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: Chiefs (at Panthers), Broncos (at Raiders), Dolphins (vs. Patriots)
Thanksgiving: Packers (vs. Dolphins), Chiefs (vs. Raiders)
Week 13: Vikings (vs. Cardinals), Redskins (vs. Titans)
Week 14: Buccaneers (vs. Raiders), Bills (at Rams)
Week 15: Jets (at Jaguars), Falcons (at Raiders)
Week 16: Bills (vs. Patriots), Falcons (vs. Giants)
Christmas: Ravens (at Texans)
Week 17: Redskins (vs. Falcons), Buccaneers (vs. Panthers), Saints (vs. Raiders), Jaguars (vs. Titans)
Week 18: Ravens (vs. Browns), Falcons (vs. Panthers), Bills (at Patriots), Buccaneers (vs. Saints)
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), Buccaneers (vs. Raiders), Falcons (at Raiders), Bills (vs. Patriots), Ravens (at Texans), Jaguars (vs. Titans), then ??? makes the most sense.
2024 NFL Survivor Week 12: Top Five Options
-
Washington Redskins (vs. Cowboys)
The Cowboys are not a functional team right now, and they could be even worse with their new offensive line injuries.
-
Kansas City Chiefs (at Panthers)
The Chiefs should be able to beat the Panthers, but you may have to save them for Thanksgiving.
-
Denver Broncos (at Raiders)
The Broncos bring lots of pressure, and Gardner Minshew is awful when pressured.
-
Houston Texans (vs. Titans)
Will Levis will continue to take more sacks and throw more interceptions in this matchup.
-
Detroit Lions (at Colts)
The Lions are in a tough look-ahead spot, but they should still be able to win.
2024 Survivor Top Options: 38-17. ( 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). 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 12: Trap of the Week
Miami Dolphins (vs. Patriots)
The Dolphins are in a tough look-ahead spot with a Thanksgiving game in just four days. The Patriots have gotten better recently as well. I am betting them this week, per my NFL Picks page.
2024 Survivor Trap Games: 3-8. (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). 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.
NFL Picks - Nov. 20
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 20
NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 19
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
