The DraftKings Pick ‘Em Pools are one of the best ways to get in on the action for Week 16.
If you are in a season-long NFL Pick ‘Em Pool, then these picks should help you out. Check out all of the NFL season-long pools on DraftKings here. You can join the NFL Week 15 Spreads Pool with $5,000+ in prizes for just $10 here. You can join the $100 entry NFL Week 16 Spreads Pool with $2,000+ in prizes here.
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NFL Pick ‘Em Pools
These pools are easy to use and allow you to have action for the entire NFL season with just one entry fee. For season-long pools, you will go back to the pool every week and pick five games against the spread. Each correct selection is worth one point and each incorrect selection is worth zero points. For single-week pools, the same rules apply.
I will be giving out my five favorite selections and my leans for every game on the slate each week of the regular season. While I am filling in for Blake Krass and his typical excellent work for this week, the below picks record accurately reflects his track record on the season.
Week 16 Picks
Picks Record: 41-33 (55.4%)
Detroit Lions -6.5 vs Chicago Bears – The Detroit Lions are battling a healthy dose of injuries but have looked like legitimate Super Bowl Contenders this season. They enter this matchup with a 12-2 record and have clinched a playoff opportunity, but seeding remains at stake. The Lions are tied with the Minnesota Vikings for the best record in the NFC North and this race will come down to the final weeks of the season. Detroit is also 9-5 against the spread this season.
In contrast, the season has gone off the rails for the Chicago Bears. They hold a record of 4-10, have fired their coach, and have lost eight consecutive games leading into this matchup. Caleb Williams rightfully looks frustrated as there are significant issues on both sides of the ball. Since Week 7, the Bears rank 31st in yards allowed per drive, 31st in drives that result in points, 32nd in yards per completion allowed, and 32nd in opponents’ QBR. Chicago is coming off back-to-back weeks in which they have allowed 30+ points and will now attempt to slow down the top-scoring team in the NFL. Expect Detroit to pour on the points in this matchup and for Chicago to be unable to match it. The Bears rank 25th in scoring on the season and there are no quick fixes to the issues they have. Don’t be surprised if this game gets out of hand early and expect the Lions to cover the -6.5 spread.
Carolina Panthers +4.5 vs Arizona Cardinals – While their 3-11 record may not indicate it, there is a lot to be excited about regarding the Carolina Panthers in recent weeks. Bryce Young has responded positively to being benched and is playing some of the best football of his young NFL career. While the tape is more impressive than the stats, he is giving Carolina a chance to win in a way that has not been the case in his career thus far. While their 30-14 loss to the Cowboys was not a great result, Carolina fell 22-16 to the Eagles to week prior, 26-23 in overtime to the Buccaneers the week before this, and 30-27 to the Chiefs in Week 12. Carolina is due for a win soon and this matchup with the Cardinals provides the opportunity.
The Cardinals enter this matchup with a 7-7 record and a game back in the NFC West. They are just 1-3 in their last four with Kyler Murray having some sporadic stretches of play. Overall, they rank 15th in scoring and 10th in points allowed on the season. They are coming off back-to-back games in which they have allowed 311+ yards of offense which should be a positive sign for Carolina. Expect Arizona to be unable to put this Panthers team away and for Bryce Young to do enough to keep this team in the mix. Three of their seven wins this year have been by two points or fewer. Count on the Panthers to stay within the 4.5-point spread and have a real chance at winning outright.
Cincinnati Bengals -7.5 vs Cleveland Browns – The Cincinnati Bengals have reached a point of desperation. They enter this matchup with a 6-8 record and are doing everything possible to keep their playoff hopes alive. Joe Burrow has played at an incredibly high level, but the team has been unable to overcome their defensive issues and ended up on the wrong side of several bad breaks. While the Bengals rank fifth in scoring and have more passing yards and passing touchdowns than any other team in the league, they also rank 31st in points allowed and 29th in yards given up.
Luckily, the Browns are not a team built to exploit poor defenses. They enter this matchup with a 3-11 record and have seemingly thrown in the towel on the season. Cleveland elected to bench Jameis Winston in favor of Dorian Thompson-Robinson who will be making the fourth start of his NFL career. Overall the Browns rank 30th in points scored and 26th in points allowed. These are two teams trending in opposite directions and this will be put on full display. Expect Joe Burrow to continue to elevate the offense and for Cleveland to be unable to match anything close to this offensive output. Don’t be afraid of the 7.5-point spread and expect Cincinnati to hold a comfortable lead throughout.
Philadelphia Eagles -3.5 vs Washington Commanders – The Philadelphia Eagles made a statement in their victory last week over the Pittsburgh Steelers as Jalen Hurts led the offensive charge with his arm. Against one of the better defenses in the NFL, Hurts had success and the team looks to be peaking at the right time. They enter this matchup with a 12-2 record but still are playing for their playoff seeding. The pathway to becoming the top seed seems more open than expected following the injuries to the Detroit Lions.
This will mark a divisional matchup as the Washington Commanders are set to host the Eagles in the second matchup between these two teams. Philadelphia produced a 26-18 victory in the first matchup and has not lost a game since. In fact, the Eagles have won 10 consecutive games leading into this matchup and also are 9-5 ATS on the season. While Jayden Daniels and the Commanders are trending in the right direction, the Eagles’ defense is the biggest point of concern. After showing some flaws through the opening few weeks, Philadelphia is allowing the fewest points and yards of any team this season. Nick Sirianni has been heavily focused on the team keeping their foot on the gas following last season’s collapse. With seeding still at stake, count on the Eagles to bring their best effort this week. Feel confident in them covering the spread for the second time this season against the Commanders and 10th time overall.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers -4 vs Dallas Cowboys – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter this week with an 8-6 record and holding a one-game lead in the NFC South. They have played some impressive football of late and the Atlanta Falcons are hot on their heels, especially following the jolt of life brought on by the quarterback change. Tampa Bay ranks fourth in scoring and third in yards gained on the season. They have recorded 420 yards of offense or greater in each of the past four weeks and have a great chance to add to this against the Cowboys.
Dallas’ season has not been nearly what they hoped it would be. They enter with a 6-8 record and have won three of their last four, but these victories were over the Panthers, Giants, and Commanders. Tampa Bay will be a notable step up in talent and they enter this game riding a four-game winning streak. Dallas ranks 30th in points allowed and 26th in yards given up. Don’t expect them to have any answer for Tampa Bay’s offensive output and for the game to gradually be put out of reach. Expect a focused effort from the Buccaneers as they feel the heat from the surging Falcons and for them to comfortably cover the four-point spread.
Week 16 Leans
Texans +2.5 vs. Chiefs
Steelers +6 vs. Ravens
Rams -3.5 vs. Jets
Falcons -8.5 vs. Giants
Colts -3.5 vs. Titans
Vikings -3 vs. Seahawks
Patriots +14 vs. Bills
49ers +1 vs. Dolphins
Jaguars +1 vs. Raiders
Saints +14 vs. Packers
Join the NFL Pick ‘Em pools on DraftKings and make your picks for Week 15.
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and customer (my username is seanbarnard) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and cannot access any non-public information.
