You don’t really want to wait until Sunday to find out whether or not you survived your Survivor Pool, do you? After all, it’s Week 12, and there’s no plausible way you have the Arizona Cardinals, or New England Patriots, or any of the six relevant teams remaining to choose from.
NFL survivor pool strategy, Week 12: Why wait ‘til Sunday?
With numerous options to choose from while in the presence of family, why wait until Sunday to yell at your television?
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Lucky for you, there’s no need to wait until Sunday to make your pick. Fill that plate with a gluttonous amount of food and sit back with our rankings to make your pick in Week 12.
Sleepers
Detroit Lions
The Lions allowed an average of 3.5 touchdowns per game through Week 9 then somehow limited the Green Bay Packers and Oakland Raiders to a combined total of three. And to all you Lions fans out there: Yes, this could be a turning of the tide. But mainly, Detroit is playing the Eagles, and I believe there’s an unofficial rule that states “If the head coach of your franchise gets into an argument with a radio personality, then you probably aren’t going to win that week”, or something along those lines. - JD
Cleveland Browns
The reason the Browns had decided to go to Johnny Manziel for the rest of the season wasn’t because Manziel had proven himself. Not by a long shot. But they needed to know, one way or another, whether Manziel was the future of the team. But Josh McCown was better, and he still is. The Browns aren’t good with either quarterback, but they’re better with McCown. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens are starting Matt Schaub. The last time Schaub threw a pass in a game and didn’t throw an interception in that game was Week 11. Of 2013. The Browns aren’t good, but right now, from a skill perspective, the Ravens might be the worst team in the league. – DK
Green Bay Packers
Marquess Wilson and Zach Miller are about to embark into the frozen tundra against Aaron Rodgers. Ok. - JD
Oakland Raiders
In this corner, we have Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree and Latavius Murray for a team on the fringe of the playoff race. In this corner, we have … I don’t know, a hurt Kendall Wright? Antonio Andrews and the Running Back Pips? Delanie Walker’s good and all, but c’mon now. – DK
Stay-aways
Buffalo Bills
I mean … did you see EJ Manuel the last time he played for the Bills? He made the Jaguars’ defense look stout. In Week 12, the Bills will have either Manuel or a fairly injured Tyrod Taylor going against Kansas City, aka the best defense in the game over the last month. The Bills and Chiefs are both 5-5, but these are two teams going in diametrically opposite directions. – DK
Carolina Panthers
(One moment while I put my talking-head cap on...)
There are many logical reasons you should stay away from the undefeated Panthers on Thanksgiving day, primarily due to the fact that Tony Romo legitimately causes a trickle-down effect even the POTUS isn't prepared for. With a quarterback that defenses actually have to account for (sorry to burst your bubble, but I don't think anyone was paying attention to Matt Cassel), the Dallas run-game allowed for only 41 offensive plays from Miami. I'm not willing to bet confidently on either side of this one. - JD
San Diego Chargers
When I see the Chargers, I still instinctually feel like they’re a contending team. Yes, the defense is and was bad, but there’s still Philip Rivers and that offense. Except now, that offense is without Keenan Allen, Branden Oliver and probably Malcom Floyd. Antonio Gates and Ladarius Green are hurt. Danny Woodhead has tailed off. This is a team that is just out of real weapons on either side of the ball. Jacksonville, meanwhile, is the sort of team that is still available in everyone’s survivor pool. Now’s the time. – DK
