This article is part of our NFL Staff Picks series.
Nick Whalen went 10-5 to win last week, improving to 55-50-3 this season. Scott Pianowski was close behind at 9-6.
For the first time this year, each writer won his best bet. The group's lone unanimous pick panned out too, though majority picks went 6-9.
This week, the only unanimous picks is the Falcons (-7 vs. the Dolphins), and Pianowski, Whalen and Kevin Payne made Atlanta their best bets. Four team got four picks each.
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| MATCHUP | ERICKSON | PIANOWSKI | WHALEN | PAYNE | PUIG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings +3.5 at Chargers | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Chargers | Chargers |
| Dolphins +7 at Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons |
| Bears +6.5 at Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Bears | Bears | Ravens |
| Bills -7.5 at Panthers | Bills | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Bills |
| Jets +6.5 at Bengals | Jets | Jets | Bengals | Bengals | Bengals |
| 49ers +1.5 at Texans | Texans | Texans | 49ers | Texans | 49ers |
| Browns +7 at Patriots | Browns | Browns | Patriots | Browns | Browns |
| Giants +7.5 at Eagles | Eagles | Giants | Eagles | Giants | Eagles |
| Buccaneers -4 at Saints | Buccaneers | Saints | Buccaneers | Buccaneers | Buccaneers |
| Cowboys +3.5 at Broncos | Broncos | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| Titans +14 at Colts | Colts | Titans | Colts | Colts | Colts |
| Packers -3 at Steelers | Packers | Steelers | Packers | Steelers | Steelers |
| Commanders +12.5 at Chiefs | Commanders | Commanders | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs |
| Best Bet | Broncos | Falcons | Falcons | Falcons | Browns |
| Last Week Record | 7-8 | 9-6 | 10-5 | 5-10 | 6-9 |
| 2025 Record | 43-62-3 | 46-59-3 | 55-50-3 | 40-65-3 | 42-63-3 |
| 2025 Best Bet Record | 3-4 | 2-5 | 5-2 | 2-5 | 5-2 |
| 2025 Unanimous Pick Record | 3-6-1 | ||||
| 2025 Majority Pick Record | 29-61-3 | ||||
| 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 | The Cowboys' defense played well last week, but it was playing a transparently one-dimensional team with all of their receivers hurt. It's not that I have total faith in Denver or in Bo Nix, but I think this is a get-well script for them. |
| Pianowski | I think the Dolphins have emotionally quit on Mike McDaniel. It doesn't mean they won't try — everyone is trying in the NFL. It means they think their coach is setting them up to fail, and then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy after the ball is snapped. And you can be sure Tua Tagovailoa will turn the ball over a few times in this game, when he's not throwing soul-crushing checkdowns. |
| Whalen | Trusting the Falcons — the Atlanta Falcons — feels like a trap, but this is more about fading the Dolphins, owners of the worst run defense in the NFL. |
| Payne | The Dolphins' offense is bad enough, but the defense doesn't get enough blame. Bijan Robinson could have a huge day. |
| Puig | As long as they don't turn the ball over more than teams typically do against New England, the combination of the Cleveland defense and run game should keep the game close enough and the clock moving quickly enough for the Browns to stay within a touchdown on the scoreboard. |
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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