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NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 8: Advice and Predictions

by Spencer Toth - 10/28/2026

NFL survivor pool picks Week 8 Trevor Lawrence Jacksonville Jaguars

Surviving an entire NFL season is one of the most difficult feats to achieve in the world of sports, and this year has been especially brutal with several big upsets. At this point last year, there were 22% of survivor pool entries still alive, but this year, there are only 2% left. In Week 7, the biggest favorite of the week, the Houston Texans, lost in overtime to the Giants as 10.5-point favorites. The Jets lost to the Dolphins as 4.5-point favorites, while the 49ers and Panthers also lost as favorites by about a field goal. If you are still alive at this stage of the season, the finish line is now in sight. Six teams are favored by at least five points this week, giving us several viable options to choose from. This could be the most pivotal week yet as the odds are that at least one of the favorites will fall. Without further ado, here are the Week 8 survivor pool picks ranked from most to least confident.

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Jacksonville Jaguars (-9.5) Over Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are holding a fire sale, and have already traded two of their best starters for draft picks in the last couple of days. Jonathan Taylor seems like he will be the next domino to fall, while Josh Downs has officially requested a trade. Meanwhile, the Jaguars are rested, having flown back from London for their bye week, and have all the motivation to continue their ascent up the AFC standings. Jacksonville has earned enough trust over the last season and a half to pull the trigger on them at this stage of the season. A Week 12 home game against the Titans is probably the only other spot we might use them, but I am willing to deal with that down the road to select the most confident team this week. 

Cincinnati Bengals (-10.5) Over Tennessee Titans

The Cincinnati Bengals are the biggest favorite of Week 8 after stringing together five straight second half touchdown drives to stun the Ravens last week. Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense is starting to live up to its potential, while their defense is finally looking semi-competent after years of disappointments. Meanwhile, the Titans look as though they are eyeing up a new quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft as Cam Ward struggles to find consistency. The Titans have racked up the fewest yards in the league up to this point, and that will not fly against a dominant Bengals offense. Cincinnati still has a home game against the Saints and road matchups against the Colts and Panthers, making them a good team to save if you haven’t used them yet. 

New England Patriots (-6.5) Over Miami Dolphins

Fading the Dolphins is never a bad idea, as a Week 7 win over the Jets doesn’t mean Miami is suddenly good. The Patriots shook off a slow start to settle into a rhythm, with Drake Maye once again looking like an MVP candidate. When you couple that with a defense that carried them to the Super Bowl, this spread could easily be double digits. Divisional matchups are always scary, especially with New England on the road, but they are a confident pick if you want to avoid the two heavier favorites. Their remaining home games are against the Packers, Bills, Vikings, Broncos, Chiefs, and Dolphins, but that Miami encounter may be a meaningless Week 18 tilt. Use them or lose them at this stage of the season. 

Los Angeles Rams (-6.5) Over Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Rams aren’t looking like the preseason Super Bowl favorites we expected them to be, but they are still good enough to beat up on the 0-6 Chargers. This game means more to the Rams than it does the Chargers as they can still make the playoffs, and it would be a real shock if this is the matchup where the Chargers finally win. The Rams don’t have very many easy games left, and are unlikely to be touchdown favorites again this year, making it a good time to use them if you haven’t yet. 

Washington Commanders (-5.5) Over Philadelphia Eagles

The Commanders are 1-4-1 this year, but are still big favorites over the Eagles, and rightfully so. The long list of injuries and general despair in Philadelphia cannot be ignored. Jalen Hurts is likely out for the year, Saquon Barkley has injury issues of his own, and the Eagles have dropped five straight. Jayden Daniels has had another week to rest his arm, and this is the chance the Commanders need to save their season. Washington doesn’t have a good record, but their schedule is quite forgiving in the second half of the year, and the Commanders could be a sneaky team to lean on down the stretch. 

Dallas Cowboys (-6.5) Over Arizona Cardinals

Who are the Dallas Cowboys? One week their offense looks like the best unit in the NFL, and the next they are laying goose eggs. The Cowboys defense isn’t very convincing either, but none of that will matter against the Cardinals. Arizona has two wins this year, both against teams from Los Angeles, but neither were especially strong showings. The Cowboys are the lowest-ranked of the big favorites on this list but are still higher than the field goal favorites to come. I want to see a bit more from this team before we put our fate in their hands. 

Buffalo Bills (-3.5) Over Baltimore Ravens

If Lamar Jackson doesn’t play, the Bills are one of the most confident picks of the week. I wouldn’t lock in this pick now if you can wait for more news, as it is too risky if the two-time MVP does suit up. Buffalo has looked fantastic in the clutch as Josh Allen repeatedly puts this team on his shoulders, and the Bills are also coming off their bye. However, a weak AFC East means the Bills will have several spreads wider than this later this year, making them a good team to save. 

Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5) Over Cleveland Browns

The Pittsburgh Steelers won’t be a popular pick against the 5-2 Browns, but they aren’t a bad option in Week 8. Cleveland has needed five late scoring drives to secure all five of their wins, and that is not a recipe for sustained success. Aaron Rodgers is timeless, the Steelers run game is firing on all cylinders, and it is only a matter of time before the Browns fall apart. Pittsburgh does still have to play the Eagles, Panthers, and Titans, all of which should be about as winnable as this one at home. 

New York Jets (-1.5) Over Las Vegas Raiders

There are worse options on the board than the New York Jets. I know they lost to the previously winless Miami Dolphins last week, but this may be the last time we can use the Jets. Their defense is better than Las Vegas’, the run game is consistent, and they will be eager to wash that bad taste out of their mouth. The Raiders have dropped four straight, and now Kirk Cousins is playing with his back against the wall. 

Seattle Seahawks (-3.5) Over Chicago Bears

Seattle and Chicago square off on Monday night in what should be a thrilling affair. That is not what we want in survivor pools, as it is hard to fade the unpredictable Bears. Caleb Williams has ignited this offense and Chicago is excellent on the ground, making this a game that will flip based` off one explosive play. The reigning Super Bowl champions will probably find a way to win, but it is probably better to look elsewhere. 

Atlanta Falcons (+2.5) Over Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This is the only underdog I would consider taking this week, but they are still pretty far down the list. The Falcons are coming off a big win against the 49ers last week, and appear to be putting it all together on both sides of the ball. There are still too many question marks surrounding Tampa Bay to consider taking them in this spot, but this is one that it may be better to just stay away from. 

Green Bay Packers (-3.5) Over Carolina Panthers

The Green Bay Packers are a satisfactory option if you want to get your sweat out of the way early on Thursday night, but it is hard to be too confident in this offense. The injury reports are lengthy for both teams, meaning this game will come down to which set of reserves can make a game-changing play. 

Detroit Lions (-3.5) Over Minnesota Vikings

The lean is for Detroit to hand the Vikings their first loss of the season, but fading the only undefeated team left in the NFL feels like playing with fire. 

Denver Broncos (+1.5) Over Kansas City Chiefs

No reason to touch this game. These AFC West juggernauts still have easy games left on their schedule against struggling divisional opposition, and this one could go either way. 

Official Survivor Pool Pick of the Week: Jacksonville Jaguars Over Indianapolis Colts

Contrarian Survivor Pool Pick of the Week: Pittsburgh Steelers Over Cleveland Browns

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