This article is part of our Staff Picks series.
Scott Pianowski led last week at 7-5-1 and nailed his best bet of the 49ers. Kevin Payne continues to rule the standings at 99-89-5 (52.6 percent).
Majority picks took it on the chin, going 4-8-1.
Last week had no unanimous picks, but this week brings three picks that the group rallied around: the Ravens, Raiders and Giants. Four other teams garnered four votes each.
As far as best bets, each handicapper went with a unique pick, though Pianowski and Dalton Del Don are on opposite sides of the Bills-Chiefs game. Pianowski likes the underdog Bills (+1.5), while Del Don likes the home-team Chiefs.
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| MATCHUP | ERICKSON | PIANOWSKI | WHALEN | PAYNE | DEL DON |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriots +6 at Steelers | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Steelers |
| Buccaneers +2.5 at Falcons | Falcons | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Falcons | Falcons |
| Rams +7 at Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens |
| Lions -3.5 at Bears | Bears | Bears | Lions | Lions | Bears |
| Colts -1 at Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Colts | Bengals |
| Jaguars +3 at Browns | Jaguars | Jaguars | Browns | Browns | Browns |
| Panthers +5.5 at Saints | Saints | Panthers | Saints | Saints | Panthers |
| Texans -5.5 at Jets | Jets | Texans | Texans | Texans | Jets |
| Vikings -3 at Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders |
| Seahawks +10.5 at 49ers | 49ers | Seahawks | 49ers | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Bills +1.5 at Chiefs | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Chiefs |
| Broncos +3 at Chargers | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Chargers | Broncos |
| Eagles +3 at Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Eagles | Eagles |
| Titans +13.5 at Dolphins | Dolphins | Titans | Dolphins |
Scott Pianowski led last week at 7-5-1 and nailed his best bet of the 49ers. Kevin Payne continues to rule the standings at 99-89-5 (52.6 percent).
Majority picks took it on the chin, going 4-8-1.
Last week had no unanimous picks, but this week brings three picks that the group rallied around: the Ravens, Raiders and Giants. Four other teams garnered four votes each.
As far as best bets, each handicapper went with a unique pick, though Pianowski and Dalton Del Don are on opposite sides of the Bills-Chiefs game. Pianowski likes the underdog Bills (+1.5), while Del Don likes the home-team Chiefs.
Odds from BetMGM. Use the BetMGM Bonus Code for a risk-free bet up to $1,000.
| MATCHUP | ERICKSON | PIANOWSKI | WHALEN | PAYNE | DEL DON |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriots +6 at Steelers | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Steelers |
| Buccaneers +2.5 at Falcons | Falcons | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Falcons | Falcons |
| Rams +7 at Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens |
| Lions -3.5 at Bears | Bears | Bears | Lions | Lions | Bears |
| Colts -1 at Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Colts | Bengals |
| Jaguars +3 at Browns | Jaguars | Jaguars | Browns | Browns | Browns |
| Panthers +5.5 at Saints | Saints | Panthers | Saints | Saints | Panthers |
| Texans -5.5 at Jets | Jets | Texans | Texans | Texans | Jets |
| Vikings -3 at Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders |
| Seahawks +10.5 at 49ers | 49ers | Seahawks | 49ers | Seahawks | Seahawks |
| Bills +1.5 at Chiefs | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills | Chiefs |
| Broncos +3 at Chargers | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Chargers | Broncos |
| Eagles +3 at Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Eagles | Eagles |
| Titans +13.5 at Dolphins | Dolphins | Titans | Dolphins | Titans | Dolphins |
| Packers -6.5 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants | Giants |
| Best Bet | Ravens | Bills | 49ers | Eagles | Chiefs |
| Last Week Record | 4-8-1 | 7-5-1 | 4-8-1 | 6-6-1 | 6-6-1 |
| 2023 Record | 92-96-5 | 89-99-5 | 86-102-5 | 99-89-5 | 88-100-5 |
| 2023 Best Bet Record | 5-7-1 | 6-6-1 | 8-5 | 7-6 | 4-9 |
| 2023 Unanimous Pick Record | 11-13 | ||||
| 2023 Majority Pick Record | 90-98-5 | ||||
| 2022 Record | 127-136-8 | 149-114-8 | 124-139-8 | 131-132-8 | 133-130-8 |
| 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 | There are a couple of instances where my number wasn't quite big enough to take the side and I took it anyways — Dolphins was one of them. As for the Ravens, I just don't trust the Rams on the road against a good team, especially one coming off the bye. |
| Pianowski | I'd prefer Buffalo a lot more at +3 and hopefully it comes back. But they're rested and they need this game more than Kansas City, and Buffalo's offense is also far more dynamic than the KC offense. |
| Whalen | I don't love many of the lines this week, so I'll default to what I view as the most trustworthy team in the NFL: the San Francisco 49ers. Seattle is coming off of an explosive offensive game against Dallas, but I don't think it can repeat that for a second consecutive week. |
| Payne | I will not pick the Jets again. I will not pick the Jets again. Tough to see the Eagles losing two games in a row, but their schedule has been brutal the last few weeks. |
| Del Don | Patrick Mahomes laying less than three at home coming off a loss — sign me up. Sometimes it's hip to be square. |
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, 2020, 2022 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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