Survivor Articles: Strategy Tips To Help Win Your Pool

Featured Articles

NFL Playoff Survivor Picks & Advice for Every Round (2026)

by Jason Lisk - Feb 2, 2026

NFL Survivor picks, strategy, and analysis for 2025-26 playoffs, covering all aspects from the Wild Card round through the Super Bowl.

How to Win NFL Playoffs Survivor Pools & Knockout Pools

by Jason Lisk - Jan 5, 2026

Our strategy guide for winning NFL playoff survivor pools walks you through key topics and insights that maximize your edge.

Survivor Pool Strategy

How to Win NFL Playoffs Survivor Pools & Knockout Pools

by Jason Lisk - Jan 5, 2026

Our strategy guide for winning NFL playoff survivor pools walks you through key topics and insights that maximize your edge.

Survivor Pool Strategy Guide: How to Win NFL Survivor Pools (2025)

by Jason Lisk - Sep 8, 2025

Our strategy guide for winning NFL survivor pools walks you through key topics and insights that maximize your edge.

5 NFL Survivor Mistakes That Kill Your Pool Chances (2025)

by Jason Lisk - Sep 8, 2025

We highlight five mistakes that Survivor pool players make that prevent their picks from moving up the charts.

How NFL Survivor Pools Work: Rules, Formats & Key Tips (2025)

by Spencer Limbach - Sep 7, 2025

Find out how NFL survivor pools work, with rules, formats, and key tips explained.

Video: 5 Proven NFL Survivor Strategy Tips

by Spencer Limbach - Sep 3, 2025

Winning an NFL Survivor pool takes more than picking favorites. Learn proven NFL Survivor strategy and tips to survive deep into the 2025 season.

How to Play DraftKings Millionaire Main Event Survivor Contest

by Jason Lisk - Aug 24, 2025

Pick advice and strategy tips for the $1 million grand prize DraftKings Pro Football Millionaire Survivor contest in 2022.

How I Turned $2 Into More Than $3,000 in NFL Survivor

by Jason Lisk - Jul 22, 2025

I turned a $2 entry into $3,000 by surviving 22 straight NFL picks. Here's the strategy I used to beat 1,800 entries and take first place.

Why September Destroys NFL Survivor Pools (How To Stay Alive)

by Spencer Limbach - Jul 3, 2025

Are big NFL favorites more upset-prone early in the season? We show the data and how to avoid early-season chaos in your NFL survivor pool.

SuperContest Survivor: Details on WestGate's New NFL Survivor Contest

by Spencer Limbach - Jun 24, 2025

What you need to know about SuperContest Survivor -- WestGate SuperBook's new NFL Survivor Contest launching ahead of the 2025 season.

The Holy Trinity Of Survivor Pick Strategy Data

by Jason Lisk - May 15, 2025

If you want to make the best survivor picks possible, you must keep three key pieces of information in mind.

Future Value: What It Is & Why It Matters For Survivor Pool Picks

by Jason Lisk - May 14, 2025

To win at survivor pools, you have to account for the future value of each potential team to know which ones are worth saving.

Expected Value: What It Is & Why It Matters For Survivor Pool Picks

by Jason Lisk - Apr 26, 2025

Expected Value is the measure by which we determine how valuable each survivor pick is, looking at just that week's info.

Balancing Expected Value And Future Value When Making NFL Survivor Picks

by Jason Lisk - Apr 24, 2025

We go through some examples of situations involving Future Value and Expected Value and how our recommendations were made on those factors.

Setting Realistic Expectations For Winning NFL Survivor Pools

by Jason Lisk - Apr 18, 2025

To have success in survivor pools, you need to have the right approach and mentality, and understand what expectations should be.

Want To Win Your NFL Survivor Pool? Don't Just Try To Survive

by Jason Lisk - Apr 18, 2025

It may seem obvious to say that the goal of survivor is to win the pool, but many entries do not actually play with optimal strategy.

Why The Size Of Your NFL Survivor Pool Should Influence Your Picks

by Jason Lisk - Apr 18, 2025

The size of your pool, and how many entries are left, are key strategic drivers when it comes to making optimal survivor decisions.

How The Rules Of NFL Survivor Pools Affect Optimal Pick Strategy

by Jason Lisk - Apr 18, 2025

There are many different rules variations used in NFL survivor pools, and each variation brings with it different strategy wrinkles for maximizing your edge.

Playing Multiple Entries In NFL Survivor Pools: Implications & Strategy

by Jason Lisk - Apr 18, 2025

If you have the opportunity, we recommend playing more than one survivor entry. We explain some strategy with multiple entries.

Circa Survivor Strategy, Part II: Team Future Value

by Jason Lisk - Aug 19, 2024

We go through the 2024 season and rank teams into tiers based on projected future value for the Circa Survivor contest.

Circa Survivor Strategy, Part I: Thinking About Pick Popularity

by Jason Lisk - Aug 19, 2024

We go through some of the data from last year's contest and discuss how to predict pick rates in Circa Survivor 2024.

