This article is part of our NFL Staff Picks series.
Kevin Payne won last week at 10-6, with Scott Pianowski close behind at 9-7. Funny enough, those two were the only writers to miss their best bets.
The group hit its lone unanimous pick, and majority picks went 6-10.
This week, there is no unanimous pick. Two teams got four votes each. As for best bets, each writer went his own way, with three underdogs selected.
Before making your picks, be sure to consult our NFL injury report and the latest fantasy football news. Also check out the weekly projections to see how this week's matchups shape up.
Odds from BetMGM. Use the BetMGM Bonus Code for a risk-free bet up to $1,000.
| MATCHUP | ERICKSON | PIANOWSKI | WHALEN | PAYNE | PUIG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams -1 at Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Seahawks | Rams | Rams |
| Eagles -6.5 at Commanders | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Commanders | Commanders |
| Packers -1 at Bears | Bears | Bears | Bears | Packers | Bears |
| Buccaneers -3 at Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Buccaneers | Panthers | Buccaneers |
| Bills -10 at Browns | Browns | Browns | Bills | Bills | Bills |
| Chargers +2 at Cowboys | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| Jets +4.5 at Saints | Jets | Jets | Saints | Saints | Saints |
| Vikings -3 at Giants | Vikings | Vikings | Giants | Vikings | Giants |
| Chiefs -3.5 at Titans | Titans | Chiefs | Titans | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| Bengals -4 at Dolphins | Dolphins | Bengals | Dolphins | Bengals | Bengals |
| Falcons -2.5 at Cardinals | Cardinals | Cardinals | Falcons | Falcons | Cardinals |
| Jaguars +3 at Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Jaguars | Jaguars |
| Steelers +7 at Lions | Steelers | Steelers | Lions | Steelers | Lions |
| Raiders +14.5 at Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Raiders | Texans |
| Patriots +3 at Ravens | Patriots | Patriots | Patriors | Ravens | Patriots |
| 49ers -6 at Colts | 49ers | Colts | Colts | Colts | 49ers |
| Best Bet | Cardinals | Colts | Bears | Vikings | Cowboys |
| Last Week Record | 8-8 | 9-7 | 6-10 | 10-6 | 5-11 |
| 2025 Record | 101-117-6 | 105-113-6 | 93-125-6 | 95-123-6 | 87-131-6 |
| 2025 Best Bet Record | 8-7 | 5-10 | 6-9 | 4-11 | 7-8 |
| 2025 Unanimous Pick Record | 6-11-1 | ||||
| 2025 Majority Pick Record | 74-144-6 | ||||
| 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 can't get behind making the Falcons a road favorite; I really love the over 47.5 in that game. I also really like the 49ers — I think week 2 of the Philip Rivers experience sadly won't go well. |
| Pianowski | I hate this slate with the white-hot intensity of 1,000 suns. |
| Whalen | This will be a popular play, but I'm willing to follow the crowd on the Bears, who played Green Bay almost evenly two weeks ago at Lambeau Field and now face a diminished version of that defense. |
| Payne | J.J. McCarthy is playing better and the Vikes' D should stymie a weapon-less Giants offense. |
| Puig | The Dallas defensive line can cause problems for the weak Chargers offensive line, especially from the interior, which is where the Chargers are otherwise dependent on running to hide the team's poor pass blocking. |
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.
-
Did you know you can bet on the NFL in most states? You can sign up for the best sports betting sites and bet on anything NFL. In addition, you can get thousands in bonuses by redeeming various sportsbook promo codes that give users bonus bets upon registration.
