NFL Survivor Pool Strategy Advice and Predictions: Week 3

by Trevor Whenham - 9/19/2018

Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Kirk Cousins

The first week of survivor pools action this year was absolute carnage. There isn't a pool out there that didn't lose at least half of the participants in the wreckage. But the second week was straightforward and simple - or at least as simple as these things can get. And this week is either going to be the easiest week anyone has ever imagined or it is going to basically end all the pools. There is only one game that most people will be drawn to, and it seems like a lock - but so did New Orleans in Week 1, and that wound up being a disaster.

Minnesota vs. Buffalo: This is the definition of a survivor pool no-brainer. Minnesota looked better in many ways in their tie than in their win. They are finding their way on offense, and it is going to be effective all year. And the defense has been mostly sound. This is a serious NFC contender. And the Bills are an absolute and utter joke. Nathan Peterman has been benched - two games too late. Now the keys are being given to the rookie who wasn't ready enough to beat out Nathan Peterman. My son is eight and I am confident he could have beaten out Peterman if he was given a chance. Buffalo has no direction, not a lot of talent, no offensive plan, a non-existent defense, and no obvious will to do anything about any of it. Arizona is going to make a race of it, but I'm pretty confident Buffalo is the worst team in the league right now. And while Minnesota isn't the best team, they are in the conversation. The spread sits at 16.5 points as I write this . It is very uncommon for a spread to be that big in the NFL, and even more uncommon for the favorite to still be very bettable despite giving up three scores. But that's where we are at. Early action in the Yahoo survivor pools this week have more than two-thirds of people picking this game, and they aren't wrong. Don't overthink this one.

Jacksonville vs. Tennessee: If for some reason you are not interested in taking Minnesota then this is the best option on the board. I am really tired of the lazy 'Blake Bortles sucks' narrative around this team. He's not the best QB in the league by any means, but he is also better than several starters in the league, and he is totally adequate for what they are building in Jacksonville - and much more than adequate in games like the one last week against New England. And it's not about him here, anyway. This defense in Jacksonville is very legitimate. Like championship legitimate if they keep it up. And they are up against an offense here that has been hit very hard by injuries - and probably wasn't going to be very good at full strength. The Jaguars are going to eat that offense alive. And they are going to be able to score enough points. I don't see this one being very close, and it is totally playable - just not as playable as the other game.

New England at Detroit: I would struggle to think of a single reason to pick this game over the previous two, but if you are determined to make things hard for yourself then this isn't a completely awful spot. The Patriots have a lot of issues they are dealing with right now, but they are going to come into this one angry, and they have intimate knowledge of Detroit's new coach. And it's not like they need that knowledge here. Detroit has been playing like a team without a single clue. It has been embarrassing. New England should win this one handily - they just don't make me feel very comfortable given how they have looked so far.

Philadelphia vs. Indianapolis: The Eagles have been playing with a major case of Super Bowl hangover so far. They haven't looked great, But Carson Wentz is back in action, and that should be a wakeup call for them. And, frankly, they don't have to be at their best to beat this Indy team right now. The Colts have too many issues to contend against good teams - and the Eagles are a very good team even if they haven't looked like it so far. The Eagles are playable. You just shouldn't play them this week.

Chicago at Arizona: I wouldn't have thought it possible a month ago, but the Bears could potentially be a play here. The offense hasn't been great, but it has been okay - and the defense has been really strong and is just loaded. Arizona isn't an NFL team right now, and they know it. They play hard, but just don't have enough bullets. The Bears should handle this one. It would be much more playable if they were at home, obviously - and if there weren't two dramatically better games to play. But there are much worse game out there.

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NFL Survivor Pool Strategy Advice and Predictions: Week 3

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