Week 15 NFL Survivor Pool Tips: Best Picks and Strategies to Stay Alive
We've officially reached the final month of the 2024 NFL season. For participants of survivor leagues, this is the home stretch.
Week 14 brought several more exciting finishes, which won't make picking teams in Week 15 feel any easier. The Cincinnati Bengals, for example, were extremely fortunate to escape the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.
The 11-2 Philadelphia Eagles were equally fortunate to escape the 3-10 Carolina Panthers.
The good news is that the final byes of the season have come and gone. Survivor participants may be running out of enticing options, but all 32 teams will be in action from here on out.
Here, you'll find some picks and Week 15 survivor tips for survivor play, using the early odds as a guide.
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.
General Week 15 Survivor Tips
1 of 3
The Los Angeles Rams were one of the few teams to pull off an outright upset in Week 14. Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua and the rest of the Rams offense carried L.A. to victory against the previously red-hot Buffalo Bills.
Los Angeles' defense, however, did little to slow the Bills or quarterback Josh Allen during the 44-42 contest.
"Some of the stuff he can do and the things he can create, we knew he was capable of that," Rams coach Sean McVay said, per Cameron DaSilva of Rams Wire.
The Rams' defense hasn't been good, but their offense has been fantastic this season, which is why it's hard to trust either L.A. or the San Francisco 49ers (-2.5) on Thursday night.
The 49ers showed they still have some life during Sunday's 38-13 win over the Chicago Bears. Short-week divisional games are always tricky, so this is one we'd avoid.
We'd also avoid the New York Jets (-3.5) and Jacksonville Jaguars game. Neither team has been dependable this season, and this is likely to be a sloppy, mistake-filled game.
For those who are desperate, the Atlanta Falcons (-4.5) are worth considering on Monday night. Kirk Cousins has become a turnover machine, and the Falcons have proven themselves to be pretenders.
However, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell suffered a bone bruise in his knee on Sunday, meaning the Raiders may turn to third-string quarterback Desmond Ridder this week.
The Bengals (-4.5) are another less-than-enticing team that should still come through in Week 14. They'll face a Tennessee Titans team that simply can't find an offensive rhythm. Cincinnati's defense is a liability, but Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and the offense can carry the team as they did against Dallas.
Broncos and Vikings Stand out as 'Safe' Picks
2 of 3
The biggest lock of the week is the Baltimore Ravens, who are 15-point favorites over the New York Giants. Baltimore is coming off its bye and set to battle a Giants team that might be more interested in draft positioning than winning.
If Baltimore isn't an option, the Denver Broncos (-4) loom as a relatively "safe" pick. Denver's defense has been terrific for most of the season, while Week 12's shootout with the Cleveland Browns showed the Broncos how to win in a different way.
The Indianapolis Colts are a capable team, but second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson remains a bit mistake-prone. Miscues could cost the Colts heavily in Denver.
The Minnesota Vikings (-7) should win convincingly over the Chicago Bears. Quarterback Sam Darnold is beginning to play MVP-caliber football, and Minnesota's defense can force turnovers in bunches. It's also great at getting after opposing quarterbacks.
The Bears, meanwhile, have struggled to protect rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, and they did not receive a boost from the firing of head coach Matt Eberflus. Chicago has been terrible on the road this season and is unlikely to reverse the trend in Minnesota.
Last Call for the Chiefs
3 of 3
Look, the Kansas City Chiefs are no locks against the Cleveland Browns (+4) this week. The Browns have gotten up for big games—they've knocked off the Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers this season—and they will have home-field advantage.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, have been scraping by teams, often winning on the final play, as they did against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night.
If Browns quarterback Jameis Winston can actually play a clean game, there's real upset potential in this one.
However, Kansas City's knack for winning one-score games makes it a viable option for Week 14. And this is probably the last time to trust the Chiefs, if they haven't been selected already.
Kansas City's final three games will come against the Houston Texans, at Pittsburgh and at Denver. It feels like at least one loss is lurking in that stretch, though it's hard to identify where.
The Browns have busted a few survivor pools this season, so this one warrants caution. However, this is likely the last, best chance to back Kansas City in 2024.
Gambling problem? Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369).
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visiting ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), visiting OPGR.org (OR), or calling/texting TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).
Odds and lines subject to change. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.
.jpg?w=256 "Titans Camp Football")
.jpg?w=480 "Titans Camp Football")
.jpg?w=480 "49ers Eagles Football")
.png?w=480)
