If you are unaware of what NFL survivor picks are, the basic concept is you make NFL picks throughout the season, but you can only pick a team once. Once you lose, you’re knocked out, so choose your Week 13 NFL Survivor Pool picks wisely.
If you are new to reading my survivor articles, what I do is outline my “lock of the week,” my “value of the week” and my “high risk, high reward pick.” The lock of the week details what team I think has the best chance of winning their matchup. This would most likely be a good team that plays a bad team. The lock is also the official pick for NFL Survivor Pools, meaning we will not reuse a “lock.” My value pick of the week details a mid-tier team that has a good matchup. And finally my high risk, high reward pick details a bad team that has a good matchup.
To recap last week, I went 2-1, with the Bills and the Football Team both winning their matchups. I told myself to stop taking the Detroit Lions and, of course, I took them. They lost to the Bears, who were missing a ton of starters. With that being said, we are getting limited on teams left to pick for the lock of the week.
Teams Used for “Lock of the Week”
- San Francisco 49ers
- Green Bay Packers
- Arizona Cardinals
- New Orleans Saints
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Carolina Panthers
- Los Angeles Rams
- Indianapolis Colts
- Baltimore Ravens
- New England Patriots
- Washington Football Team
Week 13 NFL Survivor Pool Picks
Lock of the Week | Week 13 NFL Survivor Pool Picks
Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions
The Minnesota Vikings are under .500 and vying for a playoff spot. They have a matchup with the Detroit Lions this week, a team without their best player, D’Andre Swift. Minnesota is also down Dalvin Cook. While Cook is an exceptional running back, they don’t really lose much with Alexander Mattison starting.
The Lions are also the worst team in the NFL. They do not possess much on the ground or in the air, and their defense is not great. This pick feels like it does not have to be explained much and is just a “pick the Vikings and don’t look at it again.”
This pick also features some strategy, as the Vikings still have games against the Steelers, Rams, Packers and two against the Bears. So, this feels like it is the perfect time to pick the Vikings.
NFL Survivor Pool Pick: Minnesota Vikings
Value Pick of the Week | Week 13 NFL Survivor Pool Picks
Dallas Cowboys vs. New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are in shambles and have to resort to Taysom Hill as their starting quarterback this week. This bodes well for a Dallas team who will be short coach Mike McCarthy this week, due to COVID-19. Hill, while a playmaker, is known for his turnovers. This works well for Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs, who have been having great seasons.
New Orleans’ rush defense is solid, but they are susceptible to giving up yards through the air. Depending on the health of the receivers, it is possible that Dallas immediately passes to open the game. Dak Prescott has proved that he is a top-10 quarterback in the NFL, so to put the whole game into his hands does not seem like much of an issue.
New Orleans is also dealing with injury concerns, as Alvin Kamara and both offensive tackles are out.
NFL Value Pick: Dallas Cowboys
High-Risk, High–Reward | Week 13 NFL Survivor Pool Picks
San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Talk about two different ends of the spectrum last week for these teams. San Francisco was able to grind out a tough win against Minnesota and Seattle lost to a Washington team, who scored 17 points. Seattle is a bad football team, plain and simple. Russell Wilson trying to make a comeback seems like a miracle since he has gotten much worse. Wilson often tries to go for the long ball rather than take what the defense gives him. This results in interceptions and overthrows all game.
This plays into San Francisco’s hands, as they have developed a grind-it-out identity. They will take their time on offense and defend the long ball very well. On offense, they may be without Deebo Samuel. While this sounds like a big loss, it really isn’t. Samuel filled the role that Brandon Aiyuk played last year, meaning that Aiyuk can once again find his familiar spot.
Seattle is bad against the run as well, proved by their game last week against Washington. With healthy running backs, Jeff Wilson and Elijah Mitchell, I fully expect the 49ers to run and throw screens all game.
High-Risk, High–Reward Pick: San Francisco 49ers
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