NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 10: Advice and Predictions
Surviving an entire NFL season without a loss takes planning, knowledge, and a little bit of luck, but there is no better feeling than stringing together 18 straight victories for the ultimate prize. Doc’s Sports will be ranking the survivor pool options every week from most to least confident, while giving insight on potential strategy to deploy in the second half of the season. Last week, we correctly picked the 49ers and Texans for our official and contrarian selections, both of whom won by at least 20 points. However, that wasn’t much of a feat as 14 of the 15 favorites won outright, with the only upset being the Green Bay Packers over the New England Patriots. It was a relatively calm week for survivor pools last week, but that is not the case this time around. There are only three teams favored by more than a touchdown, and if you have used them already, things could get interesting in Week 10. Let’s dive in.
Doc’s Sports offers NFL expert picks for every game on our NFL predictions page.
Jacksonville Jaguars (-10.5) Over Tennessee Titans
The Jacksonville Jaguars are the only double-digit favorite of the week, and deserve their spot at the top of this list. If you still have the Jaguars available, they are a great pick. End of story. Jacksonville picked up a pair of key defensive pieces at the trade deadline, further cementing their title of Super Bowl contenders. They have won back-to-back games by three or more possessions, and will dominate the Titans on both sides of the ball. Tennessee is coming off their bye week, but with Jacksonville having played on Thursday last week, the rest advantage is reduced. Jacksonville still has a few winnable home matchups upcoming, so you could save them, but if you want to maximize your chances at advancing to Week 11, this is the way to go.
Seattle Seahawks (-6.5) Over Las Vegas Raiders
Fernando Mendoza is set to make his first career NFL start, and it is coming against the reigning Super Bowl champions. Seattle’s defense is one of the best units in the league, especially up front, and it is hard to imagine Mendoza finding any success on the offensive side of the ball. The Raiders defense won’t do much better, as they have allowed 30+ points in six straight games, and now take on the best receiver in the league in Jaxson Smith-Njigba. Seattle doesn’t have too many easy matchups left on their schedule, making them a good candidate to pull the trigger on this week if you aren’t taking the Jaguars. Since we used Jacksonville already, the Seahawks will be our official selection of Week 10.
Buffalo Bills (-7.5) Over New York Jets
The Buffalo Bills’ 7-1 start is their best since 1993, and the Jets will not be the ones to halt their momentum. The Jets defense used to be able to keep them in games regardless of how the offense played, but four straight games allowing three or more touchdowns has put an end to that notion. They now come up against a motivated Josh Allen, who should have no problem adding to that streak. The Bills do have other winnable AFC East matchups still to come, including home games against both the Jets and Dolphins, but they are still a solid Week 10 survivor pool pick.
Los Angeles Rams (-9.5) Over Arizona Cardinals
The Rams are further down this list than the 9.5-point spread suggests. Their offense looked unimpressive against a previously struggling Commanders defense last week, and they have now lost Puka Nacua for the next month. The Rams’ receivers are far from reliable, but we still can’t put this team any lower than fourth this week. Arizona is starting Carson Beck at quarterback, and the Rams will have revenge on their mind after losing to Arizona earlier this year. This is a must-win for Los Angeles if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive, and they find a way to get over the line in Glendale. Their easiest game remaining is probably at home against the Cowboys, emphasizing that this may be the last time to use the Rams this year.
San Francisco 49ers (-4.5) Over Dallas Cowboys
The San Francisco 49ers keep overcoming injuries in impressive fashion, making it hard to imagine it will be the Cowboys who slow them down. These two historic franchises have an intertwined history, and it will be the 49ers that get to write the next chapter. Brock Purdy is playing like the MVP, and now has a new target to aim at in Keenan Allen. Dallas managed to escape with a win over the lowly Colts last week, but they didn’t look good for long stretches, and the 49ers are a much tougher task. San Francisco is a good pick, but with matchups still to come against the Cardinals, Eagles, and winless Chargers, they are also a good team to still have left in the chamber down the stretch.
Cincinnati Bengals (-3.5) Over Pittsburgh Steelers
An AFC North battle on Sunday Night Football with serious playoff implications? Sign me up. This is going to be a fantastic game to wrap up the day, and the Bengals are a very legitimate pick to make in Week 10. Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense have been humming, and their defense is (finally) starting to play complementary football. Pittsburgh has exceeded expectations this year with a rejuvenated Aaron Rodgers, but a road win in Cincinnati past his bedtime is a different story. The Steelers offense is still only average, and that won’t be enough to keep pace with the in-form Bengals. For our official contrarian selection of the week, we will pull the trigger on Cincinnati.
