Best NFL Survivor Pool Strategy & Picks For Week 11: Lions, Dolphins, More
As always, if you are reading this article, looking for the best survivor pool strategy and are seeking out suggestions for your survivor pool picks, then congratulations on still being in it. This season has been a crazy one and for many survivor pools, we’re down to the nitty-gritty. The fact that you are still alive in your pool right now is huge, so let’s get to it!
Last week, we went 2-2 with our picks. My favorite for the week was the Kansas City Chiefs and they delivered. Did we maybe sweat it out a little too much to our liking? Sure, but a win is a win. The Chiefs face the Bills this week in a game we are certain to avoid, but their upcoming games include the Panthers and the Raiders, so if you still have Kansas City available, it looks like next week or the week after are where we want to look.
We also hit with the Los Angeles Chargers who were another strong home favorite and fit the criteria well for the best survivor pool strategy. They beat the Titans easily, but do have a tough stretch of games coming up. Three of their four next opponents include the Chiefs, Bengals and Ravens. Yeesh! If you still have them available, you’re probably going to have to hold off until Weeks 16 or 17 when they face the Patriots or Raiders.
We did have a pair of misses on our survivor pool picks last week. I’m still shaking my head at the Falcons losing to the Saints, but if you’ve tailed my bets before in the past, you know that there is always concern when a team fires its head coach in the middle of the season. The Saints ditched Dennis Allen on Tuesday and were upsetting Atlanta by Sunday. Brutal for those who used them, especially after watching the Saints ruin survivor pool picks the week before.
Ah yes, and then there were the Bears who were an absolute disaster against the Patriots. Again, strong in representing the criteria for our survivor pool picks, but a hot mess on the field. They then turned around and fired Shane Waldron, their offensive coordinator, but I don’t think anyone is interested in them facing the Packers this week, a team coming off their bye.
But that was last week, and we are now looking ahead to NFL Week 11. Time to check in and see which teams meet our best survivor pool strategy criteria and finalize who we are going to use for this week’s survivor pool picks.
Best NFL Survivor Pool Strategy For 2024 NFL Week 11
As a reminder, I was finally bounced from my last pool, so when I make suggestions for this week and all upcoming weeks, the survivor pool picks will be based solely on the best survivor pool strategy. No more “this is the team I am taking” or “be my ride-or-die with [insert team name].” Stick a fork in me. I’m done like dinner.
But keep in mind, the order in which I list these potential survivor pool picks is my order of preference; the teams in which I am most confident. How you choose and adjust should be based on what is happening in your specific pool. If you’re in Circa Survivor and have to save teams for the holiday slates, be sure to take that into account when making your choices.
Thanksgiving is creeping up on us and you probably already lost the Dallas Cowboys going up against the New York Giants. That would have been a nice lay-up for the three-game slate. Now, the floor is lava!
Let’s get to it!
NFL Survivor Pool Picks For Week 11
Detroit Lions (-14 Home Favorite; -1000 Money Line)
Expect the majority of your pool to jump on this game, not only because of the point spread and money line, but because the Lions’ upcoming schedule is filled with a few pitfalls and potential traps.
The Jaguars are an absolute dumpster fire right now. Their defense is trash and they’re going with Mac Jones under center for another week due to a Trevor Lawrence injury. If this pick were to bust this week, then I may just retire from the industry.
Miami Dolphins (-7.5 Home Favorite; -375 Money Line)
After a big win over the Rams on Monday night, the Dolphins are a team hell bent on making a playoff push, despite the 3-6 record. They are desperate for the win, but with the Raiders traveling to Miami, we should see a methodical approach from Mike McDaniel and his team.
Their ground attack is strong and that will open things up enough in the passing game to not even worry about Tyreek Hill’s wrist ailments.
Houston Texans (-7.5 Road Favorite; -400 Money Line)
Despite the Texans fumbling away a potential upset of the Lions, this game should be one they should win handily. Joe Mixon has been an absolute beast and should have no trouble dominating this Dallas run defense while Nico Collins is expected to return which solidifies a potentially elite passing attack.
