Welcome to Week 15! The NFL is officially into the home stretch with only three weeks of games remaining before Black Monday firings and the following weekend of playoff action. The playoff picture still has some big questions, but it’s slowly rounding into form.
As we head into Week 15, we’re back to offer you advice for your NFL Survivor pools. Most have likely been settled at this point, but it’s possible a handful of folks are still alive.
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 15 picks!
Thursday Night Football pick
If you’ve been saving up the Ravens, now is the time to use them. They travel to Cleveland next week and host Pittsburgh in Week 17. It’s possible they clinch the AFC by the end of Week 16, putting them in position to rest players in Week 17.
Safest picks
49ers over Falcons
Patriots over Bengals
Ravens over Jets
There’s plenty of high point spread games this week, but the safest are of the non-divisional variety. The top three teams in the league have exceedingly favorable matchups. That being said, not all are worth using this week. If you feel the need to plot through Week 17, saving the Patriots for their home game against Miami makes sense. With that in mind...
Best value picks
49ers over Falcons
Ravens over Jets
Looking at their respective Week 16 and 17 matchups, it makes sense to use either of them now if you have not yet. The 49ers host the Rams and travel to the Seahawks the final two weeks. The Ravens travel to the Browns and host the Steelers, with the latter potentially seeing them rest players.
Trap pick
Saints over Colts
Raiders over Jaguars
The Saints probably roll the Colts, but I wouldn’t be surprised if New Orleans had a letdown against a Colts team that is struggling but could still surprise. The Raiders are playing their last ever home game in Oakland before moving to Las Vegas next week. They’re either going to win by double digits or embarrass themselves on the way out the door.