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NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 17: Advice and Predictions

by Spencer Toth - 12/24/2024

NFL survivor pool picks Week 17 Tua Tagovailoa Miami Dolphins

If you are still alive in your survivor pool, you have already done better than 99% of the preseason entries. Just two weeks remain in the quest for the ultimate NFL achievement, and the stakes couldn’t be higher heading into the season's penultimate week. 

All the heavy favorites walked away with a victory last week. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-4) losing to the Dallas Cowboys was the biggest upset of the week, as the big favorites who needed a win, took care of business. Here are your Week 17 survivor pool picks ranked from most to least confident. 

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Miami Dolphins (-6.5) Over Cleveland Browns

The Dolphins are the top survivor pool pick of the week. There are bigger favorites on the board, but Miami’s dominance over the Browns will make this a sweat-free victory. Tua Tagovailoa is looking to vault the Dolphins to an unlikely spot in the postseason and will not take any chances against the Browns. Cleveland quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson mustered just six points of offense against a truly terrible Bengals defense last week. Miami is the better team, they have more to play for, and will be able to pick up a crucial win in Cleveland. 

Kansas City Chiefs (-3) Over Pittsburgh Steelers

The Chiefs have won every game this season apart from a road game in Buffalo, and the Steelers will not be doubling their loss total in Week 17. Kansas City will be desperate to seal the top seed in the AFC to rest Patrick Mahomes’ ankle and is a great pick this week. I doubt many of you still have the Chiefs in your back pocket, but now is the time to pull the trigger if you do. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-8) Over Carolina Panthers

The Buccaneers stumbled against the Cowboys last week while the Panthers upset the Cardinals. That certainly raises red flags around this matchup, but the consistent play from Tampa Bay will allow them to beat their divisional rivals. The Buccaneers no longer control their own destiny in their push for the playoffs and cannot afford to drop this game Sunday afternoon. Bryce Young has been playing better in recent weeks, but a potent Tampa Bay pass rush will bring him back to reality this weekend. 

Los Angeles Chargers (-4) Over New England Patriots

The Chargers are a fantastic pick to make this week. When looking for your late season survivor pool picks, motivation can play a massive role. The Chargers are desperate to clinch their playoff spot before Week 18, while the Patriots will not want to spoil their current draft position for next year. A road game in New England at this time of year is never fun, but the Chargers strong defense paired with consistent play from Justin Herbert makes them a great pick this week. 

Baltimore Ravens (-5.5) Over Houston Texans 

The injuries to the Houston Texans receiving corps have robbed NFL fans of what was expected to be a tight matchup. The Houston defense is still above average, but CJ Stroud doesn’t have anywhere to throw the ball on offense. The Ravens already have a strong defense, and when they can load up the tackle box without fearing one-on-one coverage down the field, this one could get ugly quickly. Baltimore is often a great pick for your survivor pool, and if you haven’t used them yet they are once again a solid selection. 

Detroit Lions (-3.5) Over San Francisco 49ers 

It is shocking to see the Lions with these kinds of odds, but do not hesitate to use them if you haven’t already. Detroit has Minnesota on tap next week, so if you have saved the Lions until now it is the time to use them up. They are better than the 49ers in almost every position and are desperate for a victory to get one step closer to the #1 seed in the NFC. 

Buffalo Bills (-10) Over New York Jets

The Bills could certainly be the top pick this week, but there are a few red flags that have slid them down the list. First, if the Chiefs win on Christmas Day this game will have little to no value for the Bills. Locking up the #2 seed is still a priority, but they won’t want to risk injury to any of their starters. Second, Josh Allen is dealing with a hand injury, and would almost certainly be restricted if the importance of this game is reduced. Despite all of this, the Jets are the Jets. Buffalo will cruise to a victory over New York regardless of the circumstances, but it would be a real shame to lose all this hard work on a game like this. 

Indianapolis Colts (-7.5) Over New York Giants

The Giants have been a great team to fade in survivor pools this season, as they have lost 10 games in a row. There really aren’t too many positives to take away from New York right now, and the Colts will be a very popular selection this week. At this stage of the season, we don’t have many viable options left and will happily scoop up Indianapolis. Even if most of your pool takes the Colts this week, survival is all that matters at this stage of the season. New York is 0-8 at home this year and will finish the season having not sent their home fans home happy. 

Los Angeles Rams (-6) Over Arizona Cardinals

The Rams have no choice but to win against the Cardinals this week. They are in a tight NFC West race and a divisional loss would all but seal the end of their season. Arizona has stumbled down the stretch as their defense continues to let down a promising offensive core. Matthew Stafford has all the experience he needs to guide his team to victory, and you can trust him with your survivor pool life this week. 

Washington Commanders (-4) Over Atlanta Falcons

The Commanders can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Atlanta, and they will do exactly that in front of a very loud home crowd. Jayden Daniels and Michael Penix Jr. may both be rookie quarterbacks, but there is no doubt about who I’d want leading my team in the fourth quarter. Daniels has put his team on his back time and time again, and he will do so again to book a ticket into the postseason. 

New Orleans Saints (-1) Over Las Vegas Raiders

These two teams have nothing to play for this week, so the edge goes to the home team. There will be a tiny bit of motivation for the Saints to send the home crowd happy, and there isn’t much else to like about either of these teams. If you have no other options the Saints aren’t a terrible pick, but I’d still hope you can look further up the list for your Week 17 selection. 

Philadelphia Eagles (-9) Over Dallas Cowboys

The Eagles are big favorites over the Cowboys, but I’m not sure if you can trust them with your life at this stage of the season. Hurts is still dealing with a concussion, and the Dallas Cowboys have been rolling in recent weeks. A divisional game like this has way too much upset potential to warrant selecting the Eagles with many other safer options available. 

Chicago Bears (+3.5) Over Seattle Seahawks

Taking a team on a 9-game losing streak is usually a bad idea, but the Bears are actually a good pick this week. If you still have Chicago and want to play a unique team this week, there are a few reasons to do so. Chicago is 4-4 at home this year, and already have their franchise quarterback so they will be incentivized to get a win for the home crowd. Second, the Seahawks are far too sloppy on offense to be trusted with your survivor pool life. The Bears defense is due for a big game, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it against Seattle. It’s a risky Week 17 survivor pool pick, but not a bad one. 

Jacksonville Jaguars (-1) Over Tennessee Titans

The Jaguars just lost to the lowly Raiders last week, while the Titans have lost four straight games. Mac Jones hasn’t been playing badly for the Jaguars, and the final home game of the season for Jacksonville could be enough to get them over the line. 

Denver Broncos (+3) Over Cincinnati Bengals

The Broncos and Bengals have a pseudo-playoff game this week, and there is no reason to pick either of them in your survivor pool. The Broncos strong defense with solid play from Bo Nix could certainly pick up a playoff clinching victory. However, Joe Burrow and the Bengals high-flying offense are also more than capable of keeping their season alive with a victory. Look elsewhere for your pick this week. 

Green Bay Packers (+1.5) Over Minnesota Vikings

Don’t even think about touching this clash between two playoff teams both capable of picking up the win. 

Survivor Pool Pick of the Week: Indianapolis Colts Over New York Giants

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