The NFL is back! It’s been a long offseason, but the 2024 season kicks off Thursday night when the Chiefs host the Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium.
Week 1 NFL Survivor pool strategy with safe, value, trap picks
It’s time to figure out your Survivor picks for the 2024 season. We’ll break down safe, value, and trap picks heading into Week 1.
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The return of football means it’s time to figure out your weekly Survivor picks. Well, at least figuring out your Week 1 picks and hope you survive to advance to Week 2. There are plenty of options to consider and every week this season we’ll be breaking down the safest picks, the best value picks, and the potential trap picks.
If you have not played Survivor before, it’s a contest in which you pick one team to win each week. If your team wins in Week 1, you advance and can make a pick in Week 2. If your team loses you are eliminated. In many contests, a tie acts the same as a loss. Some leagues offer double elimination as an option.
The biggest caveat is that in most leagues you cannot pick the same team twice during the season.
Safest picks
Bengals over Patriots
Nearly half of all users at Yahoo! are picking Cincinnati this week. They’re the biggest favorites this weekend at FanDuel Sportsbook. Upsets happen, but I don’t see the Patriots having much of a chance here. The only reason to not pick the Bengals is a lot of people will use them and they have value in the coming weeks.
Best value picks
Seahawks over Broncos
Bucs over Commanders
These two picks offer similar reasoning. Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield are both undervalued, and their respective defenses face rookie QBs Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels. There is some uncertainty to consider in both instances, but with Seattle and Tampa Bay facing tough schedules this season, they’re both worth using early.
Trap picks
Bills over Cardinals
Saints over Panthers
Buffalo is the second most popular pick at Yahoo! this week. Buffalo is a near touchdown favorite, but this feels like a trap for them right out of the gate. Kyler Murray has a full offseason under his belt and should be in great shape after coming back mid-season last year after his 2022 ACL tear. I sniff upset potential.
Meanwhile, New Orleans is the third most picked team this week. The Panthers are not going to be good, but I’ll use this game to post a key axiom in my Survivor decision-making: avoid divisional games where possible.
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