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 2 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 of the week.”
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. It may be worth it to look at the NFL betting odds for these games and place some bets as well.
Week 2 NFL Survivor Pool Picks
Lock of the Week | Best Pick for NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 2
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Carolina Panthers
The Los Angeles Chargers opened this game as 6.5-point favorites. I know what you are thinking, “Luke, isn’t it dangerous to take a West Coast team traveling across the country to play in the early spot?” While in most cases I would say yes, in this case, the Panthers may be the worst team of the decade. They flat-out can’t do anything worth substance consistently. Last week, I said that I love the Saints and they dismantled the Panthers. What on the Panthers’ offense really scares you against a Chargers team that played pretty well defensively? Like I said before, the Panthers are an outright dumpster fire and, moving forward, I am guessing that the lock of the week will be the team playing the Panthers.
As for the Chargers, they ran the ball well against the Raiders, and I expect the same here. JK Dobbins looked somewhat like he did in his time at Ohio State. It really feels like Justin Herbert needs a game where he can really settle in and play as well as we know he can. Using the two-headed monster of Dobbins and Gus Edwards, Carolina will have to respect the run, giving way for Herbert to ball. The Saints were able to rip off 180 yards on the ground last week. I think that this rushing attack in LA is superior to that of New Orleans, so why can’t the Chargers go for 200?
Lock of the Week: Los Angeles Chargers
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Value Pick of the Week | Week 2 NFL Survivor Pool Picks
New York Jets vs. Tennessee Titans
I think that this is a big bounce-back spot for the New York Jets. Taking on a Titans team who is also down in the dumps, after blowing a 17-0 lead, should give the Jets just what they need to get back on track. Aaron Rodgers has never started 0-2 in his career and I do not expect that start here. Seeing Will Levis collapse against the Bears, one has to imagine what the Jets are going to do to him.
Like I said about Will Levis, the Titans don’t have anything on offense that will scare this Jets defense. While the Bears were only able to muster 84 yards on the ground, I think that speaks more to the Bears’ overrated offense than the Titans’ defense. If Breece Hall can get going early, Rodgers should be able to settle in early and find Garrett Wilson all day. Add in the fact that it was obvious that Rodgers wanted to get Allen Lazard involved. I think that we just saw a little bit of rust for the Jets and like I said, I am fully expecting the Jets to come away victorious in this one.
Value Pick of the Week: New York Jets
High Risk, High Reward Pick of the Week | Week 2 NFL Survivor Pool Picks
Washington Commanders vs. New York Giants
The Commanders are 2.5-point favorites over a Giants team that looked flat-out lost in Week 1. Last week, the Giants were the only team that was unable to score double-digit points. Having Daniel Jones at quarterback for the Giants does not inspire any hope. As for the Commanders, seeing Jayden Daniels use his legs so effectively should provide a bright spot. Dan Quinn, who is now the leader of the Washington Commanders, has coached very well against the Giants with the Cowboys.
The Minnesota Vikings were able to muster 111 yards on the ground, something that seems easily attainable for a backfield of Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler. Add in Daniels’ rushing ability and lanes should open for both running backs to make some noise on the ground. This seems like a game too where Terry McLaurin can beat a poor Giants secondary after Daniels dinks and dunks. The Commanders just have more firepower than the Giants. This is a perfect tale of one time moving one way and the other team moving the other way. This could be a really fun pick for your survivor pool if you have the balls to do it.
