Welcome to Week 8! The NFL is cruising into the halfway point, and two undefeated teams remain in the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots. On the other end, Miami and Cincinnati cannot get out of their own way, and we saw how awful Sam Darnold and the New York Jets can look.

As we head into Week 8, we’re back to offer you advice for your NFL Survivor pools. This week, the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys are on bye. Neither is a must pick each week, but they have offered some value at times this season.

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If you’ve never taken part in a Survivor pool, it involves picking one team each week that you think will win. If your team wins in Week 1, you can make a pick in Week 2. If your team wins in Week 2, you can make a pick in Week 3, and so on. The catch is that you cannot pick the same team twice. You could use a heavy favorite in Week 1, but you would not have access to them later in the year if you’re alive in the closing weeks.

Whether you are in a single-elimination or double-elimination contest, there is plenty of strategy in determining which team you will take each week. DK Nation is here to help with a look at safe choices, value choices, and potential traps.

Last week every pick won, with both trap picks dominating their games. They weren’t awful choices, but it really felt like those games would be closer. C’est la vie

On to Week 8 picks!

Thursday Night Football pick

Minnesota Vikings over Washington

It might be time to use the Vikings if you have not already. They face a dreadful Washington team, and even without Adam Thielen, it is a logical pick. The 15.5 point spread at DraftKings Sportsbook is pretty huge, but if you just need a victory, this is not a difficult choice. Kirk Cousins is looking great of late even against decent defenses. Facing a bad team like Washington and given his history with the organization, I’d be all about the revenge factor. If you have the Vikings, their only remaining potential lock is hosting Denver in Week 11. I say use them now.

Safest picks

New England Patriots over Cleveland Browns
Los Angeles Rams over Cincinnati Bengals

The Patriots are on a roll, and with the semi-regular revenge game against the Browns for Bill Belichick, I don’t think we see the Browns bouncing back this week. There’s more value with New England later in the season, but if you need a safe pick, you can’t go wrong with them.

The Rams are scuffling of late, but the Bengals are dreadful. I just don’t see how the Bengals travel west and make much of this. Maybe they get the backdoor cover, but they’re not winning this game.

Best value picks

Pittsburgh Steelers over Miami Dolphins
Minnesota Vikings over Washington
Los Angeles Rams over Cincinnati Bengals

Rarely is a 2-4 team a value pick, but when you’re facing the Dolphins, value abounds. This could very well end up being the game Miami dumps their zero, but I doubt it. And there are few opportunities to use Pittsburgh the rest of the way.

The Vikings are playing strong football, and you might want to save them for Week 11 in a home game against the Broncos. But if you want to get your pick out of the way now, the Kirk Cousins revenge game is a solid option.

Given how the Rams are performing, there really is not a lot of value for them after this week. Their biggest remaining projected point spreads are at Arizona in Week 13 and at home against Arizona in Week 17. Given how the Cardinals are playing, do you really want to bet on LA at that point in the season?

Trap pick

New Orleans Saints over Arizona Cardinals

The Saints probably win this game, but the Cardinals are suddenly rolling. The return of Patrick Peterson is a boost to the defense, Kyler Murray is making plays, and that backfield is dangerous. There aren’t many good Saints games for Survivor for the time being, but they’re not worth the risk in Week 8.

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