2024 Survivor Pool Picks and Strategy: Week 18

You can get advice for the 2024 NFL Survivor Pool on this page. I’ll be posting my top five picks each week, as well as the trap of the week, so check back if you need tips and analysis. I’ll also be doing something new, which is planning out for picks weeks in advance.

If you want to enter – it’s free with a $350 prize – go here to the 2024 NFL Survivor Pool page.

As always, follow me @walterfootball to stay up to date.

2024 NFL Survivor Strategy: The Nine-Week Plan

One of the best DFS players in the world, WhistlesGoWoo, who is also a professor at the University of Connecticut School of Business, penned a research article about survivor pools where he has a rolling horizon strategy. This entails planning out the schedule nine weeks in advance. This is better than plotting out the entire year because things can change due to injuries and unexpected outperformers and underperformers. It’s also wise to have a plan to prevent yourself from being trapped in a bad week with no options.

With that in mind, I’m going to deploy Whistle’s strategy and plan out each nine weeks in advance. Here are the viable options each week:

Week 1: Bengals (vs. Patriots)
Week 2: Lions (vs. Buccaneers)
Week 3: Raiders (vs. Panthers)
Week 4: 49ers (vs. Patriots)
Week 5: Seahawks (vs. Giants)
Week 6: Texans (at Patriots)
Week 7: Jaguars (vs. Patriots)
Week 8: Chargers (vs. Saints)
Week 9: Eagles (vs. Jaguars)
Week 10: Bears (vs. Patriots)
Week 11: Vikings (at Titans)
Week 12: Broncos (at Raiders)
Thanksgiving: Chiefs (vs. Raiders)
Week 13: Redskins (vs. Titans)
Week 14: Dolphins (vs. Jets)
Week 15: Cardinals (vs. Patriots)
Week 16: Packers (vs. Saints)
Christmas: Ravens (at Texans)
Week 17: Buccaneers (vs. Panthers)
Week 18: Falcons (vs. Panthers)

Based on this schedule, I think planning out Bengals (vs. Patriots), Lions (vs. Buccaneers), Raiders (vs. Panthers), 49ers (vs. Patriots), Seahawks (vs. Giants), Texans (at Patriots), Jaguars (vs. Patriots), Chargers (vs. Saints), Eagles (vs. Jaguars), Bears (vs. Patriots), Vikings (at Titans), Broncos (at Raiders), Chiefs (vs. Raiders), Redskins (vs. Titans), Dolphins (vs. Jets), Cardinals (vs. Patriots), Packers (vs. Saints), Ravens (at Texans), Buccaneers (vs. Panthers), then Falcons makes the most sense.

2024 NFL Survivor Week 18: Top Five Options

Baltimore Ravens (vs. Browns)
If you’ve made it this far and still have the Ravens available, congrats on winning survivor!
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Saints)
This is an Aurora Snowmo Game, but the Buccaneers should have their way with the Saints.
Denver Broncos (vs. Chiefs)
The Broncos should be able to win against Kansas City’s backups, but this is an Aurora Snowmo Game.
Atlanta Falcons (vs. Panthers)
Another Aurora Snowmo game, but the Falcons are much better with Michael Penix Jr.
Green Bay Packers (vs. Bears)
It’s unclear if the Packers will play their starters. If they do – they could play for seeding – they would be able to crush the Bears quite easily.

2024 Survivor Top Options: 66-19. ( Week 1: CIN, Week 2: DET; Week 3: LV, Week 4: SF; Week 5: SEA; Week 6: HOU; Week 7: JAX; Week 8: LAC; Week 9: PHI; Week 10: CHI; Week 11: MIN; Week 12: DEN; Thanksgiving: KC; Week 13: WAS; Week 14: MIA; Week 15: ARZ; Week 16: GB; Christmas: BAL; Week 17: TB; Week 18: ATL). 2023 Survivor Top Options: 66-24. 2022 Survivor Top Options: 70-20. 2021 Survivor Top Options: 71-19. 2020 Survivor Top Options: 68-17. 2019 Survivor Top Options: 62-23. 2018 Survivor Top Options: 69-16. 2017 Survivor Top Options: 63-20. 2016 Survivor Top Options: 62-23. 2015 Survivor Top Options: 58-27. 2014 Survivor Top Options: 64-21.

2024 NFL Survivor Week 18: Trap of the Week

San Angeles Chargers (at Raiders)
The Chargers may not play their starters if the Steelers win on Saturday night. If the Steelers prevail, the Chargers will be stuck with the No. 6 seed. I discussed this further on my NFL Picks page.

2024 Survivor Trap Games: 3-14. (Week 1: BUF, Week 2: LAC; Week 3: SEA; Week 4: PHI; Week 5: CHI; Week 6: ATL; Week 7: CIN; Week 8: PIT; Week 9: MIN; Week 10: NYG; Week 11: NYJ; Week 12: MIA; Week 13: TB; Week 14: CIN; Week 15: CIN; Week 16: MIN; Week 17: BUF; Week 18: LAC). 2023 Survivor Trap Games: 6-12. 2022 Survivor Trap Games: 6-12. 2021 Survivor Trap Games: 6-12. 2020 Survivor Trap Games: 8-9. 2019 Survivor Trap Games: 4-13. 2018 Survivor Trap Games: 8-9. 2017 Survivor Trap Games: 5-12. 2016 Survivor Trap Games: 5-12. 2015 Survivor Trap Games: 8-9. 2014 Survivor Trap Games: 8-9.