Week 2 of NFL is in the books, and it felt like it produced enough drama and storylines to last the entire season. Some key teams started 0-1, some big-name players went down, and there are still more questions than answers about where teams stack up this year. For Survivor, it was a relatively uneventful week, with the Ravens and Commanders being the popular choices and both getting the job done. Minnesota was the third-most popular choice but was upset by Tampa Bay, which eliminated a bunch of teams in most pools. If you did move on, it only gets harder from here, so let’s dive into NFL Survivor picks for Week 2.
NFL Survivor Pool Picks for Week 2
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Cowboys (-7.5) vs. Jets | NFL Survivor Week 2
Do not be surprised if this spread and moneyline rapidly change, as Dallas gets the Jets, who produced the craziest Week 2 headlines due to the Aaron Rodgers injury. There still is no confirmation, but it sounds like it is an Achilles tear. Regardless of how long he is out, it seems impossible for a Week 2 return, meaning Zach Wilson gets to take on the Dallas pass rush. The Cowboys rolled over the Giants 40-0 and had Daniel Jones running for his life early and often. With time to prep for Wilson and being at home in Dallas, this seems like one of the safest picks on the board.
The question is not if Dallas will win but rather whether or not to burn them. The Cowboys have the Cardinals, Patriots, Rams and Commanders all on the schedule, giving them a ton of utility going forward. For this reason alone, it may be best to save Dallas for the future and find another safe Week 2 pick.
Update: Rodgers’s injury was confirmed as a torn Achilles — expect the spread and moneyline to jump.
Broncos (-3.5) vs. Commanders | NFL Survivor Week 2
Survivor is all about balancing the risk of being different with the reward of moving on. As plenty of people saw last week with Minnesota, changing it up can have dire consequences if the team does not perform. In large-field pools it is still vital to look for sneaky spots, and the Denver Broncos this week fit the bill.
Check out our top NFL Week 2 picks and predictions! >>
The Broncos started their season at home against the Raiders and were not able to get much going offensively. The 17-16 loss puts tremendous pressure on them this week as they get to stay at home and welcome the Commanders. Washington did get a win on Sunday, but few were overly impressed with its performance against Arizona. It is still an unproven Sam Howell leading that team, and Denver should have ample opportunity to put pressure on him.
A 3.5-point spread and a moneyline inside -200 proves this pick is much more likely to lose than the Cowboys. However, getting rid of the Broncos is not a big opportunity cost, and they should not be a super-popular selection this week. With the Commanders working through issues of their own, this is the kind of play to consider if rolling the dice and staying away from big Week 2 favorites.
Bills (-8) vs. Raiders | NFL Survivor Week 2
The Bills were the other team involved in all the Jets drama, and perhaps overlooked is the fact they blew the game and started the season 0-1. Josh Allen threw multiple bad interceptions, lost a key fumble and overall was not the top-caliber quarterback he is supposed to be. He now gets a short week to rebound, but aside from that, everything is in the Bills’ favor. They will be at home against the Raiders, who are once again on the road. Las Vegas had an impressive Week 2 win against Denver, but this is a gigantic step up for a team that was just 2-7 away from home in 2022.
The Bills were 7-1 in Buffalo last year, and this is not a spot for them to look past after they dropped their opening game. Allen can and will be better, the defense should have the advantage, and the betting markets agree with them being one of the biggest favorites on the schedule. Although they figure to be a popular choice, the final piece of the puzzle is the Bills’ overall schedule. Despite them being a top-end team, there are not many layup games ahead for them, meaning, ironically, they aren’t the best team to save in survivor. This might be one of the best spots to target them all season, and that is what gives them the nod over the Cowboys.
NFL Week 2 Survivor Pick: Buffalo Bills
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