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 3 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 3 NFL Survivor Pool Picks
Lock of the Week | Best Pick for NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 3
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Denver Broncos
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have started their season with a 2-0 start for the fourth season in a row, they will look to add another win to that against the Denver Broncos this week. The Buccaneers open the week as 6.5 point favorites, which comes in at the third-highest spread of the week behind the San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals. I love this matchup for the Buccaneers, because they get a second straight week of a rookie quarterback on the other side. Todd Bowles’ typically schemes well against inexperienced quarterbacks and did so last week, as he held Jayden Daniels out of the end zone. This week he should have a little easier time game planning for the quarterback position, as Bo Nix is next to a zero threat of using his legs.
Looking at the offensive side of the ball, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are the best WR duo in the NFL right now. While Pat Surtain is certainly one of, if not, the best cornerback in the NFL, he can’t cover both of them. Add into the mix Rachaad White and Bucky Irving and there is just too many players for Denver to take care of. As for the defense, look what Tampa did to one of the best offenses in the NFL last week with Detroit – they held them to 16 points. With a much worse offense on the schedule, this is a don’t overthink it pick to me and just take the better team.
Lock of the Week: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Value Pick of the Week | Week 3 NFL Survivor Pool Picks
Cleveland Browns vs. New York Giants
After getting beat down by the Dallas Cowboys in week one, the Cleveland Browns came back and took care of business against the Jaguars. Now the Jaguars are not a very good football team, but I do think that they are better than the Daniel Jones-led New York Giants. This comes on the back of the Browns great defense. Now Myles Garrett is hurt, but said that he is planning on playing this week. Even if he is at 75%, a 75% Myles Garrett is still better than 80% of the NFL. The Browns pass rush is just too dominant for a below-average Giants offensive line and when Jones is pressured, we know that he is going to turn the ball over. I mean, if you breathe on Jones, he is going to fumble.
Deshaun Watson has certainly had a tumultuous tenure in Cleveland, but I don’t think that he looked horrible last week against Jacksonville. I am expecting Jerome Ford and the run game to see a little more work in this game too as Jack Conklin and the rest of the offensive line continues to get healthy. If the Browns are able to run the ball effectively early in this game, I would expect a long game for this Giants defense.
Value Pick of the Week: Cleveland Browns
High Risk, High Reward Pick of the Week | Week 3 NFL Survivor Pool Picks
Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears
That offensive line is a problem for the Chicago Bears. Caleb Williams is going to die by the end of the season, credit to him for continuing to get up against Houston, but how long does that last? The Indianapolis Colts’ defensive line got absolutely manhandled in Green Bay last week. Playing a much worse offensive line, I would guess that much of the work this week is solidifying that defense line to be pushed six yards into the defensive backfield every play. Chicago is also dealing with a number of injuries, most notably to Keenan Allen. I think that everyone and their mother reacted a little too soon on the Bears and with injuries already, it is going to be hard to live up to those standards. Anthony Richardson has to be better than he was last week, and to be honest if he was 5% better, Indianapolis wins that games (this is not a shot at Green Bay). Both Indianapolis and Chicago looked horrible last week, so I am taking my chances on the quarterback with a little bit more experience (even if it is just three games). I hate this game though and I am not touching it when it comes to my survivor pool.
High Risk, High Reward Pick of the Week: Indianapolis Colts
