This article is part of our NFL Picks series.
Staff Picks Year 20
Who knew in 2000 when I suggested this feature that it would be here for one sixth of our lives? (I'm ambitiously setting my sights on 120, mostly to make sure I prevail on some longevity bets I've made.) Jeff Erickson has been in indentured servitude to the column for all 20 seasons, meaning he's sent me his picks 340 times not including the playoffs. Pianowski has been around for 17, and newbie Dalton Del Don, who hasn't won since George Bush was in office, clocks in at 13. Why he still does it, no one knows.
But this year we have a new addition, and I want to say above all that Kevin Payne is a real pro. He's lost money in Vegas for decades, and as you can see he's started strong by making his favorite team, the Bills, his best bet. Real man always picks his favorite team.
This week we all like the Eagles and Cardinals and have five different best bets.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Payne | Del Don | |
| Packers +3 at Bears | Bears | Bears | Packers | Bears | Packers |
| Falcons +4 at Vikings | Vikings | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons |
| Redskins +9.5 at Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles |
| Bills +3 at Jets | Jets | Bills | Jets | Bills | Jets |
| Ravens -7 at Dolphins | Dolphins | Ravens | Ravens | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Chiefs -4 at Jaguars | Jaguars | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Jaguars |
| Titans +5.5 at Browns | Titans | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns |
| Rams -3 at Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Rams | Panthers |
| Bengals |
Staff Picks Year 20
Who knew in 2000 when I suggested this feature that it would be here for one sixth of our lives? (I'm ambitiously setting my sights on 120, mostly to make sure I prevail on some longevity bets I've made.) Jeff Erickson has been in indentured servitude to the column for all 20 seasons, meaning he's sent me his picks 340 times not including the playoffs. Pianowski has been around for 17, and newbie Dalton Del Don, who hasn't won since George Bush was in office, clocks in at 13. Why he still does it, no one knows.
But this year we have a new addition, and I want to say above all that Kevin Payne is a real pro. He's lost money in Vegas for decades, and as you can see he's started strong by making his favorite team, the Bills, his best bet. Real man always picks his favorite team.
This week we all like the Eagles and Cardinals and have five different best bets.
| Erickson | Pianowski | Liss | Payne | Del Don | |
| Packers +3 at Bears | Bears | Bears | Packers | Bears | Packers |
| Falcons +4 at Vikings | Vikings | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons |
| Redskins +9.5 at Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles |
| Bills +3 at Jets | Jets | Bills | Jets | Bills | Jets |
| Ravens -7 at Dolphins | Dolphins | Ravens | Ravens | Dolphins | Dolphins |
| Chiefs -4 at Jaguars | Jaguars | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | Jaguars |
| Titans +5.5 at Browns | Titans | Browns | Browns | Browns | Browns |
| Rams -3 at Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Rams | Panthers |
| Bengals +9.5 at Seahawks | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals | Seahawks |
| Colts +6.5 at Chargers | Chargers | Colts | Colts | Chargers | Colts |
| 49ers pick'em at Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | 49ers | Buccaneers | 49ers |
| Lions -2.5 at Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals |
| Giants +7 at Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Giants | Cowboys | Giants |
| Steelers +5.5 at Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Steelers | Steelers |
| Texans +7 at Saints | Saints | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans |
| Broncos pick 'em at Raiders | Raiders | Broncos | Raiders | Raiders | Broncos |
| Best Bet | Buccaneers | Broncos | Colts | Bills | Panthers |
| 2018 Best Bet Record | 12-5 | 11-6 | 10-7 | N/A | 7-9-1 |
| 2018 Unanimous Pick Record | 26-21-1 | ||||
| 2018 Majority Pick Record | 132-115-9 | ||||
| 2018 Record | 125-122-9 | 134-113-9 | 141-106-9 | N/A | 120-127-9 |
| 2017 Record | 117-125-14 | 128-114-14 | 117-125-14 | N/A | 98-144-14 |
| 2016 Record | 140-111-5 | 130-121-5 | 123-128-5 | N/A | 132-119-5 |
| 2015 Record | 134-114-8 | 120-128-8 | 114-134-8 | N/A | 121-127-8 |
| 2014 Record | 123-128-5 | 140-111-5 | 135-116-5 | N/A | 128-123-5 |
| 2013 Record | 132-114-10 | 118-128-10 | 123-123-10 | N/A | 128-118-10 |
| 2012 Record | 110-140-6 | 125-125-6 | 121-129-6 | N/A | 123-127-6 |
| 2011 Record | 121-128-7 | 134-115-7 | 124-125-7 | N/A | 127-122-7 |
| 2010 Record | 129-122-5 | 134-117-5 | 126-125-5 | N/A | 134-117-5 |
| 2009 Record | 123-130-3 | 132-121-3 | 131-122-3 | N/A | 126-127-3 |
| 2008 Record | 132-114-10 | 128-118-10 | 124-122-10 | N/A | 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 two unanimous picks, the Eagles and Cardinals. We went 26-21-1 on unanimous picks and 132-115-9 on majority picks (three or more writers) in 2018.
Comments:
| Writer | Comment |
|---|---|
| Erickson | The biggest gap between the actual lines and my estimates of them was just two points, in the Bucs/Niners game. The Niners have to go east, deal with extreme humidity and have a lot of questions on both sides of the ball. It's not as if they're some juggernaut coming off of a big season, but the line treats them as if they're clearly better on a neutral turf, and I just don't see it that way. |
| Pianowski | I didn't like the opening card; a comment which, of course, is not predictive. But there's no way I could pass on Vic Fangio's defense against an Oakland offense that's had a clownish summer. |
| Liss | I think the market over-corrected due to Andrew Luck's retirement. The Colts are a still a good team, and the Chargers are missing some key players. I also like the Eagles to roll at home against a weak Redskins squad and the Giants to put up a fight in Dallas. And I'm not buying the Lions as road favorites against anyone. |
| Payne | Week 1 seems like it should be a cake walk with many obvious picks based on offseason developments. I think I've found a few and expect to come out positive this week. Having to pick every game is tougher than it seems. |
| Del Don | The Rams are going to have to make adjustments this season, and they get a tough opening test on the road at 10 am, so give me the points. |
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, 2018 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.
• Kevin Payne: Staff Writer, 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.
