For those of us competing in survivor pools, we are now entering the most fun and challenging portion of the year. Bye weeks continue to wreak havoc and more and more teams are becoming ineligible for use because of being used in previous weeks. For example, the New England Patriots are a massive 14-point favorite this week. But if you have already used them like I have, you must look elsewhere. With that in mind, here are my Week 8 Survivor Pool rankings.
Week 8 Survivor Pool Rankings
Best Bet: Chicago Bears v. New York Jets
The Chicago Bears look to snap a two-game skid when they host the New York Jets. New York had won back to back games against inferior opponents but came back to earth last week when they faced the Minnesota Vikings. The Jets turned the ball over four times in the loss and now must face an opportunistic Bears defense which has already forced 17 turnovers on the year. Sam Darnold leads the NFL with 10 interceptions and will be on the road against the Bears, who are tied for the NFL lead with 11 interceptions. This does not figure to end well for the rookie.
As I mentioned in my Week 8 Quarterback Sleepers piece Chicago has also begun to click offensively after a slow start. The Bears have scored 107 points over their last three games and they have eclipsed 450 total yards in each one of those games. Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has thrived of late, accounting for 12 touchdowns over the same stretch. This game has the makings of a mismatch on both sides of the ball. I am going with the Chicago Bears as my Week 8 survivor pool pick.
Best of the Rest
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills
Despite the fact that I make a point to avoid divisional matchups and road teams, it is hard to argue against the New England Patriots as the premier Week 8 survivor pool pick. However, I selected them back in Week 5, making them ineligible for me. If you have not chosen the Patriots yet, I have no logical reason to convince you to shy away from them.
New England is in the middle of one of their yearly runs towards a postseason bye. The Patriots have won four straight and have scored at least 38 points in each one of those games. They have struggled a bit defensively, but an offense led by off-the-street free agent Derek Anderson does not figure to be one to capitalize. Buffalo simply poses no threat to snap New England’s four-game winning streak. If you still have New England on your list of eligible teams, go for it. They are easily the safest pick of the week.
Houston Texans vs. Miami Dolphins
The Houston Texans started the year by going 0-for-September. Four weeks later, they sit in sole possession of first place in their division. Life in the AFC South must be nice. It is difficult to tell how legitimate the Texans are at the moment. Houston had an impressive road win in Jacksonville last week, but none of their victories have come against a team with a winning record. Luckily for them, the scheduling gods are smiling upon them once again in Week 8.
The Miami Dolphins travel to Houston on a short week having lost three of four and without their starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Brock Osweiler has acquitted himself nicely in two starts but will have his hands full with a fierce Texans’ defense. He is also without wide receivers Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson. I think Miami has too much going against them in this matchup. Houston should be able to earn another victory this week.
Favorites Who Should Win
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos
Some were a bit surprised that I chose Kansas City as my top pick last week. After all, the Cincinnati Bengals entered last week’s showdown at 4-2. But the Bengals as per usual were not ready for the big stage and promptly got bludgeoned by the Chiefs. This week Kansas City takes on a lesser foe in the Denver Broncos. However, the Broncos have already proven they can hang with the Chiefs. Kansas City rallied to defeat Denver 27-23 back in Week 4.
Denver lead that game by 10 points with ten minutes to play before the Chiefs scored two touchdowns to win it. The Broncos hadn’t won a game since until they throttled Arizona last week. In fact, both of these teams won by the exact same 45-10 score a week ago. Denver knows what it takes to keep this game close, but I do not think they will be able to close it out. Kansas City has too many weapons and will have the home field advantage. I would not feel comfortable taking the Chiefs as my Week 8 survivor pool pick, but they should pick up the victory here.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns match up in a rematch of their Week 1 draw. Pittsburgh has struggled defensively and has seen their fair share of internal issues as a result of Le’Veon Bell’s continued holdout. Yet despite the strife and adversity, the Steelers enter Week 8 in first place in the AFC North.
