NFL survivor pools were turned upside down in Week 1, as the Cincinnati Bengals fell at home to the New England Patriots as the biggest favorites on the odds board.
Thankfully, I stayed away from the chalk, selecting the Seattle Seahawks at home against the Denver Broncos. Seattle didn’t put together the most inspiring performance, especially in the first half when it spotted Denver two safeties, but Mike Macdonald’s squad eventually came good and won by six.
As we head into Week 2, it’s time to make another decision: Will you play it safe with one of the heavy favorites or take a risk with a team you don’t want to save for later in the season?
Let’s dive into my NFL Week 2 survivor picks, which will hopefully continue to help you navigate your eliminator pools.
NFL Week 2 Survivor Picks
Baltimore Ravens vs Las Vegas Raiders
After avoiding the biggest favorite in Week 1, I’m turning to the likely chalk in Week 2.
Backing the Baltimore Ravens to get in the win column when they welcome the Las Vegas Raiders makes a lot of sense. Jim Harbaugh’s squad was 4-0 after a loss last season and has extra time to prepare for a Raiders team traveling across the country for a second straight road game after losing to the Chargers on Sunday.
With Baltimore, you’re getting the far better quarterback in Lamar Jackson and a team that should be focused after its tough Week 1 loss in Kansas City. The Ravens play the Cowboys, Bills, and Bengals over the next three weeks, so they know they need to take care of business Sunday to ensure this season doesn’t fall off the rails.
The Raiders were 2-6 on their travels last season, so I feel comfortable taking the Ravens to win their home opener as one of my NFL best bets today.
Philadelphia Eagles vs Atlanta Falcons
If you’re in the business of fading the chalk every week, I’d recommend taking the Philadelphia Eagles to beat the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football.
The Eagles have extra rest following their impressive season-opening win over the Packers in Brazil, and the early returns on offseason additions Saquon Barkley (3 TDs) and OC Kellen Moore have been overwhelmingly positive.
- Get ready for this primetime contest with our Monday Night Football predictions.
The same can’t be said about the Falcons and new quarterback Kirk Cousins, who didn’t look fully healthy in his first game since tearing his Achilles. Atlanta’s offensive line didn’t do him many favors in its home loss to Pittsburgh, which could be problematic against a talented Philly defensive front.
Cousins could turn things around, but I feel pretty good about the Eagles winning at home as 6.5-point favorites.
NFL Week 2 Survivor Grid
| Rank | Team | Opponent | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ravens | vs Raiders | A+ |
| 2 | Eagles | vs Falcons | A |
| 3 | Lions | vs Buccaneers | A |
| 4 | Texans | vs Bears | A |
| 5 | Cowboys | vs Saints | A- |
| 6 | Chargers | @ Panthers | A- |
| 7 | 49ers | @ Vikings | A- |
| 8 | Chiefs | vs Bengals | B+ |
| 9 | Colts | @ Packers | B+ |
| 10 | Jets | @ Titans | B |
| 11 | Steelers | @ Broncos | B |
| 12 | Cardinals | vs Rams | B- |
| 13 | Seahawks | @ Patriots | B- |
| 14 | Jaguars | vs Browns | B- |
| 15 | Dolphins | vs Bills | C+ |
| 16 | Giants | @ Commanders | C+ |
| 17 | Commanders | vs Giants | C+ |
| 18 | Bills | @ Dolphins | C+ |
| 19 | Browns | @ Jaguars | C |
| 20 | Patriots | vs Seahawks | C |
| 21 | Rams | @ Cardinals | C |
| 22 | Broncos | vs Steelers | C |
| 23 | Titans | vs Jets | C |
| 24 | Packers | vs Colts | C- |
| 25 | Bengals | @ Chiefs | C- |
| 26 | Vikings | vs 49ers | D |
| 27 | Panthers | vs Chargers | D |
| 28 | Saints | @ Cowboys | D |
| 29 | Bears | @ Texans | D- |
| 30 | Buccaneers | @ Lions | D- |
| 31 | Falcons | @ Eagles | D- |
| 32 | Raiders | @ Ravens | F |
NFL Week 2 Survivor Sleeper Pick
Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears
Although C.J. Stroud and the Texans are 6.5-point favorites at home against the Bears on Sunday Night Football, I don’t think they will be popular in survivor pools.
The Bears were one of the winners of the offseason for drafting Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze and also featured on the popular HBO show “Hard Knocks," so most neutrals have a positive outlook on Chicago.
