This article is part of our Staff Picks series.
Jeff Erickson went 11-3 last week to continue his hot streak and vault into second place overall at 76-69-5, a game ahead of Dalton Del Don. Erickson has gone 37-17-2 since Week 7 — 67.9 percent.
Scott Pianowski, after going 8-6 last week, still leads the race at 90-55-5 (61.7 percent).
Unanimous picks went 2-1 last week, while majority picks were 9-5.
This week, there are four unanimous picks. The group agreed on the Titans, Bears, Steelers and Chargers — all underdogs.
Pianowski and Nick Whalen both picked the Giants as the best bet, while Erickson and Kevin Payne split on the Cowboys-Vikings game. Del Don took the Saints as his best bet — the only writer picking the Saints to win.
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*49ers-Cardinals at Mexico City.
| MATCHUP | ERICKSON | PIANOWSKI | WHALEN | PAYNE | DEL DON |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titans +3 at Packers | Titans | Titans | Titans | Titans | Titans |
| Bears +3 at Falcons | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears |
| Panthers +11 at Ravens | Panthers | Panthers | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens |
| Browns +8 at Bills | Bills | Browns | Browns | Browns | Bills |
| Commanders -3 at Texans | Texans | Texans | Commanders | Texans | Texans |
| Eagles -6.5 at Colts | Colts | Eagles | Eagles | Colts | Colts |
| Jets +3 at Patriots | Jets | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Jets |
| Rams +4 at Saints | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Saints |
| Lions +3 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Lions |
| Raiders +2.5 at Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Raiders | Broncos |
| Cowboys -1 at Vikings | Vikings | Cowboys | Vikings | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| Bengals -4.5 |
Jeff Erickson went 11-3 last week to continue his hot streak and vault into second place overall at 76-69-5, a game ahead of Dalton Del Don. Erickson has gone 37-17-2 since Week 7 — 67.9 percent.
Scott Pianowski, after going 8-6 last week, still leads the race at 90-55-5 (61.7 percent).
Unanimous picks went 2-1 last week, while majority picks were 9-5.
This week, there are four unanimous picks. The group agreed on the Titans, Bears, Steelers and Chargers — all underdogs.
Pianowski and Nick Whalen both picked the Giants as the best bet, while Erickson and Kevin Payne split on the Cowboys-Vikings game. Del Don took the Saints as his best bet — the only writer picking the Saints to win.
Odds from BetMGM. Use the BetMGM Bonus Code for a risk-free bet up to $1,000.
*49ers-Cardinals at Mexico City.
| MATCHUP | ERICKSON | PIANOWSKI | WHALEN | PAYNE | DEL DON |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titans +3 at Packers | Titans | Titans | Titans | Titans | Titans |
| Bears +3 at Falcons | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears |
| Panthers +11 at Ravens | Panthers | Panthers | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens |
| Browns +8 at Bills | Bills | Browns | Browns | Browns | Bills |
| Commanders -3 at Texans | Texans | Texans | Commanders | Texans | Texans |
| Eagles -6.5 at Colts | Colts | Eagles | Eagles | Colts | Colts |
| Jets +3 at Patriots | Jets | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Jets |
| Rams +4 at Saints | Rams | Rams | Rams | Rams | Saints |
| Lions +3 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Lions |
| Raiders +2.5 at Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Raiders | Broncos |
| Cowboys -1 at Vikings | Vikings | Cowboys | Vikings | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| Bengals -4.5 at Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers |
| Chiefs -6.5 at Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| 49ers -8 vs. Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | 49ers | Cardinals | Cardinals |
| Best Bet | Vikings | Giants | Giants | Cowboys | Saints |
| Last Week's Record | 11-3 | 8-6 | 5-9 | 6-8 | 9-5 |
| 2022 Record | 76-69-5 | 90-55-5 | 72-73-5 | 71-74-5 | 75-70-5 |
| 2022 Best Bet Record | 5-5 | 5-4-1 | 5-5 | 5-4-1 | 6-4 |
| 2022 Unanimous Pick Record | 7-3-1 | ||||
| 2022 Majority Pick Record | 77-68-5 | ||||
| 2021 Record | 129-140-3 | 134-135-3 | N/A | 145-124-3 | 136-133-3 |
| 2020 Record | 121-127-8 | 128-120-8 | N/A | 115-133-8 | 118-130-8 |
| 2019 Record | 126-124-6 | 140-110-6 | N/A | 127-123-6 | 134-116-6 |
| 2018 Record | 125-122-9 | 134-113-9 | N/A | N/A | 120-127-9 |
| 2017 Record | 117-125-14 | 128-114-14 | N/A | N/A | 98-144-14 |
| 2016 Record | 140-111-5 | 130-121-5 | N/A | N/A | 132-119-5 |
| 2015 Record | 134-114-8 | 120-128-8 | N/A | N/A | 121-127-8 |
| 2014 Record | 123-128-5 | 140-111-5 | N/A | N/A | 128-123-5 |
| 2013 Record | 132-114-10 | 118-128-10 | N/A | N/A | 128-118-10 |
| 2012 Record | 110-140-6 | 125-125-6 | N/A | N/A | 123-127-6 |
| 2011 Record | 121-128-7 | 134-115-7 | N/A | N/A | 127-122-7 |
| 2010 Record | 129-122-5 | 134-117-5 | N/A | N/A | 134-117-5 |
| 2009 Record | 123-130-3 | 132-121-3 | N/A | N/A | 126-127-3 |
| 2008 Record | 132-114-10 | 128-118-10 | N/A | N/A | 130-116-10 |
| 2007 Record | 127-120 | 118-129 | N/A | N/A | 130-117 |
| 2006 Record | 118-129 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2005 Record | 121-126 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2004 Record | 124-124 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2003 Record | 121-126 | 118-129 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2002 Record | 113-136 | 123-126 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2001 Record | 124-113 | 117-120 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2000 Record | 123-117 | 134-106 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| WRITER | COMMENT |
|---|---|
| Erickson | Similar to last week with the Saints-Steelers, I don't understand why the Cowboys are favored over the Vikings in Minnesota. At worst, it should be Vikings -2.5 IMO, and I actually think the Vikings are a better team and I set the line at Vikings -3.5. I also like both New York teams — the Giants' line feels like a trap, one that I'm willing to walk right into. |
| Pianowski | I still don't trust Detroit on the road, and its win last week had plenty of fluky elements. Happy to take New York, spotting a very modest number. |
| Whalen | The Lions are particularly vulnerable against the run, so that pushes me in favor of the Giants, who also have a decided coaching edge. |
| Payne | Patriots would be my second best-bet pick, I have no faith in the Jets, though the defense, I have to admit, is good. Buffalo could get up to 6 feet of snow, so read into that what you will; send the St. Bernard for me. |
| Del Don | The Rams might've had the worst offense in the NFL before Cooper Kupp got injured. Their season is officially finished ... I also like the Texans and Bills this week. |
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. 2009, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2020 Staff Picks champ. Roots for the Patriots.
• Nick Whalen: RotoWire Senior Media Analyst. Writes Beating the Book. Roots for the Jaguars.
• Kevin Payne: RotoWire Staff Writer, 2021 Staff Picks champ. Writes our Waiver Wire column. Roots for the Bills.
• Dalton Del Don: Fantasy Expert for Yahoo! Sports, 2007 Staff Picks champ. Roots for the 49ers.
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