This article is part of our NFL Staff Picks series.
Scott Pianowski won last week at 8-5-1, the only winning writer. Kevin Payne and Mario Puig nailed their best bets.
The group missed it's lone unanimous pick, and majority picks went 6-7-1.
This week, there is one unanimous pick — the Chargers -3 at Jacksonville. Five others got four votes each.
As for best bets, Puig and Nick Whalen took the aforementioned Chargers.
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| MATCHUP | ERICKSON | PIANOWSKI | WHALEN | PAYNE | PUIG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jets +13 at Patriots | Jets | Jets | Patriots | Jets | Patriots |
| Commanders +2.5 vs. Dolphins at Madrid | Dolphins | Dolphins | Commanders | Commanders | Dolphins |
| Panthers +3.5 at Falcons | Falcons | Panthers | Falcons | Panthers | Falcons |
| Buccaneers +5.5 at Bills | Buccaneers | Bills | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers |
| Chargers -3 at Jaguars | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Bears +3 at Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Bears | Vikings | Bears |
| Packers -7 at Giants | Giants | Giants | Packers | Packers | Packers |
| Bengals +5.5 at Steelers | Steelers | Bengals | Steelers | Steelers | Bengals |
| Texans -6.5 at Titans | Titans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans |
| 49ers -2.5 at Cardinals | 49ers | 49ers | Cardinals | 49ers | 49ers |
| Seahawks +3 at Rams | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Rams |
| Ravens -8 at Browns | Browns | Browns | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens |
| Chiefs -4 at Broncos | Chiefs | Broncos | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| Lions +2.5 at Eagles | Eagles | Lions | Lions | Lions | Lions |
| Cowboys -3.5 at Raiders | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| Best Bet | Vikings | Panthers | Chargers | Texans | Chargers |
| Last Week Record | 5-8-1 | 8-5-1 | 6-7-1 | 6-7-1 | 6-7-1 |
| 2025 Record | 66-79-4 | 65-80-4 | 71-74-4 | 55-90-4 | 61-84-4 |
| 2025 Best Bet Record | 4-6 | 3-7 | 5-5 | 3-7 | 6-4 |
| 2025 Unanimous Pick Record | 3-9-1 | ||||
| 2025 Majority Pick Record | 52-93-4 | ||||
| 2024 Record | 131-138-3 | 121-148-3 | 127-142-3 | 138-131-3 | N/A |
| 2023 Record | 133-131-8 | 125-139-8 | 129-135-8 | 140-124-8 | N/A |
| 2022 Record | 127-136-8 | 149-114-8 | 124-139-8 | 131-132-8 | N/A |
| 2021 Record | 129-140-3 | 134-135-3 | N/A | 145-124-3 | N/A |
| 2020 Record | 121-127-8 | 128-120-8 | N/A | 115-133-8 | N/A |
| 2019 Record | 126-124-6 | 140-110-6 | N/A | 127-123-6 | N/A |
| 2018 Record | 125-122-9 | 134-113-9 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2017 Record | 117-125-14 | 128-114-14 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2016 Record | 140-111-5 | 130-121-5 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2015 Record | 134-114-8 | 120-128-8 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2014 Record | 123-128-5 | 140-111-5 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2013 Record | 132-114-10 | 118-128-10 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2012 Record | 110-140-6 | 125-125-6 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2011 Record | 121-128-7 | 134-115-7 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2010 Record | 129-122-5 | 134-117-5 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2009 Record | 123-130-3 | 132-121-3 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2008 Record | 132-114-10 | 128-118-10 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2007 Record | 127-120 | 118-129 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 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 | I don't really have a best bet, it's a near stay-away week. But I look at Vikes-Bears, and think what the line would have been a couple weeks ago, and I think it would be higher in the Vikings favor. I've already changed my mind on two games (SF-AZ, KC-DEN) that I discussed on VSiN earlier in the week. Tough week. |
| Pianowski | I hate this week's slate with the white-hot intensity of 1000 suns. |
| Whalen | I know the game is in Jacksonville, but the Jags proved yet again last week that this is not a team that can be trusted — even when essentially spotted a 17-point lead to begin the game. While the Chargers' injuries at tackle are a concern, the Jags have the lowest sack rate in the NFL. |
| Payne | Even if Davis Mills has to start for C.J. Stroud, the Texans should smack the Titans. The Texans won 26-0 in Week 4. Houston might have the best defense in the league. The Titans definitely have the worst offense in the league. |
| Puig | The Jaguars just aren't a very good team in their current state, and the offense in particular isn't imposing with its Etienne-Or-Nothing range of outcomes. |
The players:
• Jeff Erickson: RotoWire Senior Editor, 2001, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016 Staff Picks champ. Writes the Weekly Rankings. Roots for the Bengals.
• Scott Pianowski: Fantasy expert for Yahoo! Sports, and also contributes to RotoWire. 2009, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 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 and 2023 Staff Picks champ. Roots for the Bills.
• Mario Puig: RotoWire Senior Football Writer. Writes the WR vs. CB Matchup Report. Roots for the Packers.
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