This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
Last week I gained some ground with the only big week, but Erickson still leads by five games over DDD and 10 over me. We split on consenus picks, too.
This week we have four consensus picks, and two writers like the Bears as their best bets.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redskins -2.5 at Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Redskins |
| Jaguars +12 at Titans | Titans | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Eagles +1.5 at Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Eagles | Eagles |
| Bills +3 at Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Bills | Steelers |
| Raiders +7 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Raiders | Giants |
| Rams +9.5 at Colts | Rams | Rams | Rams | Colts | Rams |
| Seahawks -6.5 at Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons |
| Bengals -1.5 at Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Bengals | Ravens |
| Lions -2.5 at Bears | Bears | Bears | Lions | Lions | Bears |
| Panthers +6 at 49ers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers |
| Texans +3 at Cardinals | Cardinals | Texans | Cardinals | Cardinals | Texans |
| Broncos -7 at Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Cowboys +7 at Saints | Cowboys | Saints | Saints | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| Dolphins -2.5 at Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers |
| Best Bet | Bears | Buccaneers | Ravens | Bills | Bears |
| Last Week's Record | 7-6 | 6-7 | 9-4 | 5-8 | 6-7 |
| 2013 Record | 72-57-4 | 59-70-4 | 62-67-4 | 56-73-4 | 67-63-4 |
| Best Bet Record | 6-3 | 3-6 | 3-6 | 6-3 | 2-7 |
| 2013 Consensus Pick Record | 11-17-2 | ||||
| 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 |
Last week I gained some ground with the only big week, but Erickson still leads by five games over DDD and 10 over me. We split on consenus picks, too.
Consensus Picks
The players:
This week we have four consensus picks, and two writers like the Bears as their best bets.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redskins -2.5 at Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Redskins |
| Jaguars +12 at Titans | Titans | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Eagles +1.5 at Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Eagles | Eagles |
| Bills +3 at Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Bills | Steelers |
| Raiders +7 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Raiders | Giants |
| Rams +9.5 at Colts | Rams | Rams | Rams | Colts | Rams |
| Seahawks -6.5 at Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons |
| Bengals -1.5 at Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Bengals | Ravens |
| Lions -2.5 at Bears | Bears | Bears | Lions | Lions | Bears |
| Panthers +6 at 49ers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers |
| Texans +3 at Cardinals | Cardinals | Texans | Cardinals | Cardinals | Texans |
| Broncos -7 at Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Cowboys +7 at Saints | Cowboys | Saints | Saints | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| Dolphins -2.5 at Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers |
| Best Bet | Bears | Buccaneers | Ravens | Bills | Bears |
| Last Week's Record | 7-6 | 6-7 | 9-4 | 5-8 | 6-7 |
| 2013 Record | 72-57-4 | 59-70-4 | 62-67-4 | 56-73-4 | 67-63-4 |
| Best Bet Record | 6-3 | 3-6 | 3-6 | 6-3 | 2-7 |
| 2013 Consensus Pick Record | 11-17-2 | ||||
| 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, Panthers, Chargers and Buccaneers. Last week we went 1-1 to put us at 11-17-2 on the season.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
| Erickson | Even if Cutler doesn't play, McCown isn't that bad. I don't see why the Lions should be road favorites... The Cardinals' defense, especially at home, is particularly underrated - they're my second choice... Really struggled with Packers/Eagles, Raiders/Giants (like how the Giants are playing, but don't particularly like them as favorites) and Seahawks/Falcons. |
| Pianowski | Lots of home dogs this week, if that's your thing. It pains me to keep taking the Jaguars, but it's hard to make a big number in the NFL. |
| Liss | I liked a lot of these games a little bit. I still believe in the Ravens as a well-coached team that will bounce back at home against a Bengals squad missing two key defenders. I also like Arizona at home against the Texans. |
| Stopa | The Bills are being written off because of their record, but EJ Manuel has been hurt. That's not the same impact as, say, Aaron Rodgers injury, but with Manuel, they beat the Panthers (how does that look now?) and Ravens and lost to the Patriots by 2 and the Jets by 7. That's a .500 team, basically. The Steelers, meanwhile, are being treated as the Bills equal, yet they're not a .500-caliber squad... I also really like the Panthers getting 6. Carolina might be the NFC's best team right now. They lead the NFC in point differential, and only the Broncos are rated higher on Massey-Peabody. |
| Del Don | This is actually the best I've felt about a slate since early in the year (which of course means nothing). For what it's worth, I like the Giants, Falcons, Bears, Texans and Buccaneers the most. |
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.
