An NFL survivor pool is a wonderful thing. Much like sports betting, it gives casual fans something to cheer for when they don’t have the time for fantasy sports. As simple as it sounds to pick one winner each week, there is a lot more that you must consider. I will discuss point spreads, ownership rates, injuries, and weather each week. This will help you decide which team you should choose for your pool. I’ll offer a multi-faceted approach that will give you several options for each week. These options are based on your level of risk tolerance. This is The FFU NFL Survivor Pool Guide (Week 2) Edition.
As a side note: The Fantasy Football Universe also runs an NFL Survivor Pool as a control group. You can find the group here to follow along. I will refer to the pool in this series and provide updates to show how we play each week. After all, you can’t trust our advice if we don’t follow it ourselves. Also, check out The FFU Survivor Pool Crash Course tutorial.
Week 1 Pick Distribution
The Safe Route
Baltimore Ravens, 30.53% ownership (-9.5) vs. Las Vegas Raiders, 0.06% ownership: A Week after the safe route got everyone killed with the Cincinnati Bengals, we head back to the heavy favorite and go with another AFC North team, the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens may have lost in Week 1, but that was to the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, and let’s be honest, The Raiders are not the Chiefs. The Raiders looked like a total mess on offense and defense in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers and are sure to be cannon fodder for the Ravens in Week 2. Forget about the Bengals and load up on the North once again.
Risk= 1
The Sneaky Value Pick
San Francisco 49ers, 3.04% ownership (-6.0) vs. Minnesota Vikings, 0.04% ownership: The 49ers face perhaps the best defense in football and a solid offense in the New York Jets and dismantled them on Monday Night Football without star running back Christian McCaffrey. Even if McCaffrey is unable to play in Week 2 against the Vikings, a scenario that seems likely, there is no chance whatsoever that the Vikings can beat the 49ers. For San Francisco to be favored by only six points is criminal, for them to be selected by only 3% of survivor pool managers is insane. Take the 49ers in a slam dunk!
Risk= 2
The Upset Special
Cleveland Browns, 0.08% ownership (+3.0) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1.09% ownership: The Browns are three-point underdogs against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2 and I’m not sure why. The Jaguars lost to the Dolphins in Week 1, who are average all-around, while the Browns got beat by the Cowboys who are one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Browns may not have looked great against the Cowboys, but the Jaguars are a far worse opponent than Dallas.
Risk = 5
The Must Avoid
Detroit Lions, 2.71% ownership (-3.0) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 0.10% ownership: This is a rematch of the closely contested playoff game between these two opponents last season and much like last season, it’s too close to call. I anticipate the Lions pulling out a close game like they did in Week 1 against the Rams, but this game could go either way and is a game I am steering clear of.
Risk = 8
If you enjoyed NFL Survivor Pool Guide: Super Bowl 58, check out how last week’s picks fared on The Fantasy Football Universe Survivor Pool Home Page.