Cleveland is in a familiar place – last in the division. But this is not the same Browns outfit that won just one game spanning two years. The Browns have already won two games this year and have been in nearly every game. Three of their games have gone to overtime and they have remained highly competitive. But Pittsburgh’s advantages on the field and on the sidelines should prove enough to lead them to victory. As is the case with Kansas City, I would be hesitant to trust the Steelers completely in a divisional matchup, but they should be able to hold off Cleveland and maintain their slim divisional lead over Cincinnati and Baltimore.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Green Bay Packers
The Los Angeles Rams are a runaway train. They are 7-0 and have scored at least 33 points in six of seven games. Still, I feel a bit uneasy with them laying nearly 10 points to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay has been wildly inconsistent so far this season, having yet to post consecutive victories. But they have only lost two of their first six games. Sure, two of their wins are solely the result of Aaron Rodgers magic, but that is exactly why I am a tad hesitant in picking against them.
Are the Rams more talented? Of course. Will they win? Probably. Do I want to sweat out another potential Rodgers rally in the closing minutes? I do not. For me, it is a moot point because l already selected the Rams back in Week 2. But I would caution those who believe that Los Angeles is the safest Week 8 Survivor Pool choice. I believe there are better options out there.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Cincinnati Bengals look to get right following an embarrassing effort on Sunday night against the Chiefs. Cincinnati was no match for the offensive weaponry Kansas City possesses. The Bengals play host to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8.
The Bucs have a pretty potent offense in their own right. They have scored at least 26 points in five of six games so far this season. However, their defense has not been up to the task. Their passing defense, in particular, has been abysmal, and defensive coordinator Mike Smith was relieved of his duties prior to last week. Tampa Bay snapped a three-game skid in last week’s overtime victory against the Cleveland Browns, but I do not think they have found the formula on defense quite yet. Their deficiencies in coverage will prove too great against A.J. Green and company. I like the Bengals to bounce back and come away with a win in this matchup.
Indianapolis Colts at Oakland Raiders
This is a game that could very well be listed in the section below instead. The Indianapolis Colts are 2-5 and now head out to the West Coast. These are not the conditions under which I like to put much faith in. However, the Colts are starting to gel offensively. Running back Marlon Mack has returned from a three-game absence with a vengeance. Mack had 89 yards on just 12 carries in his Week 6 return, then blew up against Buffalo last week. The second-year back had 159 total yards and two scores. T.Y. Hilton also returned last week and scored twice. With Andrew Luck at the helm, this has the potential of an upper-echelon offense going forward.
The same cannot be said of the Oakland Raiders. Oakland has just one win on the year, a home overtime win against Cleveland. The Raiders have scored a total of just 65 points in their other five games. They recently placed leading rusher Marshawn Lynch on injured reserve and just traded away receiver Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys. The Raiders are officially in full rebuilding mode. I do not expect them to be able to keep up with the Colts’ potent offense in this game. Give me the Colts on the road.
Philadelphia Eagles at Jacksonville Jaguars (London)
Two of last year’s final four teams square off in London when the Philadelphia Eagles face the Jacksonville Jaguars. Both teams have struggled to regain their 2017 form and enter Week 8 with identical 3-4 records. Jacksonville has question marks all over the place. Their usually elite defense has allowed 90 points during a three-game losing streak, and quarterback Blake Bortles was benched last week due to ineffectiveness. Bortles will start on Sunday but will reportedly be on a short leash against the Eagles.
The Super Bowl Champions began the year without quarterback Carson Wentz and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. The dynamic duo has since returned and been quite effective. It just has not translated in the win column quite yet. But it feels like they are on the verge of turning the corner. All four of their losses have come by six points or less. The only such loss they had in 2017 was a Week 17 game in which many of their starters rested or were pulled early. I believe it is just a matter of time before they get rolling, and I would expect them to win this matchup.
It’s a Trap!
Washington Redskins at New York Giants
Washington looks to maintain their lead in the NFC East when they travel to face the New York Giants. This is a rare game where each team is favored in different Vegas sportsbooks. The oddsmakers truly do not know which side to trust, and I share their hesitancy. Washington has ridden veteran running back Adrian Peterson to a 4-2 record, The veteran is among the top ten running backs in rushing heading into Week 8. Despite Peterson’s production, Washington has scored the second-fewest points in the NFC. Alex Smith has taken a step back following his breakout season a year ago, and the pass catchers have struggled to emerge.
