Week 10 NFL Survivor pool strategy and picks

We’re back for Week 10 of the 2020 NFL regular season. Thursday Night Football opens the week with a huge AFC South showdown between the Colts and Titans in Nashville. First place in the division is on the line. It should be a fun one, but also one to avoid in Survivor pools.

If you’ve never played in a Survivor pool, it’s a pretty straightforward deal. You pick one team each week that you think will win. If your team loses in Week 1, you’re eliminated (unless it’s a double elimination pool). If your team wins in Week 1, you can make a pick in Week 2. If your team wins in Week 2, you can make a pick in Week 3, and so on. The catch is that you cannot pick the same team twice. You could use a heavy favorite in Week 1, but you would not have access to them later in the year if you’re alive in the closing weeks.

Survivor pools are usually either a single elimination contest or a double elimination contest. I was in one of each and got eliminated from both in Week 5. But, we’re still here to help you win your pools with a look at safe choices, value choices, and potential traps. Last week, both safe picks (Chiefs, Steelers) and the value pick all narrowly escaped with wins. Meanwhile, my trap pick (Packers) did perfectly fine. Not a great week of prognostication!

On to Week 10!

Safest picks

Packers over Jaguars
Saints over 49ers

They’re the biggest favorites for good reason. The Jaguars stink and the 49ers are struggling with injuries.

Best value picks

Saints over 49ers

The Saints don’t have many great matchups left, while big favorites like the Ravens and Steelers offer some value later in the season that remove some of their value.

Trap pick

Lions over Washington

The Lions are either a great value or a horrible trap this week. They should beat Washington, but it could turn into a white-knuckler. Given how inconsistent Detroit is, it’s hard to justify them in this spot.