Week 1 of the NFL season featured some close games and unpredictable results. As we head into Week 2, it’s important to avoid overreacting to any one performance and focus on matchups.
While picking home favorites is usually a solid strategy, there are some road teams catching points that offer value this week. Here are my 5 best NFL survivor picks for Week 2.
Survivor Pool Picks for NFL Week 2
New York Jets at Dallas Cowboys (-9) – Pick Dallas
Updtate: Now that Aaron Rodgers is out, Jets won’t be doing any scoring on that Dallas Def. I’m personally taking the Cowboys for my Survivor pick in week 2.
San Francisco 49ers (-8) at Los Angeles Rams – Pick San Francisco
The 49ers looked like Super Bowl contenders in their dominant 30-7 win over the Steelers. The Rams are rebuilding on the fly and the 49ers have owned this rivalry lately under Kyle Shanahan. With San Francisco’s ferocious defense and diverse offense, they should be able to win on the road against a fading Rams squad.
Las Vegas Raiders at Buffalo Bills (-9.5) – Pick Buffalo
This line is massive, so the Raiders present some risk even after their Week 1 upset win over the Broncos. But Josh Allen and Buffalo’s high-powered offense should continue rolling against a suspect Raiders defense. But beware the large spread, as Derek Carr and Davante Adams showed life last week.
Los Angeles Chargers (-3) at Tennessee Titans – Pick Los Angeles
The Chargers suffered a heartbreaking loss after blowing a late lead Tyreke Hill’s Dolphins on opening weekend. But the Bolts still have an explosive offense behind Justin Herbert. Tennessee barely managed to score in an ugly road loss to the Saints. With journeyman Ryan Tannehill at quarterback, the Titans don’t pose much of an offensive threat. The Chargers have the firepower to win and cover on the road.
Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles (-7) – Pick Philadelphia
The Vikings fell flat in Week 1 at home against the Bucs, while the Eagles took care of business on the road in New England. Philadelphia has continuity in the coaching staff and key players on both sides of the ball. Minnesota will likely struggle to keep up scoring-wise with Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ quick strike offense. Laying 7 points on the road is never easy, but Philadelphia is the definitively better team right now.
New York Giants (-4) at Arizona Cardinals – Pick New York
The Giants did suffer an embarrassing 40-0 loss to the Cowboys, but the Cardinals are a disaster right now. Arizona is down to its third-string quarterback after injuries and has no discernible offense. Meanwhile, New York still has offensive playmakers like Saquon Barkley and a solid defense. Even on the road, the Giants should be able to take care of business against the hapless Cardinals.
This week, there are some situations where betting on road favorites make sense based on team strengths and matchups. We’re deviating from just picking home teams, as there are three road teams catching points that I like for my Week 2 survivor pool picks.