New York has the look of a team looking to rebuild. They just traded away Damon Harrison and Eli Apple, which does not bode well for a team allowing nearly 27 points per game. Eli Manning is under continued scrutiny as his skills have seemingly eroded. I expect Washington to win here, but their lack of explosiveness on offense combined with them facing a divisional opponent on the road has me shying away from them in survivor pools.
New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings
In a rematch of last season’s Minneapolis Miracle, the Vikings host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night. January’s game was an all-time classic, but this game is quite compelling as well. Both teams sit atop their respective divisions and enter this matchup in good form. Minnesota has won three straight, while the Saints have not lost since Week 1.
Most impressive to me has been the Saints’ play on the road. They have not finished a season with a winning road record since 2011 but have won all three games away from the Bayou this season. Last week, they handed Baltimore their first home loss of 2018. That felt like a game that New Orleans would have lost in years past. I think they will be highly motivated to prove that their playoff loss was a fluke.
That will be no easy task, as Minnesota has also played their best football of late. The Vikings have lost just two home games since the beginning of last season. They have not truly broken out on offense with new quarterback Kirk Cousins, but they have scored at least 23 points in six of seven games. This should be a highly entertaining affair. I am picking the Saints to get the win in this game, but this is not a game I want to target with my Week 8 survivor pool entry.
Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions
Two 3-3 teams do battle in Detroit when the Lions host the Seattle Seahawks. Both teams have rebounded from 0-2 starts to make their way back into playoff contention in the NFC. This should be a pivotal matchup towards that goal, as this game marks the beginning of a difficult stretch for both. As things currently stand, neither team will face an opponent with a losing record until December.
Seattle has rebounded from its slow start on the strength of a revamped defense. They have allowed a total of just 33 points in their three wins. However, it should be noted that those victories have come against Dallas, Arizona, and Oakland. No team in that group will be mistaken for the Los Angeles Rams anytime soon. Conversely, Detroit’s wins have been more predicated on offensive efficiency. The Lions just traded for Damon Harrison, which should strengthen a leaky run defense. I am going to take the home team here, but I would not go out of my way to reach for either team in this spot.
San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
The San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals are tied with the New York Giants for the worst record in all of football at 1-6. The NFC West’s co-cellar dwellers will look to escape the basement when they face off in Week 8. Arizona won their previous matchup, scoring a season-high 28 points in a Week 5 road win. However, they totaled just 220 yards of offense in the victory, as San Francisco turned the ball over five times.
Arizona has one of the worst offenses in football. Not to be outdone, San Francisco has allowed the most points in the entire NFL. This just does not figure to be a fun game to watch. Unless you are a fan of either team or have skin in this game from a fantasy perspective, I would avoid this game altogether. If forced to choose, I would lean towards Arizona but there really is no need to select either of these teams in a survivor pool.
Baltimore Ravens at Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers pulled off a come from behind victory against the Philadelphia Eagles last week. They entered the fourth quarter down 17-0, but Cam Newton threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns in the final frame alone. They will look to build on that momentum when they host the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8.
Baltimore suffered a last-minute loss in the least likely of manners a week ago. Kicker Justin Tucker missed what would have been a game-tying extra point in the final minute against the New Orleans Saints. The miss broke a string of 222 successful point after tries for the veteran kicker.
Carolina has lived and died playing close games all season long. Each of their six games has been decided by ten points or less. Baltimore has been a tough team to get a handle on. They have the third-best point differential in the NFL, but their record is just 4-3. All four of the Ravens’ wins have come by double figures, including road wins at Pittsburgh and Tennessee. When Baltimore is on, few teams are better. But their lack of consistency is enough to make this a stay-away game for me, particularly against a solid opponent like Carolina.
Also check out our Week 8 Sleepers: Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends
Mick Ciallela has been writing for FantraxHQ since July 2017. He has also written for Bleacher Report. He is a lifelong sports fan and has been an avid fantasy sports player for many years. Mick was the Overall Champion of both the 2016 Football Challenge – Roto and 2017 Play 3 Football contests hosted by CDM Sports. Mick was born and raised in Mount Vernon, New York and currently resides in New London, Connecticut.
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