Week 15 NFL Survivor pool strategy with safe, value, trap picks, plus an upset special

The playoff push is in full swing as Week 15 arrives. We get a host of huge matchups this week with all 32 teams playing and eight games featuring both teams still in the playoff race. It should make for a wild weekend of football.

This comes a week after favorites mostly handled their business. The biggest upset saw the Rams win a wild shootout over the Bills. Otherwise limited upsets meant remaining Survivor pools did not see much damage. Things came close in Eagles-Panthers, Saints-Giants, and Dolphins-Jets, but the favorites managed to handle their business.

I did fairly well with my weekly Survivor picks column, but was entirely off-base with my prediction of a Falcons upset of the Vikings. Atlanta looked like they would give Minnesota trouble in the first half, but the wheels fell off in the second half.

It’s now time for Week 15 picks. I’ve got my full picks below. There are plenty of options to consider and every week this season we’ll be breaking down the safest picks, the best value picks, the potential trap picks, and one upset pick if you feel the need to get a little wild with your pick to go against the grain.

Ravens over Giants

Tommy DeVito is back in the saddle, but it really wouldn’t matter who of the Giants depth chart is starting this one. Some folks might save the Ravens for Week 18 at the Browns, but if you haven’t used them yet, this is probably the week to go with Baltimore.

Cardinals over Patriots
Vikings over Bears

Arizona has lost three straight, but it’s been Seattle and Minnesota, so it’s not like they’re losing to bad teams. Drake Maye has impressed this season, but he’s fighting an uphill battle with limited help. If Arizona can’t win this home game, they don’t deserve the playoffs.

Minnesota has won six straight and while divisional games can be tough, it’s hard to stay away. This is probably the last game you’d want to use the Vikings, so grab them if you haven’t yet.

Raiders over Falcons

Kirk Cousins has turned into a steaming pile of garbage in fairly short order. It’s possible they got in track in this game, but I could see the Raiders snapping their nine-game losing streak this weekend.

Commanders over Saints
Bengals over Titans

The Saints don’t beat good teams, but the question right now is what do we make of the Commanders. They’re coming off a bye and beat the Titans the week before that. However, they lost three straight to Dallas, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh the three weeks prior to that. The Cowboys are not particularly good, but still tough, while the Eagles and Cowboys are contenders. I think Washington wins this game, but I’d stay away from it.

Cincinnati miiiiight be getting back on track against bad teams, and probably should win this game. And yet, a road game for an inconsistent Bengals game is something I’d personally avoid.