Image Credit: (Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA Today Sports)
Written by: Nicholas Mullick Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-mullick-354076184/
Twitter: @nicholasmullick
With Week 4 now officially completed, there were a lot of games that had a lot of upset and hopefully you guys survived. 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 a survivor pick I would have made for the week if it was still alive.
1. Buffalo Bills vs Pittsburgh Steelers
No surprise who is the number one option in Survivor. The Bills are a superbowl contender and the Steelers are just horrible. The Steelers got an incomptent offensive coordinator in Matt Canada and the longer he is here, the more this offense will struggle. Too bad this organization does not fire coaches and either lets their contract expire or the coach retires. This will be Pickett’s true 1st start against one of the best defenses in the league, even with the injuries in the secondary. The Steelers defense is not the same without DE/EDGE T.J. Watt and S Minkah Fitzpatrick. Either take the Bills and run away, or save them for later in the season. If you already took the Bills there are other options.
2. Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals
The Eagles are the best team in the NFC and DVOA agrees with me on that. The Arizona Cardinals while looking decent have been held due to great QB play by Kyler Murray. Besides that the Cardinals are a very overrated team. The Eagles should dominate the Cardinals in this game and expose a team that tried giving the Panthers a win last week.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Atlanta Falcons
Buccaneers are definitely on the list. The Buccaneers are overall the better team and while Brady is dealing with a finger/shoulder issue he should be ready to go this week. The Bucs defense should do well focusing on the pass now Cordarrelle Patterson will not play for at least a month. I would not worry too much if you are taking Tampa Bay this week in Survivor.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans
The Texans are a complete mess right now and could not beat a Chargers team when a large chunk of their team are either on IR, playing injured, or being poorly utilized. The Jaguars are a better team than many thought and it shows how important coaching is in the NFL. The Jaguars should take care of business and beat the Texans who are trying to lose this season in their rebuild.
5. Denver Broncos vs Indianapolis Colts
This is the risk pick of the week for me because I think both teams are terrible. However, this could be one of the only weeks for the Denver Broncos. Maybe week 7 depending how the Jets are performing or week 12 against the Carolina Panthers. Yes the Broncos are injured right now, but so are the Colts. QB Matt Ryan looks cooked throwing the football and it is tough for any team to play in Denver. Now the question is if the risk will be worth the reward when making the Broncos your pick in survivor.
Trap Survivor Pick - Tennessee Titans at Washington Commanders
It was tough choosing a trap game in Survivor for this week, but there is one team the past few weeks that has been growing in selections survivor wise and that is the Titans. I saw in one league like 5% of a pool I am still alive in are going to Tennessee. I think that is a bit too risky and yes I think Washington is terrible, but the Titans are not a great team either. I would steer clear even touching this game especially in survivor.
Record (2-2) - Week 1: Washington Commanders, Week 2: New England Patriots, Week 3: Buffalo Bills, Week 4: Los Angeles Chargers
Who I would of went with for my Survivor Pick for Week 5: Denver Broncos vs Indianapolis Colts
I can’t use the Eagles as I used them in Week 3. I want to save the Bills for later in the season as they have a ton of future value. I want to avoid division games and while I like Jacksonville I think it is a good idea to wait on them. So, this pick was between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Denver Broncos. You know what, I want to take risks and this may be one of the few weeks to take the Broncos. So I will take the Denver Broncos in survivor.
Record (1-2) - Week 1: Tennessee Titans, Week 2: Cleveland Browns, Week 3: Philadelphia Eagles, Week 4: New York Giants