And just like that, it is time, once again, to make out survivor pool picks for NFL Week 8. Congratulations on still being active in what began as one of the most tumultuous starts to the season we’ve seen in some time. 

Sure, there are always going to be upsets, but if you were adhering to the standard survivor pool strategy, it was a bloodbath. The best survivor pool strategy suggestions lean on home teams, large point-spreads and juiced-up money lines and all of that was thrown out the window for the first several weeks. Over the past two weeks, however, things have leveled off and are starting to normalize a bit.

 

 

 

Last week, the top four options I offered up all hit and they were the top four teams picked in most, if not all, survivor pools. We had two home favorites, two road favorites and then on Friday I added in the Jacksonville Jaguars as an option for those who didn’t have teams like the Commanders, Ravens, Bills or Bengals. 

While the first four teams offered locked us into the standard practice of the best survivor pool strategy, using the Jaguars as one of our survivor pool picks offered us the rare opportunity to use a bottom-feeding team and maybe save some better teams for the future. It was especially helpful for those in Circa Survivor who still have to make sure they have teams saved for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

So where do we go with our survivor pool picks for Week 8? Let’s dive into the matchups and the latest Vegas odds & lines.

Best NFL Survivor Pool Strategy For 2024 NFL Week 8

As we get ready to make our survivor pool picks for NFL Week 8, we need to make sure we are aligned with the best survivor pool strategy first and then see, like last week, if there are spots where we can deviate. 

We want to start by checking out which home teams have the softest matchups, which of those teams have the biggest and most favorable point spreads and, from there, check in with the money lines. The juicier the better, right?

Once we set up that list and rank those teams, then we can take a look at our past survivor pool picks this season and start crossing teams off. Given the way this season has gone, we are hoping to find ourselves a game like we did last week with the Jaguars. To do this, we also need to look at which teams we want to target against. 

Picking against the Panthers, Patriots and the Titans is definitely going to be in play. The Browns were fixing to be in that group as well, but with the change at quarterback and the return of Nick Chubb, there’s a slight air of unpredictability. Not so much against the Ravens, but as we look to future survivor pool picks, we have to keep some of the in-season changes in mind.

With no teams on a bye this week, it’s a full slate from which to choose. We know the best survivor pool strategy, so let’s organize our selections and make our survivor pool picks for NFL Week 8. 

 

 

 

NFL Survivor Pool Picks For Week 8

Detroit Lions (-11.5 Home Favorite; -650 Money Line)

This will probably be the most popular survivor pool pick for Week 8 as the Tennessee Titans are one of those teams we are targeting against. Mason Rudolph is under center, they just traded off DeAndre Hopkins and their defense is starting to show some cracks in the armor. 

They got beaten up pretty handily by the Bills last week and dropped the game the week before to a bad Colts team. The Lions are a team that can beat you both on the ground and through the air, so expect a strong, balanced attack this week.

Baltimore Ravens (-9 Road Favorite; -450 Money Line)

While the point spread isn’t the biggest on the slate and the Ravens are on the road, it’s pretty tough to imagine them losing to the Browns, based on everything we’ve seen from them. 

Their defense isn’t what it used to be, but this offense is firing on all cylinders and Lamar Jackson is having himself another MVP-caliber season. With Derrick Henry bulldozing defenses on the ground, Jackson’s passing has opened up even more this season and this team is easily a favorite to rep the AFC in the Super Bowl.

 

 

 

Green Bay Packers (-4 Road Favorite; -210 Money Line)

The Jaguars just spent two weeks in London and are now preparing themselves for one of the more explosive offenses in the game. Jordan Love looks great in the pocket, and he’s got an array of fantastic pass catchers at his disposal. 

The secondary could use a little help, but Jaire Alexander should be on Brian Thomas and then it’s up to the Jags to try and move the chains with mid-level talent. If you don’t have the Lions or Ravens available to you, the Packers might be your best option given the difficulty of their remaining schedule.

Kansas City Chiefs (-9.5 Road Favorite; -500 Money Line)

While I don’t expect huge fireworks from the arrival of DeAndre Hopkins, it’s obviously another string receiving threat for Patrick Mahomes to utilize.

 The Raiders upset the Chiefs last year on Christmas Day, but Kansas City is 18-4 against the Raiders since 2013 and haven’t lost a road game to the Raiders since 2017. I don’t see a world where the upset occurs, especially after the Raiders traded away Davante Adams and basically showed the league they’re giving up.

Denver Broncos (-10 Home Favorite; -500 Money Line)

While I do have the Lions available to me this week, I think I’m going to land on the Broncos this week. I know I’ve said that they concern me and that, perhaps, they’re a bit of a fraudulent team sitting at 4-3 right now, the Carolina Panthers are one of those teams where routinely picking against them is more than just a viable survivor pool strategy. 

Their one win came against a Raiders team struggling with its identity while I believe Sean Payton and Joe Lombardi have this Broncos team more in a place they’ve been hoping to be. Bo Nix is starting to come into his own and we are starting to see the cream rise to the top with their pass catchers. 

On the other side, Bryce Young is back under center to replace an injured Andy Dalton and that just doesn’t seem like it’s going to help. I won’t bet this game with the spread, but straight up, the Broncos should take care of business.

 

 

 

Best of luck in Week 8 and I’ll see you for more survivor pool picks and the best survivor pool strategy in Week 9!