The NFL is headed into Week 15, and most NFL Survivor pools are coming down the home stretch. There are not a lot of great options, but the New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, and Jacksonville Jaguars are all jumping out as the best options.
Football survivor pool strategy/picks, Week 15: Ranking the best picks
We’re coming down the home stretch of NFL survivor pools. If you’re still alive in your pool, we are here to provide some tips to stay that way in Week 15!
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
For those new to this kind of contest, a survivor pool 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 a team twice. You could very well use a heavy favorite in Week 1, but you won’t have access to that team later in the year if you’re alive in the closing weeks.
There is plenty of strategy in determining which team you will take each week, and SB Nation is here to help. We have two experts providing rankings for each week, and then some thoughts on weekly strategy. First up, we have a consensus ranking of all 32 teams and which are most likely to win this week. That is followed by each writer making a pick, some reasoning for the pick, and some alternatives to consider.
Survivor rankings, Week 15
Rank | Team | Opp. | JG | SK | DG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Orleans | vs. NYJ | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Minnesota | vs. CIN | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 3 | Jacksonville | vs. HOU | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 4 | Atlanta | @ TB | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| 5 | Philadelphia | @ NYG | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| 6 | Baltimore | @ CLE | 7 | 4 | 8 |
| 7 | Detroit | vs. CHI | 8 | 7 | 4 |
| 8 | Seattle | vs. LAR | 13 | 6 | |
| 9 | Dallas | @ OAK | 6 | 9 | 20 |
| 10 | New England | @ PIT | 17 | 10 | 9 |
| 11 | Denver | @ IND | 12 | 12 | 15 |
| 12 | Kansas City | vs. LAC | 14 | 18 | 11 |
| 13 | Washington | vs. ARI | 24 | 8 | 13 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh | vs. NE | 16 | 23 | 10 |
| 15 | San Francisco | vs. TEN | 23 | 14 | 12 |
| 16 | LA Chargers | @ KC | 19 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | Buffalo | vs. MIA | 22 | 16 | 14 |
| 18 | Carolina | vs. GB | 19 | 11 | 22 |
| 19 | Miami | @ BUF | 11 | 17 | 25 |
| 20 | Tennessee | @ SF | 10 | 19 | 24 |
| 21 | LA Rams | @ SEA | 18 | 20 | 17 |
| 22 | Green Bay | @ CAR | 13 | 22 | 21 |
| 23 | Arizona | @ WAS | 9 | 25 | 23 |
| 24 | Indianapolis | vs. DEN | 20 | 21 | 26 |
| 25 | Chicago | @ DET | 25 | 26 | 18 |
| 26 | Cleveland | vs. BAL | 26 | 29 | 19 |
| 27 | Oakland | vs. DAL | 27 | 24 | 27 |
| 28 | NY Giants | vs. PHI | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| 29 | Tampa Bay | vs. ATL | 29 | 27 | 30 |
| 30 | Cincinnati | @ MIN | 30 | 30 | 31 |
| 31 | Houston | @ JAC | 31 | 31 | 29 |
| 32 | NY Jets | @ NO | 32 | 32 | 32 |
Jeff Goldberg
Best picks: New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings
A lot of Survivor pools are going to end this week. The two best teams in the league are playing each other, rendering Pittsburgh and New England useless. Philadelphia should beat the Giants, but Nick Foles makes it far less guaranteed. The Chargers are hot, but they have to play at Kansas City. The Colts are lousy, but so are the Broncos. There are just about no freebies this week, and the best play is probably among the least available. New Orleans at home against the Bryce Petty-led Jets feels like a no-brainer, but who still has the Saints left in the satchel? People who are about to win their leagues, that’s who. Jacksonville at home against the Texans should be safe, as the Jaguars close in on a playoff berth. The Vikings at home against the Bengals should also go their way, but even there, it’s already less than ideal and we’re on the third-best matchup. Buckle up, everyone!
Derek Gordon
Best picks: New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings
I offered two picks last week and both were wrong (the New England Patriots and the Cincinnati Bengals). This week, I feel a little more confident in picking the New Orleans Saints. If Bryce Petty makes me eat my words I’ll retire, leave town and never make a survivor pick again (until next week). Without Josh McKown I don’t see how the New York Jets put up enough offense to keep pace with the Saints.
I also like Minnesota who has a home game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Chicago Bears just put 30+ points up against the Bengals so I have some faith in Case Keenum and the gang being able to limit A.J. Green and Andy Dalton to get the win.
Scott Kaliska
Best picks: New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings
The Saints return home as heavy favorites against the New York Jets. New Orleans need to finish strong to hold onto the lead in the NFC South. The Jets lost their starting quarterback in Josh McCown last week. Bryce Petty will start and that will result in a sharp drop in offensive production. My secondary picks are Jacksonville and Minnesota. The Jaguars defense destroyed Houston in their first matchup and now face them at home. Houston is really going to struggle with their third different starting quarterback this season. Minnesota returns home and will look to start another winning streak. The Bengals have fallen back out of the playoff race. The Vikings defense will be too much for this Cincinnati offense.
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