "stay away" of the week, considering there are so many unknowns... I have to take the Cowboys out of principle with that line change, and I'm actually a Tony Romo apologist. |
The players:
•Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008 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.
