Survivor rolls on in the NFL, and Week 5 is here. Hopefully, you’re still alive in your NFL Survivor pool picks because the competition is thinning out fast. Fewer teams available, more byes on the schedule and some tricky matchups mean every decision counts. I’ve already burned the Broncos, Cowboys, Seahawks and Texans, but the good news is I still have plenty of heavy hitters saved for later.
For Week 5, I have three plays lined up: One obvious, one risky and the one I’m personally rolling with. I’ll give you a taste here, but if you want all my NFL picks for Week 5, head over to the Tails Free Picks page; that’s where I post everything for free.
NFL Survivor Pool Picks for Week 5 (2025)
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The Obvious Pick: Detroit Lions
Let’s start with what everyone will see as the safe Survivor pick in Week 5. The Detroit Lions are a massive favorite against the Cincinnati Bengals, who look completely lost right now. With Joe Burrow sidelined, the Bengals are in the bottom tier of the league. If all you care about is punching your ticket to Week 6, the Lions are the pick.
But here’s the catch: The Lions are one of the most valuable long-term teams to have in your NFL Survivor pool. They’ll be double-digit favorites multiple times this season, often at home. Using them now is the definition of short-sighted. So yes, they’re the obvious play, but I’d personally hold them.
The Risky Pick: New Orleans Saints
If you’re in a gigantic pool or you want to get ultra-aggressive, go Saints. They have looked terrible, but look closer. Their schedule so far was three NFC West opponents (49ers, Seahawks, Cardinals) plus the Bills. That’s no cakewalk.
Now they host the Giants, and while New York is coming off a big win, it’s still a toss-up game on the road. Picking the Saints here is dangerous and you could absolutely go bust, but getting rid of them now saves you from having to play them later. Survivor picks are all about balance: Sometimes burning a bad team is worth the sweat.
My Actual Survivor Pick This Week
That’s where I’ll leave you hanging. I have one team circled as my actual play for Survivor Week 5, and it’s a spot I’ve been saving for all season. The full breakdown, plus all of my favorite NFL bets for the week, are free to view right now on Tails Free Picks.
On Tails, you’ll see not only my Survivor pool Week 5 pick but also live parlays, props and strategies posted in real time. It’s where I drop everything I’m betting, and it’s 100% free. Just follow me there and you’ll get my plays sent straight to your device the second I lock them in.
