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NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 7: Advice and Predictions

by Spencer Toth - 10/17/2023

NFL survivor pool picks Week 7 Geno Smith Seattle Seahawks

We survive another week and are rapidly approaching the midway point of the season. Many survivor pools were killed in Week 6, as the Eagles (-6.5) and 49ers (-9.5) both lost their first game of the season to Zach Wilson and P.J. Walker, respectively. We selected the Rams as 7-point favorites over the Cardinals, and it was a sweat free 26-9 victory as we stayed alive. All 4 of our top selections won outright, and I correctly stayed away from the Eagles as they were all the way down at 8th on my list in Week 6. It is no easy task to stay alive throughout a grueling 18-week season, and it gets progressively harder as the top dogs get used up. Here are the Week 7 survivor pool selections, ranked from most to least confident.

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Buffalo Bills (-8.5) Over New England Patriots

The Bills didn’t look very impressive against the Giants on Sunday Night Football, but they were still good enough to get the win, something that can’t be said for the Patriots. New England is in shambles and will continue to struggle to put up victories for the remainder of the season. The Bills won’t make the same mistake and take them lightly and will win and cover in Foxborough. If you haven’t used them already, the Bills are a safe pick.

Seattle Seahawks (-8) Over Arizona Cardinals

Divisional matchups always have an increased upset potential, as the lower tier teams circle those games on the calendar during lost seasons. However, the Seahawks are still one of the best plays in Week 7 and will be my selection. Joshua Dobbs is simply not good enough to put a struggling Cardinals team on his back, and a raucous Lumen field will disrupt any momentum the Cardinals may pick up. Seattle makes it look easy and keeps us alive another week.

Kansas City Chiefs (-5.5) Over LA Chargers 

The Chiefs are once again a powerhouse after slipping up in the opening week, and an ailing Chargers unit will not be able to walk away from Arrowhead with a win. Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes are always ready to put on a show, but the Chargers are simply not well rounded enough to slow the Chiefs juggernaut offense down. The Chiefs will extend their win streak to 6 with a victory.

Washington Commanders (-2) Over New York Giants

In a week filled with close matchups, this spread shouldn’t be. The Commanders are playing solid football, and the same cannot be said for the Giants. If he had any, Brain Daboll would have been tearing out his hair watching his team throw away their matchup against the Bills. Motivation can only get you so far. And despite their desire to win, the Giants will once again come up short.

Monday Night Football: San Francisco 49ers (-7) Over Minnesota Vikings

The 49ers had a disastrous week in their heartbreaking loss to the Browns, but Brock Purdy did what he had to do to put them in a position to win. And if he does so once again, they will convert. Justin Jefferson is on the shelf, the Vikings were barely able to squeak by a Justin Fields-less Bears and are looking ready to wave the white flag this early in the season. The 49ers won’t lose in back-to-back weeks, regardless whether or not Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel are able to suit up.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2.5) Over Atlanta Falcons

The Buccaneers have entrusted Baker Mayfeild to lead their sneaky good team to a division title. And through 6 weeks of the season, he’s doing just that. Across the field, the Falcons best option at quarterback in Taylor Heinicke will continue to be benched in favor of Desmond Ridder, and the Falcons won’t be competitive until they make some major changes. I doubted Mayfield heading into the season, but he’s done enough to prove he can be trusted.

Las Vegas Raiders (-3) Over Chicago Bears

The Raiders were able to take advantage of weak prey in the Patriots to move up to 3-3, and their quest for a winning record won’t be getting any harder against the Bears. Justin Fields is unlikely to suit up, leaving Phillip Walker at the helm. Fields’s legs made their offense look better than it is, and they won’t have anywhere near the same success without him. The loss of Jimmy Garoppolo will hurt the Raiders long term, but they won’t feel that absence in Chicago. Putting your survivor pool life on the line against the Bears is usually a safe bet.

Detroit Lions (+3) Over Baltimore Ravens 

The Lions are one of the hottest teams in the NFL, having won 13 of their last 16 games dating back to last season. While the Ravens have been playing solid football thanks to the elevated play from Lamar Jackson, the Lions defensive line will make him uncomfortable, and his receivers aren’t reliable enough to get open and bail out their signal caller. The Lions steal this one.

LA Rams (-3) Over Pittsburgh Steelers

The Rams have their star receiver back and are ready to insert themselves in the NFC wild card race. The Steelers offense has shown signs of life, but I still don’t trust them to keep this one close. LA is playing with a chip on their shoulder. And while SoFi Stadium may be filled with the Steelers faithful, the Rams will still take the victory, and are a solid survivor pick this week.

Cleveland Browns (-2) Over Indianapolis Colts

The Browns shocked the league with their Week 6 win over the 49ers and will ride their solid defense to another win. The Colts got dealt devastating news that Anthony Richardson will be sidelined for the foreseeable future. And while Gardner Minshew is one of the best backups in the league, the question of motivation will start to creep in for the Colts. Once you factor in DeShaun Watson is scheduled to return, the Browns will win a gritty one.

Thursday Night Football: Jacksonville Jaguars (+3) Over New Orleans Saints

The Saints have lost 3 of their last 4, and a victory over the Patriots won’t be enough to convince me they can compete with the Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence and the Jags will be happy to be back in the States, and they’ll look to win their 4th straight to keep their lead atop the AFC South. The Saints defense is solid, but their vision-less offense will be the downfall many times this season, including against the Jaguars.

Sunday Night Football: Miami Dolphins (+2) Over Philadelphia Eagles

The Dolphins are an offensive juggernaut, and in a marquee primetime matchup, they’ll take down the NFC Champs. The Eagles looked vulnerable in their defeat against the Jets,. And without their ‘Brotherly Shove,’ they will fail to string long win streaks together. However, none of those intricacies will be relevant when Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are blowing past their questionable secondary. Dolphins get a statement win in front of the nation.

Green Bay Packers (-1) Over Denver Broncos

Neither of these teams can be trusted with your survivor pool life. However, if forced to pick, I’ll lean towards the Packers. Russell Wilson has been turtling up in the pocket all season long and looks like a shadow of his former self. Jordan Love may not be an MVP candidate, but he can still stamp his authority on football games, which will be the difference maker in Week 7.

Survivor Pool Pick of the Week: Seattle Seahawks Over Arizona Cardinals

Teams Used: Washington Commanders, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins

Status: Alive

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