Players who have survived through six weeks of their NFL survivor pools certainly deserve credit for doing so, after a wild first six weeks of the season. In Week 7, there are five teams favored by a touchdown or more going into their respective games. However, being a favorite isn’t the same as picking up a win for a survivor pool entry, as the first month and a half of the season has shown us.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Week 6 of the NFL season was filled with chaos for survivor pool players. However, there were some results that did align with the needs of those still on the hunt to be their pool’s sole survivor. Here is a look at some of the more popular picks that did indeed come through.
The big story in Week 6 of survivor pool play was how three heavy favorites really let players down. It started with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were the most popular survivor pool pick in Week 6 at Yahoo! Sports. They lost 20-18 to the Pittsburgh Steelers, with Tom Brady somehow being outperformed by a combination of Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky.
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers failed to deliver for many survivor pool players for the second straight week against a New York team, as the Packers lost to the New York Jets. After a 3-3 first half, the Jets outscored the Packers 24-7 in the final 30 minutes of play to end many pool entries.
Finally, the San Francisco 49ers disappointed anyone who chose them in a knockout pool with a 28-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. This was a difficult spot for the Niners, playing their second straight road game against an NFC South opponent. But losing the turnover battle by a 3-0 margin will hurt a team no matter where the game is played.
Going into Week 7, survivor pool players whose entries are still alive will be rooting for less chaos among the top picks on the board. Here, we take a look at some of those top picks using exclusive Elias Insights.
The New England Patriots are one of five teams favored by a touchdown or more this week, as they host the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. New England is looking to extend a two-game winning streak, one that has been fueled primarily by their defense. The Patriots have allowed 15 total points over the last two weeks, shutting out the Detroit Lions before giving up 15 points to the Cleveland Browns.
Chicago has struggled offensively in its own right, ranking 31st in the NFL in scoring offense with 15.5 points per game. They do have some extra rest coming into this contest, having last played on Thursday Night Football in Week 6 against the Washington Commanders. Chicago went 0-for-3 on red zone scoring attempts in that game, including a failed fourth down attempt in the final seconds at the goal line. The Bears will aim to be more efficient in scoring range this week to derail the most popular Week 7 survivor pool pick at Yahoo!
Despite disappointing many survivor pool players last week by losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers, players whose entries are still alive are back on board with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7. Tom Brady and the Bucs are 4-0 against the Panthers since Brady joined the team. But this year’s Buccaneers have struggled offensively, ranking dead last in rushing yards per game and 20th in points per game.
For the Panthers to upset the Buccaneers this week, though, they must first figure out who is going to play quarterback. Baker Mayfield is expected to miss this week due to his ankle injury, while P.J. Walker suffered a neck injury and is questionable himself. Should Walker not be able to go, we could see Jacob Eason or Sam Darnold get their first start of the season for Carolina.
The Dallas Cowboys had a four-game win streak snapped last week against the Philadelphia Eagles. This week, they return home to face the Detroit Lions, in a game that should see Dak Prescott return to the field after suffering a thumb injury in the team’s season opener against the Buccaneers. No matter who starts at quarterback for Dallas this week, they will take on a Lions team that is 0-10-1 on the road since the start of last season.
If Dallas is going to help survivor pool players with a win this week, their vaunted defense will need to be at its best to stop a potent Lions offense. Detroit has averaged 28 points per game this season, the third-best figure in the NFL. With D’Andre Swift trending toward returning to action after missing the last two games, the Lions offense will have most of its weapons available following their bye week.
Last week, the Las Vegas Raiders and Houston Texans both enjoyed a bye week. In Week 7, it’s the Raiders that survivor pool players are more confident in to pick up a win in this showdown of one-win AFC teams. Las Vegas ranks 10th in the NFL in total offense this season, and will take on a Texans team that ranks 31st in total defense, something the Raiders will look to exploit on Sunday.
Coming out of their bye week, faith in the Raiders is largely dependent on the continued improvement of the Derek Carr-Davante Adams connection. Adams has three 100-yard receiving games this season, including two in a row coming into Week 7. He has averaged 18.7 yards per catch over his last two games, and a third consecutive big game could be just what the Raiders need to come through for survivor pool players here.
The Cincinnati Bengals aim for a second straight win over an NFC South opponent when they face the Atlanta Falcons. Both teams are coming off of wins, though it is the Bengals that have so far attracted the faith of survivor pool players. Those backing the Bengals may need to prepare for another close game featuring the defending AFC champions this week.
Already this season, four of the Bengals’ six games have featured a game-winning scoring play within the final two minutes of regulation or overtime. Last week, it came in the form of a 60-yard touchdown from Ja’Marr Chase with 1:57 left to play. To avoid another close call, the Bengals will need to find a way to slow down Atlanta’s versatile quarterback Marcus Mariota, who completed 13 of 14 pass attempts and added 50 rushing yards and a touchdown a week ago in a win over the 49ers.
The Green Bay Packers have let survivor pool players down two weeks in a row, losing as at least seven-point favorites in back-to-back games against the New York Giants and Jets. In Week 7, the Packers are favorites once again, this time by five points against the Washington Commanders. Green Bay will look to take advantage of a Washington quarterback situation that is in flux, with Carson Wentz set to miss the contest with a broken finger.
Replacing Wentz under center will be Taylor Heinicke, who went 7-8 as Washington’s starting quarterback last season. One of his losses came against the Packers, as Green Bay held Heinicke and company to just 10 points in a 24-10 Packers victory at Lambeau Field. If the Heinicke-led offense repeats that type of performance on Sunday, Green Bay should be able to get back into the win column.
Make your survivor pool picks with confidence, and when you need more insights from the most trusted name in sports, you know where to find them!
