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NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 2: Advice and Predictions

by Spencer Toth - 9/9/2025

NFL survivor pool picks Week 2 Dak Prescott Dallas Cowboys

The first week of the NFL season is in the rearview mirror, and you now have just 17 more weeks to go until you are a survivor pool champion! It was a relatively uneventful opening week for survivor pools, as teams favored by at least 3.5 points went a perfect 5-0 straight up. The Kansas City Chiefs lost, which knocked out a few participants, but there are still more than 90% of the initial entries alive. We played it safe in Week 1 with our top three choices going through, including the official pick with the Denver Broncos. There are a few relatively safe options to choose from this week, with five teams favored by at least 5.5 points. These are your survivor pool picks ranked from most to least confident for Week 2. 

Doc’s Sports offers NFL expert picks for every game on our NFL predictions page.

Baltimore Ravens (-11.5) Over Cleveland Browns

Both of these teams lost by one point in Week 1 in games they could have certainly won. However, the Ravens at home against the lowly Cleveland Browns are one of the few times a double-digit spread is warranted this early in the season. Lamar Jackson and company will shred the Browns, and this is the safest pick you can make this week. However, Baltimore has several other winnable games on their schedule, so we will look elsewhere for Week 2. 

Dallas Cowboys (-5.5) Over New York Giants

The Dallas Cowboys were able to go toe-to-toe with the reigning champions in Week 1 and will be able to swat aside the Giants in their home opener. Dak Prescott and the Dallas offense were fully in rhythm, and it is hard to imagine Russell Wilson and company keeping pace. The Cowboys are a moderate favorite on the betting line, but the gap in class between these two teams is much wider than this spread suggests. Not only that, but the Cowboys have home-field advantage, they have an extra three days of rest, and just took the Eagles down to the final possession. To take it a step further, the Cowboys' seven other home games this year are all against teams expected to make or challenge for a playoff spot. This could certainly be the only time this season Dallas is favored by this much, and they will be our official survivor pool pick of the week for Week 2. 

Buffalo Bills (-7) Over New York Jets 

The Buffalo Bills emerged as the Super Bowl favorites after their stunning victory over the Ravens in Week 1. They are an understandably big favorite against the New York Jets and are a safe survivor pool pick for this week. The Jets' offensive explosion wasn’t enough to offset their poor defensive play against the Steelers, and Justin Fields is unlikely to score 30+ points in back-to-back weeks. The Bills aren’t a terrible choice for this week, but with one of the easiest upcoming schedules for the next two months, we will save them for a rainy day. 

Los Angeles Rams (-5.5) Over Tennessee Titans

Cam Ward looked abysmal in his NFL debut, and a hungry Rams pass rush will make his life miserable in Week 2. Tennessee doesn’t have the offensive line needed to protect their rookie, and we saw CJ Stroud end up on his back time and time again last week. The Rams' defense is still underrated, and this will be another low-scoring win for Los Angeles. 

Arizona Cardinals (-6.5) Over Carolina Panthers 

Fading the Panthers is never a bad strategy with Bryce Young under center. Arizona was able to take care of business on the road against the Saints and face off against another subpar NFC South team this week. They head home for what should be a straightforward matchup, and aren’t a bad pick, having already faced their two easiest opponents this year. 

Denver Broncos (-2.5) Over Indianapolis Colts

The Broncos didn’t look pretty for long stretches against the Titans, but found a way to win. The story couldn’t be more different for the Colts, who dominated the Dolphins from start to finish. Denver is the better team on both sides of the ball, and the Colts looked much better than they really were against a lifeless Dolphins side. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+2.5) Over Houston Texans

This is a great contrarian pick to make this week. Tampa Bay wins games with its dominant line on both offense and defense, and will crush the Texans in that category. Houston’s offensive line is nonexistent, leaving CJ Stroud with no options in the pocket. Tampa Bay has a knack for winning games like these, and will use its physicality to improve to 2-0 this season. If you want to root for some upsets to reduce your competition, the Buccaneers are a good pick in the underdog role. 

Los Angeles Chargers (-3) Over Las Vegas Raiders

Justin Herbert looked phenomenal against the Chiefs in Brazil, and this is a great matchup between two 1-0 teams. Geno Smith settled in with his new team nicely against New England, but faces a much tougher matchup on Monday Night Football. Herbert will slice this defense apart, but this one may go down to the final possessions. I fully trust Herbert and the Chargers coaching staff to navigate that situation, making the Chargers a nice pick to make this week.

Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.5) Over Seattle Seahawks

Aaron Rodgers was great against the Jets last week, and there is no reason to expect any regression in the early stages of the season. Seattle doesn’t have the pass rush needed to give him any trouble, and the Steelers' defense will undoubtedly bounce back in Week 2. Not a massive spread to fill you with confidence, but the Steelers are a reasonable Week 2 survivor pick to make, nevertheless. 

San Francisco 49ers (-4.5) Over New Orleans Saints

Even a team of second-stringers for the 49ers can beat the New Orleans Saints. George Kittle will be out for around a month, and Brock Purdy is questionable with multiple injuries. Even with a growing injury list for the 49ers, fading the Saints is never a bad idea. New Orleans will struggle to win games this season, and even optimistic Saints fans are calling for 2-3 wins this year. Will one of their few wins be against a legitimate Super Bowl contender? Probably not. 

Philadelphia Eagles (ML) Over Kansas City Chiefs

The Philadelphia Eagles are a strong play to beat the Chiefs this week, but there is no reason to take the reigning champions in a Super Bowl rematch. You will have lots of opportunities to take Philadelphia this season, and there are no justifications for the Eagles with 31 teams still available to choose from in Week 2. 

Minnesota Vikings (-4.5) Over Atlanta Falcons

The Minnesota Vikings pulled off a stunning fourth-quarter comeback over the Bears on Monday and have what it takes to improve to 2-0. Atlanta has too many issues both on and off the field to put our survivor pool life in their hands at this stage of the season. Minnesota isn’t the best play you can make this week, but they will probably edge out a win on Sunday Night Football. 

Detroit Lions (-5.5) Over Chicago Bears

Both of these NFC North rivals dropped their Week 1 contests, but the heartbreaking fashion of the Bears' defeat will sting much worse. Detroit has the same offensive tools it had last year, and simply needs time to adjust to life without Ben Johnson. A fragile Bears defense will give them a chance to get right on that side of the ball in Week 2. 

Green Bay Packers (-3.5) Over Washington Commanders

The short week for these two NFC hopefuls makes this a game to stay away from. Green Bay has the edge at home after smashing the Lions, and will likely go on to win this Thursday Night matchup. However, Jayden Daniels has pulled off miracles before, and you are better off staying away. 

Miami Dolphins (-1.5) Over New England Patriots

Two disgusting Week 1 showings from these AFC East bottom feeders. We can’t trust the Patriots on the road with a lifeless offense, and the Dolphins are a few losses away from blowing up the entire team. Stay away. 

Jacksonville Jaguars (+3.5) Over Cincinnati Bengals 

Taking underdog spreads of more than a field goal is rarely a good idea in NFL survivor pools. The Jaguars would be my straight-up pick to win this game, but the NFL odds are often a good indicator of the realistic win probabilities. Another matchup between two teams we may want to use later in the season that we should stay away from. 

Official Survivor Pool Pick of the Week: Dallas Cowboys Over New York Giants

Contrarian Survivor Pool Pick of the Week: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Over Houston Texans

Teams Used: Denver Broncos 

Status: Alive

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