NFL Week 3 marks more tough decisions for Survivor pool picks everywhere. It’s been a relatively quiet start — no shocking upsets yet, which means most pools are still loaded with live entries. But as we all know, each week gets harder, and every choice you make now can impact the long run.
With all 32 teams still in play, there are plenty of options to consider. I’ve got three I’m eyeing this week, and I’ll give you a taste of two of them here. If you want my full breakdown of all my NFL picks for Week 3, head over to the Tails Free Picks page — that’s where I post everything for free.
NFL Survivor Pool Picks for Week 3 (2025)
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa is coming off a short week after playing on Monday Night, but it’s still a viable Week 3 Survivor pool option. The Buccaneers are at home against a winless Jets team that will not have Justin Fields available. The Jets offense has looked lifeless, and the defense hasn’t been able to stop anyone.
The Bucs, on the other hand, look like a real playoff contender, and this matchup sets up well for Baker Mayfield and the passing attack. The risk is that Tampa has multiple favorable matchups in its division later in the year, but the current state of the Jets makes this game worth considering.
My Favorite Pick This Week
I actually have a third team that I think strikes the perfect balance between safety and long-term strategy. To me, it’s the best NFL Survivor pool Week 3 option on the board.
👉 You can read about that play — plus the rest of my favorite bets this week — right now on the Tails Free Picks page.
Bottom Line
Week 3 might look straightforward, but Survivor pools are all about thinking a step ahead. Do you burn an elite team like Buffalo? Do you ride the hot start in Tampa? Or do you save those bullets and find another spot?
I have my answer, and I break it all down in full on Tails. Come check it out, and while you’re there, make sure to follow me so you get every play as soon as it drops.
Buffalo Bills (Thursday Night Football)
The obvious pick of the week is the Bills. They’re a massive favorite at home against the Dolphins on a short week, with the line around -800. The Bills have every advantage here, and it would take a miracle-level upset to knock you out if you go this route.
The one drawback is burning the Bills early. They’ll be favored in a ton of games this season, so there’s opportunity cost in using them this week. Still, if you just want to survive and advance, this is as safe as it gets for Survivor Week 3.
