It’s the final week for (most) survivor pools and if you’re still standing, congratulations! Making it this far is no small feat in what has been a wild NFL season. Week 18 can be tricky, with some teams fighting for their playoff lives while others rest key players. My focus will be on teams that not only need a win, but are also in a great position to do so. Realistically, considering this is the last week of the season you may not have most of these teams available. But, if you have any of them – I’ll explain why they’re the best choice for your survivor pool. Let’s dive into my top NFL survivor pool picks for Week 18!
NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 18: Ravens, Broncos, Buccaneers or Falcons?
Ravens -17.5 vs. Browns | NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 18
The Baltimore Ravens are in a position that requires them to win or tie against the Cleveland Browns in order to clinch the AFC North. Alternatively, they could secure the division if the Pittsburgh Steelers lose or tie against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Ravens are the heaviest favorites on the board this week, laying a massive 17.5 points against a Browns team with nothing but pride left to play for. Cleveland’s Head Coach Kevin Stefanski has yet to name a starting quarterback, hinting that both Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe could see action.
DTR has started the last two games for Cleveland, completing just 44 of 81 passes for 327 yards, with no touchdowns and three interceptions. No matter who gets the nod under center, the Ravens’ defense should have no trouble handling the Browns’ offense.
If by some miracle you have the Ravens available in your survivor pool, then this is a layup.
Broncos -10.5 vs. Chiefs | NFL Survivor Week 18
After squandering their overtime game last Saturday, the Broncos now face a must-win or tie scenario to make the playoffs. The other path to getting in is if the Bengals lose or tie against the Steelers and the Dolphins lose or tie against the Jets.
The good news for Denver is that the Kansas City Chiefs have already secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed and plan to rest their starters, making this game meaningless for them. Adding to Denver’s advantage is playing in front of their home crowd.
Carson Wentz will start at quarterback for the Chiefs on Sunday. While Wentz has plenty of NFL experience, he’s barely seen action this season, attempting just two passes for 20 yards.
The Chiefs’ backups may have some motivation to play spoiler or showcase their talent for future opportunities, but Denver remains in a strong position.
While the Chiefs could make things a bit uneasy, the Broncos should find a way to get it done. It’s a solid spot to roll with Denver in your survivor pool.
Buccaneers -13.5 vs. Saints | NFL Survivor Week 18
The Buccaneers came through for us last week as our top survivor pick, and if you still haven’t used them, this is another great opportunity.
A win or tie would clinch the NFC South for the Bucs. They could also secure the division if the Atlanta Falcons lose or tie against the Carolina Panthers, though it’s likely the Falcons take care of business. That said, so will the Bucs.
The Saints have been a disaster in the second half of the season, battling numerous injuries to key players and dropping their last three games. New Orleans has nothing to play for except pride and the chance to spoil Tampa Bay’s division clinching hopes.
The Saints seem unlikely to rise to the occasion, though, as Tampa Bay is a 13.5-point favorite and Baker Mayfield has the offense firing on all cylinders, averaging 33.2 points per game over the last five weeks. Meanwhile, the Saints’ quarterback carousel of Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener hasn’t inspired much confidence, with the team failing to score more than 19 points in their last three games, including a 34-0 shutout loss in Green Bay.
The Buccaneers should cruise to victory and lock up the division without much resistance.
Falcons -8.5 vs. Panthers | NFL Survivor Week 18
The fourth recommendation for a survivor pick focuses on the Atlanta Falcons, who need a win and a Buccaneers loss to clinch the NFC South and make the playoffs.
The only concern with this pick is whether the Falcons might lose motivation if they see the Bucs dominating their game. However, since both teams play at the same time, it’s unlikely Atlanta would let up. Every team wants to finish strong, and anything can happen over four quarters.
For the Falcons, this is also an opportunity to give their rookie quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., valuable reps. Penix has shown promise so far. In his debut against the Giants, he completed 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards, with one interception that wasn’t his fault, but no touchdowns. Last week, he delivered in the clutch with a game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter and finished with 223 yards on 19 completions.
This week, Penix is set up to post his best numbers yet against a Panthers defense that ranks dead last in both defensive EPA per play and success rate allowed.
Of all the teams I’ve suggested, the Falcons might be the likeliest option still available in your survivor pool. If so, don’t hesitate to use them.
Best NFL Week 18 Survivor Pick: Atlanta Falcons
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