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 5 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. It may be worth it to look at the NFL betting odds for these games and place some bets as well.
Teams Used:
- Baltimore Ravens
- Buffalo Bills
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Kansas City Chiefs
Week 5 NFL Survivor Pool Picks
Lock of the Week | Best Pick for NFL Survivor Pool Week 5
Detroit Lions vs. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are traveling north this week to take on the Detroit Lions. Detroit rolled over Green Bay last week, even after Jared Goff threw an early interception. David Montgomery looked like a man possessed in that game, taking 32 carries for 121 and three touchdowns. This week, Montgomery takes on a Panthers defense that has given up 545 yards on the ground this year. That screams run, run, run to me. With Amon-Ra St. Brown dealing with an injury, I think there is more of an incentive for Detroit to run the ball. That run game should greatly help Goff find his groove. With how well Sam LaPorta has played this year, I would imagine that the passing game should not suffer too much. And, if St. Brown plays, the passing game is that much better. Brian Burns should not be that big of a problem, given how good the Lions’ offensive line is.
On defense, Aidan Hutchinson is an absolute monster who can shut down both the run and pass and with how bad Bryce Young has been this year, it could be a long afternoon for the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers offense could not find the end zone last week against a bad Minnesota Vikings defense, so with a better Lions defense – you do the math. Detroit is just the better team, has the better coach and the better quarterback. Take the Lions here and survive another week.
Lock of the Week: Detroit Lions
Value Pick of the Week | Week 5 NFL Survivor Pool Picks
Green Bay Packers vs. Las Vegas Raiders
The Green Bay Packers are coming off a Thursday night loss to the Detroit Lions and, with ample time to prepare, they travel to Vegas on Monday. While the Packers are not great by any means, they are better than the Las Vegas Raiders.
We know that Green Bay wants to run the ball and the Raiders have been bad against the run this year, giving up 537 yards this year. With a healthier Aaron Jones and an over-used A.J. Dillon, Green Bay should not have too big of a problem running on Monday. When that run game gets going, Jordan Love should be able to settle in and complete more passes than we have become accustomed to. Look what Green Bay did against Chicago. Once those running backs got going, Love was able to settle in and play very well. The run game should also set up Romeo Doubs and Luke Musgrave nicely, with Christian Watson having an opportunity to cash in a 50-yarder.
With Jimmy Garoppolo banged up, if he or Aiden O’Connell plays, Green Bay’s average defense should look elite. The Raiders have a horrible offensive line, so Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark should be able to put some pressure on whoever is playing quarterback. Look for Joe Barry to blitz early and often and make the Raiders’ backfield a war zone this week.
Value Pick of the Week: Green Bay Packers
High Risk, High Reward Pick of the Week | Week 5 NFL Survivor Pool Picks
New York Jets vs. Denver Broncos
Zach Wilson probably had the best performance of his Jets career last week in front of the one and only Taylor Swift. That foreshadows another good performance for Wilson, as the Jets play a very bad Denver defense.
We also learned that Breece Hall will be unleashed this week. With how good of a running back Hall is, the Jets should be able to move the ball fairly easily against Denver. The Broncos have given up an NFL-worst 704 yards on the ground this year, and they are coming off of a win against the Chicago Bears. This feels like a let-down spot for them.
Even coming off of a loss, I think that the Jets have a ton of momentum. The defense is also legit, holding Patrick Mahomes to one of his worst performances of all time. The defense gets Russell Wilson this week, who hasn’t been playing terribly, but is certainly no Mahomes. The Jets are in a position to push up a tough AFC East with a win against the Broncos here.
High Risk, High Reward Pick of the Week: New York Jets
