Image Credit: (Christopher Hanewinckel/USA Today Sports)
Written by: Nicholas Mullick Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-mullick-354076184/
Twitter: @nicholasmullick
We're Baaack. With Week 1 of the NFL Season here, it is time for one of my favorite pools of the year, Survivor pools. As always I will discuss the rules for a survivor pool. It is a weekly contest where people select one team straight up per week to win their game. If a team chosen won, then they advance to the next week, but keep in mind that the team chosen can’t be used for the rest of the season. If a team that they chose for that week loses, well they are eliminated from the pool.
So now that the rules are set it is time for me to give my Top 5 options, a trap pick, and my survivor pick for the week.
Top 5 Survivor Picks
1. Baltimore Ravens at New York Jets
Well let's get an obvious survivor choice out of the way. It looks like Joe Flacco will be starting week 1 for the Jets, which he should as Jets should make sure that Wilson is 100% healthy and I am not so sure he is. Flacco stinks and has not been a great quarterback since he left Baltimore in 2018. A healthy Baltimore team is going to steamroll the Jets and it would not shock me if Baltimore wins by like 20 points.
2. Tennessee Titans vs New York Giants
This is a pick that not a ton of people are talking about, because this may be a really good week to choose the Titans. They are facing a weaker team in the New York Giants, are the home team, and this may be one of the only weeks to choose the Titans. Some doubt the Titans will perform the way they have the past few seasons and could regress. So why not go the safe route by taking them now and saving other teams that are valuable for a later choice in the end of the season.
3. San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears
It seems like the Bears will be one of the teams that many in survivor leagues will be fading. I don’t blame them as the Bears are trying to fail Justin Fields. While the 49ers are not the home team, on paper this feels like a mismatch. Seriously, name me one position that the Bears are better at than the 49ers. Exactly you can’t. Take the 49ers and you should be safe for this week,
4. Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks
Ahh the Russell Wilson Bowl. When I first saw the Week 1 schedule and saw this game as the Week 1 Monday Night Game, I was like of course. But I really like Denver this season, especially in this game. All Denver needed was a better QB and an upgrade at coach. We will see if Nathanial Hackett is the guy at coach, but Russell Wilson is a clear upgrade over an injury prone Bridgewater and Drew Lock who like I said is a scrub. WIth Geno Smith starting, I just am not confident that he will perform well. Denver won’t dominate, but should do enough to get the victory.
5. Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
I get why people want to take Indianapolis as I am not a big fan of the Teaxans this season. The Colts are a solid pick as they are healthy now and injuries, along with that disgraceful Week 18 performance against the Jaguars But there are two things that are holding me back from putting the Colts in the Top 3. First it's a divisional matchup and I steer clear most weeks when making my survivor pick. Second, the Colts are not the home team in this matchup. But besides that the Colts are a solid choice for this week to use.
Trap Survivor Pick: Washington Commanders vs Jacksonville Jaguars
This is a game that I like to call stinky. I can see why many want to take Washington as they are not a great football team and it might seem like a good idea to get rid of them early, but I think Jacksonville this time around is better coached and better built. I also am not sure I can trust QB Carson Wentz and this feels like a game he can give away. Plus the Commanders won’t have Chase Young in this game which is a big loss as he is super talented on this defense. Plus there secondary is kind of terrible and Lawrence should be a solid starting option. There are a lot better options for this week and keep in mind the Commanders are in the NFC East and have easier matchups later in the season. Steer Clear of this game via survivor.
My Survivor Pick Week 1: Tennessee Titans
Ok so I am going to not take Indianapolis as their matchup is a divisional game and I like to stay away from them unless I have no choice or is too simple of a pick to make. I am not sure about San Francisco with Trey Lance as the starter and I want to wait on them later in the season. I know the 49ers are facing the Bears who are in my opinion the worst team in the NFC conference, but the 49ers are useful later in the season. I think Baltimore is the easy pick especially if Joe Flacco is the starting QB for the Jets, but I want to wait on Baltimore as there are plenty of chances to use them next season. This pick to me came down to the Denver Broncos or Tennessee Titans. I like Denver this week as it is a Russell Wilson revenge game and they should dominate against a Geno Smith led offense. However I don’t like using picks on primetime games and I bet Pete Caroll will motivate Seattle to play well in this game. I am taking the Tennessee Titans here in Survivor for week 1, as they are the home team in this game and I think the Giants are a terrible team.