NFL Week 17 is here and you’re almost there! Well done. Making successful survivor pool picks every week is not an easy feat, so if you’re still here looking to discuss the best survivor pool strategy, then that’s fantastic. 

 

 

If you’ve been tailing these survivor pool picks, then you already know we are finishing the season strong. Last week, we hot three of four picks and are feeling strong coming down the home stretch. The one we whiffed on was the one we listed as the last possible option – the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Losing that game to Dallas was brutal so if that was your pick, I’m guessing you’re not even reading this. The rest were all strong and though maybe we sweat the Bills/Patriots game for about four minutes, we cruised the rest of the way. 

Let’s dive into the best survivor pool strategy for Week 17 and start making picks. 

 

 

Best NFL Survivor Pool Strategy for 2024 NFL Week 17

Strategy-wise? Are we doing anything different? Obviously, if you’re in Circa Survivor you have to make a pick today. The way I rank the teams for survivor purposes --  Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers and then the Houston Texans. It’s a tough run, given the way survivor pool picks have been blown up this season, but we’ve reminded you throughout the year that it was coming to this. That’s not something different as much as it is just a reminder. Now let’s move forward with the best survivor pool strategy. 

We’ll take a look at the points spreads, the Vegas money lines and then see who is at home. We’ve used road teams before, depending on the weekly match-up, but home teams are usually my preference, though this week might be a road week depending on who you have available. I also don’t want weather to factor into the outcome of any team I use for my survivor pool picks, so be sure to always check the weather.

Now it’s time to make those NFL Week 17 survivor pool picks!

 

 

NFL Survivor Pool Picks for Week 17

Miami Dolphins (-6.5 Road Favorite; -300 Money Line)

Yeah yeah, Tua in the cold and taking a road team in Week 17 in survivor pools? That’s crazy talk, right? Well, not so much if you’ve watched the Browns play over the course of this season. What a tragedy! And to make matters worse they’re still going to use Dorian Thompson-Robinson? Bleh. Well, bleh for the Browns. Miami needs the win to keep those slim playoff hopes alive and they’ll grab the win.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-8 Home Favorite;  -400 Money Line)

If I was still alive in my own survivor pools, this is where I would go for the week. The Bucs had a tragic loss to the Cowboys on the road last week and now they find themselves still battling with the Atlanta Falcons for the NFC South title. The Panthers just don’t have the horses to keep pace, especially if the Bucs run defense contains Chuba Hubbard. Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans will do this week what they were supposed to do last week.

Los Angeles Chargers (-4 Road Favorite;  -210 Money Line)

Again, one the road is never my favorite for survivor pool picks but the Patriots, who now have the No. 2 overall pick and don’t want to blow that, are not besting Jim Harbaugh and his upstart Chargers. The defense for the Chargers is rock-solid and while we like Drake Maye’s potential, these AFC playoffs are going to be more fun with both Harbaughs.

Detroit Lions (-3.5 Road Favorite;  -185 Money Line)

They need the win to stay ahead of the Vikings who will have played on Sunday already. The 49ers have been eliminated form the playoffs and there are rumors swirling that they don’t even play Brock Purdy this week. Hard to imagine Dan Campbell and Ben Johnson don’t have these guys properly prepared for the win.

Best of luck in Week 17 and I’ll see you for more survivor pool picks and the best survivor pool strategy in Week 18!