Last week we went to 3-0 again. Technically, we went 4-0. Our three locks hit, and so did the dog as the Giants took care of business against the Raiders. Now, one week remains between you and victory, and you probably have very few teams to choose from. Let’s take a look at the Week 18 NFL Survivor picks! You’re so close to the end. Keep picking your winners and cash in!
As a reminder, I’m giving out two locks each week, in case you’ve already used the first one. I’m also giving out a contrarian dog play that I think will hit to try and give you an advantage over your league mates! Since your options are probably very thin at this point, I’ll try to throw in a pick that you likely haven’t used!
NFL Survivor Picks Week 18
Look Around the League Week 18 (All Times ET)
Saturday, January 3rd
Panthers @ Bucs (-3) – 4:30 PM
Seahawks (-1.5) @ 49ers – 8:00 PM
Sunday January 4th – 1:00 PM
Saints @ Falcons (-3.5)
Browns @ Bengals (-7.5)
Packers @ Vikings (-7.5)
Cowboys (-3.5) @ Giants
Titans @ Jags (-13.5)
Colts @ Texans (-10.5)
Sunday 4:25 PM
Jets @ Bills (-7)
Lions @ Bears (-3)
Chargers @ Broncos (-12.5)
Chiefs (-5.5) @ Raiders
Cardinals @ Rams (-7.5)
Dolphins @ Patriots (-10.5)
Commanders @ Eagles (-4.5)
Sunday 8:20 PM
Ravens (-3.5) @ Steelers
The Lock: Atlanta Falcons
The easiest pick for your NFL Survivor picks in Week 18 is the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons’ year has been a mess, and their playoff hopes are done. However, Kirk Cousins is proving he can still play. Not to mention, a win can throw a wrench in their division rival’s plans. If the Falcons lose, the Panthers automatically win the division even if Tampa Bay does beat them.
The Saints have looked throughout the second half of the year. Tyler Shough has been helping the Saints stay competitive. However, he still hasn’t been a lights-out quarterback, and the offense has its flaws. That’s especially true in the running game with all the injuries they have.
I think Kirk Cousins will bring his best for what could be his last game as a starting quarterback in the NFL, ever. He may stick around as a backup. However, with all the money Cousins has made, I could see him walking away if no starting positions come knocking. He doesn’t seem like the type who will want to compete for a backup job. It’s a starting job or bust for him, which is kind of what happened in Atlanta. Give me the Falcons defense to pressure Shough and Kirk Cousins to prove once more that he’s a serviceable quarterback in this league.
Another Confident Pick: Minnesota Vikings
The other lock for your NFL survivor picks in Week 18 is the Minnesota Vikings. You likely haven’t picked them a whole lot this year, and for good reason. However, now they play an unmotivated Packers’ squad that will likely be playing backups the entire game.
The Packers have already locked up the playoffs, and their seeding can’t change. Win or lose, and no matter what else happens in the NFL, the Packers will be the seventh seed in the playoffs and hit the road to play either the Chicago Bears or the Philadelphia Eagles. It’ll be a tough matchup, no matter what, for the Packers.
Therefore, they’ll want to rest their players. On the other side of the ball, a division win would at least give the Vikings something to hang their hat on this year. In a year mauled by injuries and quarterback questions, many have wondered if they should have kept Sam Darnold. Is J.J. “Nine” McCarthy the answer for them? I don’t know if we’ll know for sure yet. However, look for him to try, and prove he is on Sunday as they beat the Packers’ backups.
An Underdog Pick: New York Jets
Finally, let’s take a look at an underdog pick that maybe nobody else is looking at. The team I’m circling on the NFL Survivor picks in Week 18 to pull off the upset is the New York Jets. Despite not owning the number one seed in the draft next year, they are one of the worst teams in the NFL this year. However, the past couple of weeks, they’ve been trying to play as competitively as possible.
Brady Cook hasn’t been great, but the in-game experience of starting is good for his career. Now he gets to do it one more time, for perhaps the last time, against the Bills’ backups. The Bills are another team that, win or lose, it won’t affect their playoff seeding. They’re rolling out Mitch Trubisky and some backups.
Much like the Vikings, a division win over the Bills will at least give them something to go into the offseason with. In a game that may see guys like Breece Hall take their last snap as a Jet, the Jets should show up and will at least try to show some pride. Bills Mafia is ready for the playoffs. The Jets just want to win a game.
