This article is part of our NFL Staff Picks series.
Scott Pianowski went 9-7 last week to hold off Jeff Erickson for the 2025 Staff Picks crown. Erickson also went 9-7, but Pianowski finished five games up for the season at 132-132-8.
It's a record eighth Staff Picks title for Pianowski and his first since 2022. He went 83-63-5 (56.9 percent, not including ties) since Week 9.
Kevin Payne and Nick Whalen, who tied in the season standings, both nailed their best bets last week.
The group missed its lone unanimous pick, and majority picks went 9-7.
This week, the group likes the Texans (-3 at Pittsburgh) in the wild-card playoffs. Four writers like the underdog Jaguars at home against the Bills.
Erickson and Payne made the Jaguars their best bets, while Whalen and Mario Puig both took the Chargers.
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.
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| MATCHUP | ERICKSON | PIANOWSKI | WHALEN | PAYNE | PUIG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams -10.5 at Panthers | Rams | Rams | Rams | Panthers | Panthers |
| Packers -1 at Bears | Packers | Bears | Bears | Bears | Packers |
| Bills -1 at Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | Bills |
| 49ers +4.5 at Eagles | Eagles | 49ers | Eagles | Eagles | 49ers |
| Chargers +3.5 at Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Chargers | Chargers | Chargers |
| Texans -3 at Steelers | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans | Texans |
| Best Bet | Jaguars | Rams | Chargers | Jaguars | Chargers |
| Last Week Record | 9-7 | 9-7 | 8-8 | 7-9 | 5-11 |
| 2025 Record | 127-137-8 | 132-132-8 | 118-146-8 | 118-146-8 | 105-159-8 |
| 2025 Best Bet Record | 9-9 | 5-13 | 9-9 | 5-12-1 | 7-11 |
| 2025 Unanimous Pick Record | 7-12-1 | ||||
| 2025 Majority Pick Record | 103-161-8 | ||||
| 2024 Playoff Record | 7-5-1 | 5-7-1 | 4-8-1 | 5-7-1 | N/A |
| 2023 Playoff Record | 10-3 | 8-5 | 6-7 | 9-4 | N/A |
| 2022 Playoff Record | 7-5-1 | 5-7-1 | 6-6-1 | 8-4-1 | N/A |
| 2021 Playoff Record | 7-6 | 9-4 | NA | 7-6 | N/A |
| 2020 Playoff Record | 5-8 | 8-5 | NA | 6-7 | N/A |
| 2019 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | NA | 4-7 | N/A |
| 2018 Playoff Record | 3-6-1 | 1-8-1 | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2017 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 5-6 | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2016 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2015 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 2-9 | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2014 Playoff Record | 10-1 | 5-6 | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2013 Playoff Record | 5-4-2 | 3-6-2 | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2012 Playoff Record | 4-6-1 | 5-5-1 | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2011 Playoff Record | 8-3 | 5-6 | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2010 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2009 Playoff Record | 5-6 | 4-7 | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2008 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 5-6 | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2007 Playoff Record | 8-3 | 3-8 | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2006 Playoff Record | 7-4 | N/A | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2005 Playoff Record | 5-6 | N/A | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2004 Playoff Record | 6-5 | N/A | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2003 Playoff Record | 6-5 | N/A | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2002 Playoff Record | 6-5 | 7-4 | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 2001 Playoff Record | 6-4-1 | 7-3-1 | NA | N/A | N/A |
| 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 set my line as Jaguars -2.5, so happy to get points here. I know Josh Allen is super scary and could flip this game, but I don't think Buffalo can stop the Jags' offense. I also like Eagles quite a bit. |
| Pianowski | It's mostly a wide-open playoffs, but the Panthers won't be here long. |
| Whalen | I don't know that the Chargers win this game outright, but with three and the hook we'll ride with L.A. to put up a strong defensive performance and keep this game within a field goal. |
| Payne | The Jaguars' defense is legit, especially against the run, which should make things tough for Buffalo's run-oriented offense. |
| Puig | The Chargers' offensive line is still a horrific mess and the Patriots definitely have some people capable of capitalizing on defense, but the Chargers' defense should show up too and the Patriots' offense is not consistently explosive. |
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, 2022 and 2025 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, 2023 and 2024 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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