Predicting Circa Survivor Contest Pick Popularity for 2023

by Jason Lisk - Sep 5, 2023

We go through some of the data from last year's contest and discuss how to predict pick rates in Circa Survivor 2023.

NFL Survivor Research

Top 10 NFL Survivor Bad Beats Ranked (Since 2010)

by Jason Lisk - Oct 6, 2025

We dig into the history books to find some of the worst survivor losses you will ever see. If there was any doubt, we have a new No. 1.

5 Biggest NFL Upsets Ranked by Point Spread in 2024-25

by Spencer Limbach - Jun 27, 2025

We break down the five biggest NFL upsets of the 2024 season ranked by point spread. The top spot? One of the wildest finishes of the year.

How Long Is Your NFL Survivor Pool Expected to Last?

by Tom Federico - Jun 9, 2025

What are the odds that you will need to survive all the way to the end of the season to win your NFL survivor pool? Here's what to expect based on historical data.

How Often Does the Safest NFL Survivor Pick of the Week Lose?

by Tom Federico - May 14, 2025

Here's when taking the safest possible NFL survivor pick each week knocked you out of survivor pools in recent years. You may be surprised.

When Should You Pick a Popular Team In A Survivor Pool?

by Jason Lisk - Apr 28, 2025

Sometimes, we recommend taking a popular favorite, and other teams we avoid them. Here are some reasons that could be the case.

2025 Pick Analysis

NFL Playoff Survivor Picks & Advice for Every Round (2026)

by Jason Lisk - Feb 2, 2026

NFL Survivor picks, strategy, and analysis for 2025-26 playoffs, covering all aspects from the Wild Card round through the Super Bowl.

Week 18 NFL Survivor Picks Strategy & Advice (2025)

by Spencer Limbach - Jan 4, 2026

We break down the top NFL Survivor picks for Week 18, finding the most popular options and when it makes sense to pivot from the crowd.

Week 17 NFL Survivor Picks Strategy & Advice (2025)

by Spencer Limbach - Dec 28, 2025

We break down the top NFL Survivor picks for Week 17, finding the most popular options and when it makes sense to pivot from the crowd.

Week 16 NFL Survivor Picks Strategy & Advice (2025)

by Spencer Limbach - Dec 16, 2025

We break down the top NFL Survivor picks for Week 16, finding the most popular options and when it makes sense to pivot from the crowd.

Week 15 NFL Survivor Picks Strategy & Advice (2025)

by Spencer Limbach - Dec 14, 2025

We break down the top NFL Survivor picks for Week 15, finding the most popular choices and when it makes sense to deviate from the crowd.

Week 14 NFL Survivor Picks Strategy & Advice (2025)

by Spencer Limbach - Dec 5, 2025

We break down the top NFL Survivor picks for Week 14, looking at the most popular options, how they impact future weeks, and the best way to play them.

Week 13 NFL Survivor Picks Strategy & Advice (2025)

by Spencer Limbach - Nov 28, 2025

We break down the top NFL Survivor picks for Week 13, which also features the four-game Thanksgiving slate on Thursday and Friday.

Week 12 NFL Survivor Picks Strategy & Advice (2025)

by Spencer Limbach - Nov 23, 2025

We break down the top NFL Survivor picks for Week 12 and key pool strategy for the weeks ahead.

Week 11 NFL Survivor Picks Strategy & Advice (2025)

by Spencer Limbach - Nov 16, 2025

We run through the top NFL Survivor Picks for Week 11 while breaking down pool-specific strategy and future planning.

Week 10 NFL Survivor Picks Strategy & Advice (2025)

by Spencer Limbach - Nov 9, 2025

We break down the top NFL Survivor Picks for Week 10 and provide strategy insights on how to plan ahead based on your specific pool.

Week 9 NFL Survivor Picks Strategy & Advice (2025)

by Spencer Limbach - Nov 2, 2025

Complete guide to NFL Survivor Picks for Week 9, running through most popular picks, pool-specific options, and strategy to plan ahead.

Week 8 NFL Survivor Picks Strategy & Advice (2025)

by Jason Lisk - Oct 26, 2025

A complete guide to Week 8 NFL Survivor picks: most popular, top options by pool type, and how to plan ahead.

Week 7 NFL Survivor Picks Strategy & Advice (2025)

by Spencer Limbach - Oct 17, 2025

We break down the most popular Week 7 NFL Survivor picks and top options depending on pool type and forward thinking strategy.

Week 6 NFL Survivor Picks Strategy & Advice (2025)

by Jason Lisk - Oct 12, 2025

We run through the most popular NFL Survivor picks for Week 6 plus strategy insights and updates throughout the week.

Week 5 NFL Survivor Picks Strategy & Advice (2025)

by Spencer Limbach - Oct 4, 2025

We run through the most popular NFL Survivor picks for Week 5 and strategy insights on how to move forward.

Video: NFL Week 5 Survivor Picks & Tips (2025)

by Spencer Limbach - Oct 1, 2025

Stephen Andress & Jason Lisk break down the best NFL Survivor Week 5 picks, strategy tips, and insights to best position your entries.