Kansas City Chiefs (-3.5) Over Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are one of the most inconsistent teams in the league, and a long flight home from Madrid for a date with the Chiefs is not how to get back on track. James Pearce has returned on the defensive side of the ball, but that won’t matter when the Falcons can’t move the chains on offense. Kansas City always finds a way to run up the score, and can you really trust Michael Penix Jr. against Patrick Mahomes at this stage of the season? The Chiefs are only short favorites on the road, but this would still be a massive surprise if they fall short in Atlanta.
Detroit Lions (-2.5) Over New England Patriots
International games can produce strange results, but I have the Lions pretty high up this list for being less than a field goal favorite. Detroit’s offense is the epitome of consistency, and with Christian Gonzalez out for New England, how will the Patriots get stops? On offense, New England is missing their five best skill position players not named Drake Maye due to injury. The Patriots won’t be able to take advantage of a mediocre Lions defense, and when Detroit puts on a show in Germany, there will only be one winner. Detroit still has a home game against the Titans that I have my eye on, but if you already have your Week 14 pick circled, taking Detroit this week is probably the last safe option on the list.
Baltimore Ravens (-5.5) Over Los Angeles Chargers
Don’t let the 5.5-point spread fool you, this is far from an easy matchup for the Ravens. Los Angeles hasn’t won a game yet this year, but the reality is that the Ravens defense has looked shaky, and the incoming Jacoby Brissett is not going to suddenly fix their offense. This Ravens team has lots of flaws, and while they are still better than the Chargers, it isn’t by much. Los Angeles still has a shred of pride left to play for, and this smells like a trap pick for survivor pools in Week 10.
Houston Texans (-4.5) Over Cleveland Browns
The Texans playoff push is back on after a slow start, and taking care of business against the Browns will keep that hope alive. However, this is no layup for Houston. Both of these teams pride themselves on their defense, which means there will be very little to separate these two down the stretch. Deshaun Watson has already led the Browns to five fourth quarter game-winning drives this season, and if this is close, Cleveland will be liking their odds. The edge goes to Houston as they are slightly better on both sides, but the city of Cleveland hasn’t seen this team play meaningful November football in decades, so expect a very loud Huntington Bank Field.
Green Bay Packers (-3) Over Minnesota Vikings
When two NFC North titans clash, there is no reason to get involved in survivor pools. These are two legitimate Super Bowl contenders, and it makes no sense to step in front of either team. Minnesota has lost two straight, but Kirk Cousins is now at the helm, and their defense is thriving. The Packers have won five of their last six, making it equally daunting to fade them. It’s in Green Bay, so they get the nod, but it’s better to stay away.
New Orleans Saints (-2.5) Over Carolina Panthers
If you are feeling desperate, you can take the Saints, but it is still probably better to look further up the list. Carolina’s defense has fallen off a cliff over the last month, and Tyler Shough has the big play ability needed to take advantage. This might be the last time to use the Saints this year in the favorite role, but it is still safer to take a more confident pick in Week 10.
Washington Commanders (+1.5) Over New York Giants
It’s a short week for two NFC East teams that have had their ups and downs this year, and played out to a tie last time they met. The lean goes to Washington with the superior quarterback, but not by much. Stay away.
Indianapolis Colts (-3.5) Over Miami Dolphins
I can see the logic in trying to use up the Colts in this matchup, but our strategy of fading the Miami Dolphins will not come into play here. These are arguably the two worst teams in the league right now in terms of talent on the roster, and putting our lives on the line with either of these teams at this stage of the season is asking for trouble.
Official Survivor Pool Pick of the Week: Seattle Seahawks Over Las Vegas Raiders
Contrarian Survivor Pool Pick of the Week: Cincinnati Bengals Over Pittsburgh Steelers
Get NFL picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.
Most Recent NFL Survivor Pool Picks
- NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 10: Advice and Predictions
- NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 9: Advice and Predictions
- NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 8: Advice and Predictions
- NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 7: Advice and Predictions
- NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 6: Advice and Predictions
- NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 5: Advice and Predictions
- NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 4: Advice and Predictions
- NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 3: Advice and Predictions
- NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 2: Advice and Predictions
- NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 1: Advice and Predictions