NFL Week 14 Survivor Pool Tips: Best Picks and Strategies to Stay Alive
We've made it to Week 14 in the 2023 NFL season, and if you're still afloat in your survivor pool, congratulations. It's been a year full of upsets and uncertainty, and picking the right winner each week has been difficult.
We're in our last week of byes, and only the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Commanders will be out of action. However, most survivor participants are running out of reliable options, and several of the league's top teams face daunting Week 14 matchups.
Below, you'll find some advice for teams to trust and those to avoid, using the latest Week 14 odds as a guideline.
Check the latest lines at DraftKings.
General Survivor Tips for Week 14
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As is always the case, it's best to start any survivor selection process by knowing which games to avoid. Divisional matchups, prime-time games and those impacted by injuries should never be at the top of the list.
We'd normally trust the Pittsburgh Steelers (-6) at home against a struggling team like the New England Patriots. However, Kenny Pickett recently underwent ankle surgery, which means that Mitch Trubisky will be in at quarterback for the Steelers.
While the Patriots have been beyond underwhelming offensively, the Trubisky-led Steelers are no locks to overcome a very steady New England defense.
We'd also suggest avoiding the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears matchup, in which Detroit is a three-point favorite. Detroit's defense has appeared suspect recently, and the Bears have seen the occasional offensive flash from quarterback Justin Fields.
Is Detroit the better team? Absolutely. Of course, they're also a better team than the Green Bay Packers and got physically dominated by Green Bay on Thanksgiving. After watching Chicago upset the Minnesota Vikings two weeks ago, it's impossible to dismiss the Bears against Detroit.
Lastly, we'd suggest avoiding the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys matchup unless you have no other options. These are two of the top teams in the NFC, and while Philly won the first meeting, Dallas is at home and a 2.5-point favorite on Sunday night.
Neither the Eagles nor the Cowboys looked great in Week 13, and we're talking about two talented and familiar divisional opponents in prime time.
Trust the 49ers and Dolphins
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If you've waited until now to pick the San Francisco 49ers, consider them a trustworthy Week 14 option. After dismantling the Eagles, San Francisco looks to be a safe pick against virtually any opponent.
The Seattle Seahawks represent a familiar foe for San Francisco, but the 49ers have a recent track record of success against their divisional rival. The 49ers have won four straight, including playoffs, over the Seahawks dating back to the start of last season.
Two weeks ago, the 49ers beat the Seahawks 31-13 in Seattle. They'll now play host for Round 2. There's a reason why San Francisco is a 10.5-point favorite. Barring a shocking development, it's going to win.
Fans can also expect the Miami Dolphins to win in Week 14. They'll face the Tennessee Titans on Monday night, which isn't ideal, but Miami has beaten up on lesser opponents all season.
Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and the Dolphins passing attack match up incredibly well with the Titans, who are 13-point underdogs. While Tennessee has been stout against the run, it ranks 27th in net yards per pass attempt allowed.
If you've waited until now to pick Miami, this week or next (vs. New York Jets) is the time to make that call. The Dolphins finish the season against Dallas, at the Baltimore Ravens and against the Buffalo Bills.
Also Consider Ravens, Packers and Vikings
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While San Francisco and Miami represent Tier 1 survivor options this week, the Baltimore Ravens aren't far behind. They're seven-point favorites at home against the Los Angeles Rams and they're coming off the bye.
It's hard to consider Baltimore a true lock, though, because A.) the Rams are playing terrific football lately, B.) Lamar Jackson has had his fair share of mistake-prone games and C.) the Ravens didn't look excellent in their first full outing without Mark Andrews—they outlasted the Los Angeles Chargers 20-10.
If you're now forced to rely on inconsistent or bad teams, the Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns are also worth consideration.
The Packers top that group and are seven-point favorites against the New York Giants. Green Bay has looked like a playoff-caliber team over the past two weeks, but it is on the road in prime time and facing a Giants team fresh off the bye, so it's far from a lock.
The same can be said about Minnesota, which is a three-point road favorite against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders are feisty, and the Vikings suddenly have quarterback questions (again). However, Justin Jefferson is expected to return, and this might be the last time this season that Minnesota is favored.
Minnesota will visit the Cincinnati Bengals next week before finishing with the Lions (twice) and Packers.
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