Week 4 NFL Survivor Picks Strategy & Advice (2025)

by Spencer Limbach - Sep 28, 2025

We run through the most popular NFL Survivor picks for Week 4 and strategy insights on how to move forward.

Video: NFL Week 4 Survivor Picks & Tips (2025)

by Spencer Limbach - Sep 25, 2025

Stephen Andress & Jason Lisk break down the best NFL Survivor Week 4 picks, strategy tips, and insights to keep your season alive.

Week 3 NFL Survivor Picks Strategy & Advice (2025)

by Jason Lisk - Sep 19, 2025

After two safe weeks, Week 3 NFL survivor picks bring tougher calls, balancing immediate win odds against long-term value.

Video: NFL Week 3 Survivor Picks & Tips (2025)

by Brock Bormann - Sep 18, 2025

Stephen Andress & Jason Lisk break down the best NFL Survivor Week 2 picks, strategy tips, and insights to keep your season alive.

Week 2 NFL Survivor Picks Strategy & Advice (2025)

by Jason Lisk - Sep 14, 2025

With most entries surviving Week 1, the NFL Survivor Picks Week 2 challenge is finding the right balance between safety, leverage, and long-term value.

Video: NFL Week 2 Survivor Picks & Tips (2025)

by Spencer Limbach - Sep 12, 2025

Stephen Andress & Jason Lisk break down the best NFL Survivor Week 2 picks, strategy tips, and insights to keep your season alive.

Week 1 NFL Survivor Picks Strategy & Advice (2025)

by Jason Lisk - Sep 6, 2025

Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season includes no runaway favorites but several intriguing picks with low future value in NFL survivor pools.

Video: NFL Week 1 Survivor Picks & Tips (2025)

by Spencer Limbach - Sep 3, 2025

Watch as Stephen Andress and Jason Lisk break down the top NFL Survivor Week 1 picks, strategy tips, and insights to help you start the season strong.

Introducing PoolGenius Survivor Bowl 1: Football Media & Personalities Compete for Charity!

by Spencer Limbach - Aug 30, 2025

The first PoolGenius Survivor Bowl unites football media, fantasy, and betting experts to compete for $10,000 plus $5,000 going to charity.

Where To Play NFL Survivor Pools 2025: Best Free & Paid Contests

by Spencer Limbach - Aug 25, 2025

Wondering where to play NFL survivor pools in 2025? This guide covers the best free, paid, and high-stakes options available online and in-person.

NFL Survivor Week 1 Research: Looking at QB and Coach Factors

by Jason Lisk - Aug 25, 2025

We do a deep dive into how teams have performed in Week 1 based on whether they have a new or returning coach and QB.

5 Most Valuable Teams in NFL Survivor Pools (2025)

by Jason Lisk - Aug 1, 2025

As we look ahead to the 2025 NFL Survivor schedule, here are five teams that project as the most valuable to plan around.

Circa Survivor 2025 Surging, Could Hit Record $20M Prize Pool

by Spencer Limbach - Jul 31, 2025

Circa Survivor 2025 is off to a blazing start, with entries up 44% year-over-year and a $20 million prize pool within reach.

Splash Sports Launches Massive NFL Survivor Contests for 2025

by Spencer Limbach - Jul 22, 2025

Splash Sports has released its initial 2025 NFL survivor contests with large guaranteed prize pools, plus a college football survivor contest.

NFL Survivor 2025: Early Reactions From Schedule Release

by Jason Lisk - Jun 16, 2025

We outline early 2025 NFL Survivor insights after the schedule release. Top teams, tricky weeks, and schedule strategy tips to get ahead.

Circa Survivor 2025: $15 Million Record Prize Pool & New Contest

by Spencer Limbach - May 31, 2025

Circa Survivor VI returns with a record-breaking prize pool for 2025. Get the full contest breakdown, rules, and insights from 2024 winners.

Circa Grandissimo: High-Stakes NFL Survivor Contest Strategy

by Jason Lisk - May 27, 2025

Circa Grandissimo is a new $100K-entry NFL survivor contest for 2025. We break down how its small pool size changes optimal strategy.

How the 2024 Circa Survivor Winners Survived All 20 Weeks

by Jason Lisk - May 22, 2025

We take a deeper dive into who the Circa Survivor winners picked last season, and how that compared to the rest of the contest participants.

Survivor Myths

Survivor Pool Myth #1: Never Pick Division Rivalry Games

by Jason Lisk - Jun 19, 2025

Some survivor players avoid taking division games for fear of rivalry upsets. The actual data, though, does not support that approach.

Survivor Pool Myth #2: Never Pick Road Teams / Away Teams

by Jason Lisk - Jun 19, 2024

Plenty of survivor players will avoid picking road teams if possible. The evidence does not support that strategy.

Survivor Pool Myth #3: Just Survive The Early Season, Then Figure It Out

by Jason Lisk - Jun 19, 2024

In survivor, you cannot just fall for the notion that winning this week is all that matters. You have to think about the entire season.

Survivor Pool Myth #4: I Have to Pick This Team This Week!

by Jason Lisk - Jun 19, 2024

Don't fall into a trap of thinking you have to use a particular team. There are always other options to consider in survivor.