NFL Survivor Pool Picks Week 4: Expert Offers Early Eliminator Predictions

After a few tough weeks for Survivor Pool players from Weeks 1-3, we will now take a look at Week 4. In the next couple weeks we will be offering picks and predictions for every week up until Week 8 of the 2015-16 season just to gauge how hard each week will be since Week 1 will be such a doozy (the largest favorite on the Week 1 betting board is only 5.5 points!). Here are some picks we have offered for previous weeks: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3. I will go down the line of the Week 4 schedule in chronological order and comment on any notable games. Of course, after Week 3 is completed we will offer plenty of NFL Week 4 content on our homepage, but this is just some very early Week 4 observations.

Miami vs. New York: If the Jets look bad and the Dolphins look good in their first few games then Miami could be a decent favorite here. But remember that this game is in London, and Miami had to give up a home game to play here. I listed these international games on my list of types of games to avoid in Survivor Pools, and I will not be playing the Dolphins here even if the whole Jets offensive line is out with injury.

Indianapolis vs. Jacksonville: This will be a very popular pick for Survivor Pool players in Week 4. Many will have already used the Colts in Week 2 at home against the Jets on Monday Night Football. I always play multiple cards and will probably take the Colts here if I have not already used them on all my cards. I do think the Jags will be a lot better this season and won’t be an automatic “fade” team like they have been the last couple of seasons. But I think the Colts are a real legitimate Super Bowl contender, and this game will likely be an easy winner.

Carolina at Tampa Bay: The Buccaneers will probably be a popular fade team in NFL Survivor Pools. Some people may want to gamble here and take the Panthers on the road. Not me. Tampa Bay will be breaking in a new QB as No. 1 pick Jameis Winston will probably start from Week 1. But the Panthers were just too inconsistent last season to trust on the road here, especially in a divisional game against a team with so many unknowns as the Buccaneers.

Philadelphia at Washington: The Redskins will probably be lousy again this season. And the Eagles have a chance to be very good. However, this is another road matchup and divisional rivalry, so unless there are some crazy injuries in Weeks 1-3 that might make me change my thinking, I will not be taking Philly here in this spot.

Chicago vs. Oakland: There has to be some improvement in Oakland this season after so many rebuilding years, right? I do think Oakland will improve this season and the Bears should also be better. But unless Chicago looks really good the first few weeks of the season I don’t see any reason to gamble as it’s only Week 4 here. But the Bears should win this one.

San Diego vs. Cleveland: I like this pick and will probably use San Diego here on at least one of my cards. Cleveland will be a very popular fade team. Despite a decent defense, this team is just lost offensively, and their QB situation is in shambles. They also have a difficult schedule. The Chargers have a great chance to win this one in a blowout.

Denver vs. Minnesota: This will probably be one of the larger spreads on the Week 4 betting board, possibly second to Indy vs. Jacksonville among the largest spreads of the week. This one scares me a bit. Minnesota was one of the best underdogs in the league last season, and this team is well-positioned for vast improvement this year. Denver was incredible at home last season, and as long as Peyton Manning is healthy they should win this. Minnesota is a team I am going to try and avoid fading if at all possible because I like the makeup and coaching of this team and think QB Teddy Bridgewater is poised to take a big step forward this year. I am taking a wait-and-see approach on this game.

Check back every week of the NFL season as SurvivorPoolPicks.com will offer plenty of free weekly content that will help you do your best in your NFL Survivor, Eliminator or Suicide Pool.