This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
This week there are no unanimous picks, but both Jeff and I like the Jaguars as our best bets, and everyone but Bills fan, Stopa, picked them to cover. Stopa and Pianowski are on opposite sides with their best bets (Rams and Falcons, respectively.)
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titans +8.5 at Chiefs | Titans | Chiefs | Titans | Titans | Chiefs |
| Falcons +6.5 at Rams | Rams | Rams | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons |
| Bills +8.5 at Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Bills | Jaguars |
| Panthers +6.5 at Saints | Saints | Saints | Panthers | Panthers | Saints |
| Best Bet | Jaguars | Rams | Jaguars | Falcons | Saints |
| Last Week's Record | 6-10 | 9-7 | 7-9 | 9-7 | 6-10 |
| Best Bet Record | 8-7-2 | 9-7-1 | 12-4-1 | 8-7-2 | 11-6 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 23-28-4 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 121-121-14 | ||||
| 2016 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 6-5 | 4-7 | 6-5 |
| 2015 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 2-9 | 3-8 | 2-9 | 1-10 |
| 2014 Playoff Record | 10-1 | 5-6 | 9-2 | 4-7 | 9-2 |
| 2013 Playoff Record | 5-4-2 | 3-6-2 | 4-5-2 | 4-5-2 | 4-5-2 |
| 2012 Playoff Record | 4-6-1 | 5-5-1 | 6-4-1 | 4-6-1 | 8-2-1 |
| 2011 Playoff Record | 8-3 | 5-6 | 9-2 | 6-5 | 7-4 |
| 2010 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 5-6 | 7-4 | 8-3 |
| 2009 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 4-7 | 1-10 | 6-5 | 5-6 |
| 2008 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 5-6 | 8-3 | 4-7 |
| 2007 Playoff Record | 8-3 | 3-8 | 6-5 | N/A | 2-9 |
| 2006 Playoff Record | 7-4 | N/A | 4-7 | N/A | N/A |
| 2005 |
This week there are no unanimous picks, but both Jeff and I like the Jaguars as our best bets, and everyone but Bills fan, Stopa, picked them to cover. Stopa and Pianowski are on opposite sides with their best bets (Rams and Falcons, respectively.)
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Stopa | Del Don | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titans +8.5 at Chiefs | Titans | Chiefs | Titans | Titans | Chiefs |
| Falcons +6.5 at Rams | Rams | Rams | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons |
| Bills +8.5 at Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Bills | Jaguars |
| Panthers +6.5 at Saints | Saints | Saints | Panthers | Panthers | Saints |
| Best Bet | Jaguars | Rams | Jaguars | Falcons | Saints |
| Last Week's Record | 6-10 | 9-7 | 7-9 | 9-7 | 6-10 |
| Best Bet Record | 8-7-2 | 9-7-1 | 12-4-1 | 8-7-2 | 11-6 |
| Unanimous Pick Record | 23-28-4 | ||||
| Majority Pick Record | 121-121-14 | ||||
| 2016 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 6-5 | 4-7 | 6-5 |
| 2015 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 2-9 | 3-8 | 2-9 | 1-10 |
| 2014 Playoff Record | 10-1 | 5-6 | 9-2 | 4-7 | 9-2 |
| 2013 Playoff Record | 5-4-2 | 3-6-2 | 4-5-2 | 4-5-2 | 4-5-2 |
| 2012 Playoff Record | 4-6-1 | 5-5-1 | 6-4-1 | 4-6-1 | 8-2-1 |
| 2011 Playoff Record | 8-3 | 5-6 | 9-2 | 6-5 | 7-4 |
| 2010 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 5-6 | 7-4 | 8-3 |
| 2009 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 4-7 | 1-10 | 6-5 | 5-6 |
| 2008 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | 5-6 | 8-3 | 4-7 |
| 2007 Playoff Record | 8-3 | 3-8 | 6-5 | N/A | 2-9 |
| 2006 Playoff Record | 7-4 | N/A | 4-7 | N/A | N/A |
| 2005 Playoff Record | 5-6 | N/A | 3-8 | N/A | N/A |
| 2004 Playoff Record | 6-5 | N/A | 4-7 | N/A | N/A |
| 2003 Playoff Record | 6-5 | N/A | 4-7 | N/A | N/A |
| 2002 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 7-4 | 5-6 | N/A | N/A |
| 2001 Playoff Record | 6-4-1 | 7-3-1 | 4-6-1 | N/A | N/A |
| 2017 Record | 117-125-14 | 128-114-14 | 117-125-14 | 119-123-14 | 98-144-14 |
| 2016 Record | 133-102-5 | 122-113-5 | 115-120-5 | 108-127-5 | 123-112-5 |
| 2015 Record | 134-114-8 | 120-128-8 | 114-134-8 | 127-121-8 | 121-127-8 |
| 2014 Record | 123-128-5 | 140-111-5 | 135-116-5 | 124-127-5 | 128-123-5 |
| 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/Majority Picks
This week we have no unanimous picks. Last week we went 2-3 on unanimous picks, winning with the Bengals and 49ers and losing with the Texans, Panthers and Dolphins to put us at 23-28-4 on the season. We went 8-8 on majority picks (three or more writers) to bring our season record to 121-121-14. Last year we went 27-22-2 on unanimous picks and 138-124-5 on majority picks.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | Everybody is in love with the Bills' story, but this isn't that good of a team. The Jaguars' recent form isn't pretty, but I also don't think it matters... Going ugly in Titans-Chiefs - hate watching the Titans, but they have a way of mucking games up and keeping games closer than they should be. Chiefs still win, but it'll be close... I'm probably way too confident in the Rams, but I think they roll. I almost made them my best bet... I'm least confident in the Saints pick - but they've won comfortably against the Panthers both times they played. |
| Pianowski | Mike Mularkey. Steve Sarkisian. Cam looks hurt. The Jacksonville-Buffalo game I struggled with, because both teams are probably just happy to be here. But so long as the Jags don't have to engage Bortles, they should win - and I'm not taking the Bills if I don't think they can win. |
| Liss | I think the Jaguars will crush the Bills in Jacksonville. I don't expect Buffalo to move the ball, and the Jaguars should be able to run it with ease. I also like the Falcons getting 6.5. That line should be more like 3.5. |
| Stopa | My strongest feel of these four games is the "under" for both NFC games. All four NFC defenses are better than people realize, and all four offenses may be a smidge overrated. Alas, we don't get to bet on O/U here, but if you like the under, then taking the dogs makes sense... Buffalo benched Tyrod because he's too tentative, unwilling to pull the trigger. Yet that's precisely the quality they need against this awesome Jags D. Punts are ok here, Buffalo - you need to catch a break and hope Bortles makes mistakes. |
| Del Don | Interesting to see all four lines six-plus points, and the NFC matchups sure are more enticing than the AFC's. The Saints should easily handle an overmatched Carolina team for the third time this season, so I'll reluctantly make them my best bet (but only because I can't back the 49ers again). |
The players:
• Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior editor, 2001, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016 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, 2011, 2014 and 2017 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.
