Welcome to Week 13, and Happy Thanksgiving! The NFL heads into December this weekend, and the Thanksgiving holiday marks the start of the stretch run of the regular season. We have five weeks remaining heading into this weekend, and it’s all kinds of make or break in the playoff picture.
As we head into Week 13, we’re back to offer you advice for your NFL Survivor pools. If your pool is still humming along, things have to be slimming down considerably. Most of the favorites won, but if you were desperate enough to roll out the Lions against Washington this past weekend, your contest entry has come to close.
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. DKNation is here to help with a look at safe choices, value choices, and potential traps.
On to Week 13 picks!
Thanksgiving picks
Lions over Bears
Cowboys over Bills
Saints over Falcons
I could see some folks picking the Saints, but after their stunning Week 10 loss to the Falcons at the Superdome, I’ve gotta think anybody still alive is going to avoid this. I do think the Saints get the series split, but I wouldn’t touch this game with a ten foot pole.
The Cowboys-Bills game could be one of the funnest of the weekend. The Bills defense presents a huge test for Dak Prescott, who has struggled when facing quality opposition. On the other hand, Josh Allen is going to be a roller-coaster against a strong Cowboys defense.
The Lions will likely be onto their third string QB, and yet I still think they stun the Bears in this one.
Safest picks
Panthers over Washington
Chiefs over Raiders
Divisional games can be tough to sort out, but Andy Reid coming off a bye week is one of the great stats in the NFL. The Raiders might give them some trouble at some point, but Kansas City is winning this game.
Best value picks
Panthers over Washington
Washington stunned the Lions last week, but I think we see Kyle Allen put together a second straight solid outing to get the victory. The Panthers remaining schedule includes road games against the Falcons and Colts and home games against the Seahawks and Saints. This week at home against Washington is the game to take them.
Trap pick
Philly probably wins this game, but going on the road to face a bad but occasionally dangerous Dolphins team is not how I’d look to win my Survivor pool. I suspect most folks have already used Philadelphia, but if not, this week could be a tricky one.