This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
It was a strong opening week for the staff, as everyone was better than .500. While no one won more than nine games, our majority picks, those with three or more writers, went 12-3-1. Given one of our losses was with the Jaguars, thanks to a last-minute defensive touchdown by the Eagles, it could have been even better. This week, there are a surprising number of unanimous picks - see below.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers +2.5 at Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Steelers | Ravens |
| Lions +3 at Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers |
| Dolphins -1 at Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills |
| Jaguars +6 at Redskins | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Cowboys +3.5 at Titans | Titans | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| Cardinals -2 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Cardinals | Cardinals | Giants |
| Patriots -3 at Vikings | Patriots | Patriots | Vikings | Patriots | Patriots |
| Saints -6.5 at Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns |
| Falcons +5 at Bengals | Falcons | Falcons | Bengals | Bengals | Falcons |
| Rams +5.5 at Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams |
| Seahawks -6 at Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Texans -3 at Raiders | Texans | Raiders | Texans | Texans | Raiders |
| Jets +8.5 at Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers |
| Chiefs +13 at Broncos | Broncos | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| Bears +7 at 49ers | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | 49ers |
| Eagles +3 at Colts | Colts | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Colts |
| Best Bet | Panthers | Jaguars | Browns | Patriots | Jaguars |
| Last Week's Record | 9-6-1 | 9-6-1 | 9-6-1 | 9-6-1 | 8-7-1 |
| Best Bet Record | 0-1 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| Majority Record | 12-3-1 | ||||
| Unanimous Pick Record |
It was a strong opening week for the staff, as everyone was better than .500. While no one won more than nine games, our majority picks, those with three or more writers, went 12-3-1. Given one of our losses was with the Jaguars, thanks to a last-minute defensive touchdown by the Eagles, it could have been even better. This week, there are a surprising number of unanimous picks - see below.
Unanimous Picks
The players:
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers +2.5 at Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Steelers | Ravens |
| Lions +3 at Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers |
| Dolphins -1 at Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills |
| Jaguars +6 at Redskins | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Cowboys +3.5 at Titans | Titans | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| Cardinals -2 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Cardinals | Cardinals | Giants |
| Patriots -3 at Vikings | Patriots | Patriots | Vikings | Patriots | Patriots |
| Saints -6.5 at Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns |
| Falcons +5 at Bengals | Falcons | Falcons | Bengals | Bengals | Falcons |
| Rams +5.5 at Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams |
| Seahawks -6 at Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Texans -3 at Raiders | Texans | Raiders | Texans | Texans | Raiders |
| Jets +8.5 at Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers | Packers |
| Chiefs +13 at Broncos | Broncos | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| Bears +7 at 49ers | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | 49ers |
| Eagles +3 at Colts | Colts | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Colts |
| Best Bet | Panthers | Jaguars | Browns | Patriots | Jaguars |
| Last Week's Record | 9-6-1 | 9-6-1 | 9-6-1 | 9-6-1 | 8-7-1 |
| Best Bet Record | 0-1 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| Majority Record | 12-3-1 | ||||
| Unanimous Pick Record | 2-1 | ||||
| 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 Picks
Last week we went 2-1 on Unanimous picks, losing only on a last-second defensive TD by the Eagles. This week's unanimous picks are the Panthers, Bills, Jaguars, Browns, Chargers and Packers.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
| Erickson | I started off 9-3-1 last week, but missed the last three games, including the Sunday night one after the Broncos started off way ahead of the number... Even if Cam Newton isn't the same player he was before the rib injury, I like Carolina's chances here - their defense remains rock solid, and I want to see Matthew Stafford perform like that again when he's on the road against such a tough opponent... Really struggled with Dallas-Tennessee - on one hand, I think this line could be an overreaction to the offseason plus one year's data, and want to fade the movement from the opening line, as the value has been taken out of Tennessee with the 2.5-point move. On the other, what if Dallas really is that bad? They could end up as 7-8 point dogs later in the year as their value as a public team fades away. I decided to stick with Tennessee and bet that Jake Locker's improvement is real. |
| Pianowski | A bunch of reflexive dogs this week, taking a host of teams that probably aren't as bad as they looked in Week 1. It's an old theme, but I view it as the backbone of this exercise (admittedly, that's a simplistic way to put it). |
| Liss | I like fading Seattle and New Orleans on the road as their home dominance makes them expensive. I also think the Bengals will rough up the Falcons at home. |
| Stopa | I'll happily fade several line over-corrections due to Week 1, a.k.a. buy low and sell high. The Patriots aren't going to lose a second game in a row, not to a Minnesota team that isn't nearly as good as the Week 1 score would reflect. That's still the same defense that was 32nd in the NFL in points allowed in 2013... I'm not laying a touchdown with the Redskins against anyone until they prove something on the field. |
| Del Don | I held my nose and went ugly with the Giants, Rams and Raiders... Going with Jacksonville is an unorthodox "best bet" as well, and I have to say my second choice would have probably been another one with the Cowboys... The Bills/Dolphins matchup took the most time for me to decide, as I'm ready to declare Miami a playoff caliber team but ultimately decided one week ago there was little reason to consider this game not being the standard three-point favorite by the home team... My teaser of the week is the Packers and 49ers. |
The players:
•Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008, 2013 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.
