Our selection of the Washington Commanders came through with ease last week as they stomped down the Carolina Panthers 40-7. Carolina may continue to be a constant fade as the season progresses. This week, there are several teams in favorable matchups to consider. Let’s dive into the top recommendations for your NFL survivor pool picks in Week 8.
NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 8: Lions, Chiefs, Steelers or Broncos?
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Lions -11 vs. Titans | NFL Survivor Week 8
Technically, Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis hasn’t been officially ruled out for this game, but all signs point to that outcome. To be frank, Levis shouldn’t even be in the conversation for another NFL snap at this point. While his potential absence is due to injury, the bigger issue is his lack of skill.
If Levis is out, it opens the door for Mason Rudolph to step in. Interestingly, the Titans’ only win this season came in a game where Rudolph took most of the snaps. While that doesn’t mean they have a strong chance of winning this week, it does suggest he’s slightly more capable than Levis.
That said, it’s a moot point. Detroit is a double-digit favorite and currently one of the best teams in the league. There’s little doubt the Lions will handle business, making them the safest survivor pick this week. However, it’s worth considering whether you want to use them this early.
Detroit has another favorable matchup in Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Looking ahead, there aren’t many options as convincing as the Lions that week, so it might be wise to save them.
Chiefs -10 at Raiders | NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 8
The same thought process applies to this AFC West showdown. Yes, the Chiefs are in an excellent position to dominate the struggling Raiders, but should you use Patrick Mahomes and company if you don’t have to?
Every survivor pool entry is different, and it ultimately depends on the teams you have available. However, if you still have the Chiefs as an option, it’s best to wait before using them.
Kansas City will be a comfortable favorite in several upcoming weeks, and they’re one of the most valuable teams to have available later in the contest.
To be clear, I fully expect the Chiefs to win this game easily, but the smarter play is to hold onto them for a more strategic opportunity down the road.
Steelers -6.5 vs. Giants | NFL Survivor Week 8
Justin Fields led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a respectable 4-2 record as the starting quarterback. Sure, that’s commendable — it’s not easy to win in this league. However, it’s clear the Steelers offense has far more versatility when Russell Wilson is under center. With Wilson at quarterback, Pittsburgh is able to expand their play calling and make their offense less predictable.
Wilson’s ability to throw downfield and execute play action has opened up other aspects of the Steelers offense, particularly the running game. For example, with Fields under center, Najee Harris faced “stacked boxes” on 20% of his rush attempts. Under Wilson, that number dropped to just 5%. This highlights Fields’ predictability as a quarterback and explains why Coach Mike Tomlin made the right decision to move away from him.
In Wilson’s first start, the Steelers put up 37 points against a highly regarded Jets defense. Now they’ll face a Giants defense that ranks 21st in both EPA per play and success rate. This is an ideal spot to trust the Steelers.
Looking ahead, Pittsburgh hosts Cleveland in Week 14. While divisional games can cause some hesitation in survivor pools, this matchup could be an exception.
Picking the Steelers this week would be my second choice and a strong backup option, especially if you have multiple entries.
Broncos -10 vs. Panthers | NFL Survivor Week 8
I never thought I’d be saying this, but my top survivor pick this week goes to Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos. To be fair, this choice has more to do with the incompetence of the Carolina Panthers than anything the Broncos are doing … at least on the offensive side.
On defense, however, the Broncos have been outstanding, ranking second in EPA per play and third in success rate. Meanwhile, the Panthers’ offense ranks 29th in EPA per play, 27th in success rate and average less than five yards per play.
And those numbers will only get worse with Andy Dalton sidelined due to injury. Dalton was struggling, but at least there was some offensive structure. With Bryce Young at quarterback and facing one of the best defenses in the league, Carolina’s chances for success are minimal.
Don’t overthink this one. We won’t get another opportunity to use the Broncos as double-digit favorites at home. Take advantage while you can.
Best NFL Week 8 Survivor Pick: Denver Broncos
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