NFL survivor pool strategy, Week 10: Hope the Packers, Bengals, Eagles are still available

If you are still alive in your NFL survivor pool, we are here to help you with some Week 10 strategy tips.

Nov 12, 2015, 1:40 PM UTC

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The 2015 NFL season begins Week 10 on Thursday evening, and NFL survivor pools likely saw a whole lot of people booted thanks to the Atlanta Falcons’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers. If you were fortunate enough to last another week, we are here to help with strategy decisions.

You’re not beyond jotting down schedules four weeks in advance, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. That’s what it takes for any of us fortunate enough to still be hanging around in our survivor pools 10 weeks later. Just take a moment to reflect on which bullets you somehow dodged in order to be in this position in the first place.

Remember when everyone bought into the idea that the San Francisco 49ers were the worst team on the planet and picked the Minnesota Vikings? Or how the Seattle Seahawks would walk into St. Louis and knock off the Rams? How about everyone that watched Sam Bradford's one good quarter in the preseason and picked the Philadelphia Eagles in Atlanta? Not you. (Though, looking back at it, it's amazing that any of us survived beyond Week 1.)
The Rams looked like the only choice in Week 2, but fortunately, you escaped the wrath of the only notable Matt Jones performance to date.
How about choosing anyone but the New York Jets, who seemed like a lock at home against the Eagles, in Week 3?
Or (and stop me if you've heard this one) dodging the Rams, who knocked off the 3-0 Arizona Cardinals, again in Week 4?
Remember when the Kansas City Chiefs were favored by nine points at home over the Chicago Bears and ultimately, it didn't matter?
YOU believed that Cam Newton could walk into Seattle and take down the Seahawks.
Pat yourself on the back for not buying into any Landry Jones at Arrowhead propaganda in Week 7.
We all had a good laugh as everyone used that Green Bay Packers bullet they had held onto for eight weeks on the road against another undefeated team.
And finally, you somehow, someway, didn't go against Blaine Gabbert just last week. That in itself makes you a real American.

Being 10 weeks in most likely means both the Packers and Cincinnati Bengals are well off the table. And unfortunately, they're the only two franchises favored by double-digit points at home this week (which is why they're ranked so highly). But there are still a few choices lower on the board that could just as easily find success.

Sleepers

Buffalo Bills

Though not my first choice, I actually like this spot for the Bills. The New York Jets have allowed over 300 passing yards and multiple touchdowns in each of their last three games. And since you can never go wrong by overthinking these things, note that first and second-year coaches are 0-6 straight up (and against the spread) on Thursday Night Football this season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Matt Cassel.

Either side of New Orleans-Washington, Arizona-Seattle

Literally a coin-toss, no matter which side you lean towards.

Baltimore Ravens

If there were ever an appropriate time to get the Ravens out of the way, it's this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. I know, I know. Blake Bortles, Allen Robinson, the Ravens secondary, etc. But Bortles still likely has nightmares of last season's 10-sack train wreck in Baltimore. And yes, the secondary might be a cause for concern, but Jacksonville has allowed an average of 9.4 more points on the road this season. As noted by Jags beat writer Ryan O'Halloran, the Ravens have a winning percentage of .846 (11-2 record) in games following their bye since 2002.

Don’t let anyone tell you you’re beyond picking Baltimore. Or legibly writing down the Pats schedule. Or having admittedly plotted to take the Bengals three weeks in advance. After all, they probably picked the Rams several weeks ago.