However, there wasn’t much to like beyond the defense and special teams in their Week 1 win over the Titans. The offense racked up just 148 total yards on 53 plays (2.8 per play) against a solid defense, albeit one that was still implementing many new pieces.
Houston looked like a Super Bowl contender in its Week 1 win in Indianapolis, and it doesn’t have a better home, non-divisional spot on the schedule moving forward.
NFL Week 2 Survivor Team to Save
Kansas City Chiefs vs Cincinnati Bengals
I can understand the temptation of using the back-to-back Super Bowl champions at home as 5.5-point favorites against a Bengals team that let everyone down last week. But you can’t fall into this trap.
Joe Burrow is 3-1 straight up against Patrick Mahomes in his career, and he seemingly always plays his best football against the Chiefs.
- For more on this matchup, read our Bengals vs Chiefs prediction.
While Kansas City HC Andy Reid is one of the league’s best coaches with extra time to prepare, there will be better opportunities to use Big Red moving forward. The Chiefs will have home games against the Broncos and Raiders, and they also host the Saints and go to Carolina if you want to avoid divisional games.
Keep KC in your back pocket.
Use our NFL Eliminator tips to place bets with the top NFL odds:
NFL Week 2 Survivor Chalk Team That Could Lose
Los Angeles Chargers @ Carolina Panthers
Picking against the Panthers was a successful strategy in survivor pools last season, and it could continue this year if Week 1 is any indication. However, I won’t go out of my way to take the Chargers on the road Sunday.
Week 2 is typically overreaction week in the NFL, and it’s really easy to pile on Bryce Young and Carolina right now. Plus, Jim Harbaugh got off to a winning start in LA, making this matchup even more appealing.
- See who The Game Day’s experts like this week in our NFL picks against the spread.
I still have confidence in new Panthers HC Dave Canales, who turned Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith into above-average quarterbacks over the last few years. And while Sunday’s performance in New Orleans was bad, it’s only one game.
Carolina can pull off this upset at home, so I’m avoiding the new-look Chargers, who shouldn’t be favored by six on the road against anyone.
What Is An NFL Survivor Pool?
The popularity of the NFL season gives users a plethora of options for fantasy games and picks pools. Survivor pools are one of the most popular to spawn from the NFL season, and millions of football fans participate in knockout-style games each season.
Historically, survivor pools are when a group of people each choose one team per week as their best pick to win their matchup. If that team prevails, the user advances to the next week, but if the team picked loses, the player is out.
Some of the best sportsbooks may have survivor contests, and there are different variations. Some variations include spreads used for NFL betting and second-chance picks, but in a traditional knockout pool, you stay alive as long as your team wins.
The last person standing wins the entire pool. If multiple people end up going out in the final week, they usually split the final pot.
If you are about to play in an NFL survivor pool for the first time but aren’t sure what to expect, here is a glimpse into the proceedings.
How To Play NFL Eliminator Pools
Only Pick One Team Each Week
Simply pick one team to win each week. As long as that team finishes victorious in the game you pick, you stay alive.
Once That Team is Picked, It’s Done
You may not pick a team more than once in a single season, which means you must be cautious when determining which team you pick each week.
If Your Pick Loses, You’re Out
Choose wisely, because if the team you select loses, you’re out of the pool.
Some survivor pools offer second-chance opportunities — especially if the entire pool is out early in the NFL season — but you can’t always count on that happening.
Survivor Grid 2024
How To Use a Survivor Picks Grid
A survivor picks grid is an invaluable resource aimed at giving users an edge when making picks in a survivor pool.
Survivor picks grids will give users criteria, including the team’s win probability, the percentage of people in survivor pools picking that team, and sort the efficiency rating of picking each team each week.
Survivor Pool Tips
Play The Long Game
Map out a full-season action plan before Week 1. The last thing you want is to be stuck with a one-win team facing off against the reigning Super Bowl champions in Week 5 because you didn’t scheme accordingly.
Be Flexible
Be sure to reassess your plan after each week. If a team you thought was going to be good turns out to be a doormat, be prepared to pivot.
Go Against The Grain
You don’t want to make the same picks as everybody else — that’s where the percentage of picks tool comes in handy. If the majority of your pool is choosing Minnesota, and you’re taking Denver, you’d be covered when the Vikings somehow end up getting upset.
By picking a less obvious team to win each week, you’re giving yourself a better chance to ultimately win the entire pool.
NFL odds often offer reliable data that can be used to help you figure out which games to target.
Have Fun
Upsets happen. That’s part of what makes survivor pools enjoyable. The NFL is where surefire predictions go to die.
Have fun, do your homework, make the best pick possible, and leave the result to fate.