C.J. Stroud typically plays better at home than on the road, but it’s not like they’re doing much traveling here and they’re still playing in a controlled environment. Use the Texans with confidence.
New York Jets (-4 Home Favorite; -210 Money Line)
This one is definitely filled with risk, especially with the quarterback change for the Colts. But the Jets are at home and the expectation is that the defense will get itself right and look for major turnover opportunities due to the ineptitude of Anthony Richardson.
On the offensive side, Aaron Rodgers is under significant fire and there is already talk of the Jets not bringing him back next season. When it happens like that, Rodgers seems to bring just enough to win the game and get his career a stay of execution. The only way I make this pick is if none of the above three are available.
Best of luck in Week 11 and I’ll see you for more survivor pool picks and the best survivor pool strategy in Week 12!
Player News
Free agent Gabe Davis will visit the New York Giants.
Cut by the Jaguars after one season last week, Davis visited the 49ers on Monday. New York would be a reunion of sorts, as he played for Giants coach Brian Daboll in Buffalo. The G-Men already have several wideouts capable of stretching the field, but 26-year-old Davis could still be a decent role player in a strong offense. The problem, of course, is that the Giants profile as anything but, but rookie QB Jaxson Dart is comfortable throwing down the field.
Ravens S Ar’Darius Washington has been diagnosed with a torn achilles suffered during offseason training.
The fifth-year pro became a weekly starter for the first time last season, earning elite PFF marks in the process. He was a restricted free agent this spring but had yet to sign his $3.26 million tender. That’s a tough break, to put it mildly. Achilles timelines have shortened significantly in recent years, but Washington will probably still miss the entire 2025 campaign. The Ravens are protected in part by their first-round selection of fellow S Malaki Starks, but May is not the month you already want to be dipping into your depth. Going on 26, Washington’s career future is murky after he worked so hard to finally become a regular contributor last season.
Chiefs signed fourth-round WR Jalen Royals to a four-year contract.
Royals doesn’t have an obvious and open spot in the receiving corps to build short-term fantasy value with Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, and Rashee Rice operating in the opening 11-personnel package. He may or may not play his way into WR4 duties depending on how the team feels about JuJu Smith-Schuster. Royals has plenty of talent and Brown is on a one-year deal, so there is a future where Royals is more than a bit player for the Chiefs. It likely won’t happen in his first season without injuries in front of him.
Matthew Judon said he “probably” won’t return to the Falcons in 2025.
The Falcons, of course, drafted both Jalon Walker and James Pearce in the first round. In an exclusive interview with CardPlayer.com — not to be confused with our PokerNews.com James Cook scoop a few days ago — Judon said that his sack total was down because “I dropped (into coverage) on 60 percent of the plays. It’s hard to get a pick and a sack on the same play.” Judon also told Kyle Odegard that “a couple” teams had expressed interest in him but he was in no rush to sign.
Jets released P Thomas Morstead.
Austin McNamara and Kai Kroeger will compete for the Jets punter job this year. The 39-year-old former Saint was the league’s oldest punter last season. If he wants to keep punting, he can absolutely join the tryout circuit or a competition elsewhere. But this is probably a sign that the Morstead’s 16-year career is close to an end at this point.
Lions offensive coordinator John Morton said it’s “going to be a breakout year” for Jameson Williams.
Morton said he’d never “been around someone that fast,” then quickly corrected himself to note that Jhamyr Gibbs is also that fast. Williams came on strong last year with a 58/1001/7 receiving line, but offensive coordinator praise could mean even more targets are coming. It would likely come at the expense of Amon-Ra St. Brown’s production if Williams were to truly break out, though there’s plenty for St. Brown to give and still be a top-flight fantasy wideout. It’s risky to read too much into statements like this in the offseason, but the new offensive coordinator telling you he thinks it’ll be a breakout year for Williams is certainly noteworthy.