(Image credit Jeremy Brevard/USA Today Sports)
Written by: Nicholas Mullick
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-mullick-354076184/
Week 17 is officially in the books and hopefully you have survived and are now looking at who to pick Week 18 of the regular season for your survivor pools.
Again, I would like to remind everyone about What a survivor pool is and its rules. A survivor pool is a weekly contest where people select one team straight up per week to win their game. If a team that a participant in the Survivor pool chooses wins like the Los Angeles Chargers did last week against the Denver Broncos then the participant in the survivor pool advances to the next week. But, now you can't choose the Los Angeles Chargers anymore for the rest of the season. But if the team that was the participant in the Survivor pool chose the team that lost, as the Cleveland Browns did against the Pittsburgh Steelers, then the participant is eliminated from the pool.
Now that we know the rules in a survivor pool, here are the Top 5 options, A trap Survivor pick, and a survivor pick that I would have gone with if I was not eliminated in survivor (Again, Why is Mike Tomlin still the head coach for the Steelers again?) for week 18 of the 2021 NFL season.
Week 18 Top 5 Survivor Options
Overall Record (66-19)
1. Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets
No Brainer pick here as the New York Jets don’t have much to play for except for players auditioning for another job in the NFL or getting an extension to stay with the Jets. On a side note, I want to again ask Joe Douglas to please Sign Braxton Berrios. But besides that, the Bills should take care of business and win this matchup. If you have the Bills available to choose then you should win your survivor pool for this season.
2. Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
This is another no-brainer pick here as it is the best team in the NFC facing off against the worst team in the NFC. Honestly would be a higher choice but I won't be shocked if the Packers decide to rest guys against a beaten-up Detroit Lions squad. But the Packers should take care of business to fully secure the 1st seed in the playoffs for the NFC.
3. Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans
A third no-brainer pick here as if the Titans win here they basically get home-field advantage. They need it to ensure that a majority of their players are healthy when they are entering the playoffs. Luckily the Titans face the Houston Texans who are a complete mess. The Titans should take care of business.
4. Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos
The Kansas City Chiefs are battling to obtain home-field advantage. But in order to obtain it, they have to win this week against the Denver Broncos. It is going to be difficult as the game will be played in Denver. If Drew Lock is starting then this game is an absolute lock but no word yet on if Teddy Bridgewater will play. I doubt it so the Chiefs are on the Top 5 survivor pick options for this week.
5. Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
This would be higher on the list but did you know the Indianapolis Colts have never beaten the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville since 2014. That is crazy to think about but the Colts should take care of business defeating the Jaguars especially as they are the worst team in the league and are fighting for a playoff spot.
Trap Survivor Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Carolina Panthers
It is tempting however I would stay far away from the Buccaneers this matchup. Especially as they will be distracted as a result of the whole Antonio Brown Meltdown fiasco. Plus I don't believe when Tom Brady said that the Buccaneers will not be resting players this week. I believe it when I see it but yeah no shot that they don't rest players. Also, the Panthers will be battling for jobs next season and maybe head coach Matt Rhule as rumbling came out of David Tepper being angry with the coach thus resulting in rumors of letting him go. I would stay far away from the Buccaneers this matchup.
Record 8-8-1 (Week 1: Jax, Week 2: Cin, Week 3: Dal, Week 4: Ten, Week 5: Bal, Week 6: Pit, Week 7: Cle, Week 8: Atl, Week 9: LV, Week 10: Pit, Week 11: SF, Week 12: Dal, Week 13: Min, Week 14: No, Week 15: Cle, Week 16: Cin, Week 17:Pit)
Who I would of went with for my Survivor Pick for Week 18:
I can’t choose the Buffalo Bills as they were my survivor pick for Week 8. I can't Choose the Indianapolis Colts as they were my week 9 survivor pick. I can’t choose the Green Bay Packers as they were my survivor pick for Week 14. So this choice came down to either the Kansas City Chiefs or the Tennessee Titans. It was a tough one to make but I would rather take the team that I think is facing a weaker opponent. The Texans are a lot weaker than the Broncos are so the Tennessee Titans will be my survivor pick..
Teams Used: (Week 1: 49ers, Week 2: Steelers,Week 3: Panthers, Week 4: Bengals, Week 5: Vikings, Week 6: Buccaneers, Week 7: Patriots, Week 8: Bills, Week 9: Colts, Week 10: Ravens, Week 11: Browns, Week 12: Bears, Week 13: Rams, Week 14: Packers, Week 15: Cardinals, Week 16: Jaguars, Week 17 Chargers)