This article is part of our Staff Picks series.
Kevin Payne went 8-5 to win last week, the only writer with a winning record. He missed on his best bet, though, as did everyone.
Payne, Jeff Erickson and Dalton Del Don are tied atop the season standings at 50-55-1.
This week, the underdog Titans and heavy-favorite Lions are unanimous picks. Six teams got four votes each. Erickson and Scott Pianowski made the Lions their best bet.
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| MATCHUP | ERICKSON | PIANOWSKI | WHALEN | PAYNE | DEL DON |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buccaneers +8.5 at Bills | Buccaneers | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills |
| Texans -3 at Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Texans | Panthers | Texans |
| Rams +6.5 at Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Rams | Cowboys | Rams |
| Vikings -1 at Packers | Vikings | Packers | Vikings | Packers | Packers |
| Saints +1 at Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts | Saints | Colts |
| Patriots +9.5 at Dolphins | Patriots | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Jets -3 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Jets | Giants | Jets |
| Jaguars -2.5 at Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Jaguars | Steelers |
| Falcons -3 at Titans | Titans | Titans | Titans | Titans | Titans |
| Eagles -6.5 at Commanders | Commanders | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Commanders |
| Browns +3.5 at Seahawks | Browns | Browns | Browns | Seahawks | Browns |
| Ravens -8.5 at Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Ravens | Cardinals | Cardinals |
| Chiefs -7 at Broncos | Broncos | Chiefs | Chiefs | Broncos | Broncos |
| Bengals +5.5 at 49ers | Bengals | 49ers | Bengals | 49ers | 49ers |
| Bears +8.5 at Chargers | Bears | Bears | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Raiders +8.5 at Lions | Lions | Lions | Lions | Lions | Lions |
| Best Bet | Lions | Lions | Eagles | Panthers | 49ers |
| Last Week Record | 6-7 | 4-9 | 3-10 | 8-5 | 6-7 |
| 2023 |
Kevin Payne went 8-5 to win last week, the only writer with a winning record. He missed on his best bet, though, as did everyone.
Payne, Jeff Erickson and Dalton Del Don are tied atop the season standings at 50-55-1.
This week, the underdog Titans and heavy-favorite Lions are unanimous picks. Six teams got four votes each. Erickson and Scott Pianowski made the Lions their best bet.
Odds from BetMGM. Use the BetMGM Bonus Code for a risk-free bet up to $1,000.
| MATCHUP | ERICKSON | PIANOWSKI | WHALEN | PAYNE | DEL DON |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buccaneers +8.5 at Bills | Buccaneers | Bills | Bills | Bills | Bills |
| Texans -3 at Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Texans | Panthers | Texans |
| Rams +6.5 at Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Rams | Cowboys | Rams |
| Vikings -1 at Packers | Vikings | Packers | Vikings | Packers | Packers |
| Saints +1 at Colts | Colts | Colts | Colts | Saints | Colts |
| Patriots +9.5 at Dolphins | Patriots | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Jets -3 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Jets | Giants | Jets |
| Jaguars -2.5 at Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | Jaguars | Steelers |
| Falcons -3 at Titans | Titans | Titans | Titans | Titans | Titans |
| Eagles -6.5 at Commanders | Commanders | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Commanders |
| Browns +3.5 at Seahawks | Browns | Browns | Browns | Seahawks | Browns |
| Ravens -8.5 at Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Ravens | Cardinals | Cardinals |
| Chiefs -7 at Broncos | Broncos | Chiefs | Chiefs | Broncos | Broncos |
| Bengals +5.5 at 49ers | Bengals | 49ers | Bengals | 49ers | 49ers |
| Bears +8.5 at Chargers | Bears | Bears | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Raiders +8.5 at Lions | Lions | Lions | Lions | Lions | Lions |
| Best Bet | Lions | Lions | Eagles | Panthers | 49ers |
| Last Week Record | 6-7 | 4-9 | 3-10 | 8-5 | 6-7 |
| 2023 Record | 50-55-1 | 42-63-1 | 42-63-1 | 50-55-1 | 50-55-1 |
| 2023 Best Bet Record | 3-4 | 2-5 | 3-4 | 3-4 | 1-6 |
| 2023 Unanimous Pick Record | 3-12 | ||||
| 2023 Majority Pick Record | 47-58-1 | ||||
| 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 | Yuck. After getting slaughtered last week, I have so many gross picks this week. Second best bet is the Browns. |
| Pianowski | Detroit caught Baltimore at the wrong time. Fortunately, here come the lousy Raiders at the right time. Detroit by 27. |
| Whalen | I know Philly was tripped up in this spot last season, and the Commanders took the Eagles to overtime earlier this year. But Philly seems like it's turning a corner on offense, and that'll especially be the case once it starts eliminating careless turnovers. Getting this number under 7.0 seals it as my best bet. |
| Payne | Six teams on bye last week and zero this week. Makes sense. Easily has to be the week with the biggest spreads (i.e. games with a favorite by at least a touchdown). |
| Del Don | I expect the 49ers to bounce back and beat the Bengals by at least a touchdown, so fade accordingly. |
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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