Best NFL Survivor Pool Picks for Week 2

Updated: Sep 10, 5:00pm UTC

An NFL survivor pool can be one of the most fun ways to add some extra excitement to the NFL season, even if fantasy football or NFL betting aren't your cup of tea.

Week 1 brought some seriously close calls, with the uber-popular San Francisco 49ers almost blowing a big lead and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers barely edging out the Dallas Cowboys. Surprising losses by the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens eliminated plenty of people.

If you are still alive after dodging those Week 1 landmines, here are The Duel's top NFL Survivor Pool picks for Week 2.

NFL Survivor Week 2 Picks

1. Cleveland Browns (vs HOU)

It's probably a safe assumption that you didn't use your Cleveland Browns pick in Week 1, when they almost upset the Kansas City Chiefs. This Browns team is for real, and despite their Week 1 win, the Houston Texans are not. Trevor Lawrence or not, the Jacksonville Jaguars team they upset in Week 1 is the same one that ranked 31st in defensive DVOA in 2020 and that entered the season with a bottom-10 offensive line, per Pro Football Focus. FanDuel Sportsbook's Week 2 odds have Cleveland as the week's biggest favorite (-12.5) for a reason.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs ATL)

If you didn't use the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1, they're a strong pick again in Week 2. Giving up 29 points in their season opener was certainly a concern, but a matchup with the Atlanta Falcons is the perfect get-right spot for this defense. Atlanta was pitiful in Week 1, dropping only 6 points against a Philadelphia Eagles defense that didn't exactly look like a world-beater coming into the season. The Falcons were one of only four teams to give up a pressure on at least one-third of their dropbacks in Week 1, and the Tampa D should feast here. Look for the Falcons to be on the wrong side of another blowout.

3. Green Bay Packers (vs DET)

The Green Bay Packers could be a strong contrarian pick for the week. They got absolutely embarrassed in Week 1, and there may not be a point this season that the general public is any lower on the Pack than right now. They also may not get a better matchup all season than they do here, as heavy 11.5-point favorites against a Detroit Lions team that boasts the worst Super Bowl odds in the NFL. With a few teams favored by double-digit margins this week, it's easy to like going with one of the less popular options to differentiate yourself from the field, especially if you're in a large pool.

Jason Schandl is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Jason Schandl also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username Jaymun. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in his articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.