When it comes to survivor pools, the name of the game is simple: survive and advance. It’s not about picking the flashiest upset—it’s about picking the most reliable winner each week. The trick is managing your “big guns” like Kansas City, San Francisco, or Buffalo strategically so you don’t burn them too early. You want to keep one or two powerhouse teams in your back pocket for later in the season when the schedule tightens up and the landmines appear.
Last week, we went 3–1 in the survivor pool. The only loss came from a Philadelphia team that just couldn’t close late—an ugly one, but that’s how it goes. Survivor pools are all about composure. Shake it off, move forward, and stay focused. Let’s take a look at our top survivor plays for Week 7 that give us the best shot to keep our streak alive.
Kansas City Chiefs
Playing at Arrowhead Stadium is almost unfair for opponents. Kansas City’s offense ranks top 10 in total yards and top 8 in scoring, while the Raiders’ defense sits in the middle of the pack—around 19th in total defense and giving up nearly 330 yards per game.
The Chiefs are 15–1 straight-up in their last 16 home games, and Patrick Mahomes has a 9–2 career record against the Raiders. Kansas City’s defense has also tightened up, ranking 13th in total yards allowed and holding opponents under 20 points in three of their last four contests.
When it comes to survivor pools, you want a team that wins even when they’re not perfect. Kansas City checks that box—they find ways to win, even when they’re not at their sharpest. Safe, secure, and strong enough to anchor your card.
New England Patriots
This is the perfect “take care of business” spot for the Patriots. They draw a Tennessee Titans team that ranks 31st in total offense and dead last in passing yards per game. The Titans simply don’t have the playmakers to sustain drives against New England’s disciplined defense.
The Patriots have been efficient and consistent—top 16 in total offense, 18th in total defense, and quietly trending up in third-down conversion rate. Vrabel’s teams don’t beat themselves, and against a mistake-prone Titans offense, that’s all you need in a survivor week.
Historically, New England has also dominated this matchup, winning eight of the last eleven meetings. They’ve got the coaching edge, the composure edge, and the matchup edge.
Green Bay Packers
Green Bay is in a nice bounce-back spot at Arizona. The Packers’ defense ranks 4th in total yards allowed and top five against the run. Arizona’s offense, on the other hand, has been up and down all season, sitting 26th in total offense and struggling to move the ball through the air consistently.
The Packers have also dominated NFC West opponents, going 12–2 straight-up in their last 14 games against that division. Jordan Love and this offense don’t need to light up the scoreboard—they just need to protect the ball and let that defense go to work.
This one shapes up like a 24–13 kind of win—low stress, low variance, high reliability. Exactly what you want in a survivor spot.
TOP PICK — Denver Broncos
Now for the one I’m saving for my survivor entry this week. The Denver Broncos have one of the best defenses in football—5th in total defense and top 3 against the pass. They’re at home in altitude, facing a New York Giants offense that has been a mess: 26th in total offense, 28th in third-down conversions, and struggling to protect the quarterback.
This matchup is all about trench play. Denver’s front seven should dominate, limit New York’s ground game, and force them into obvious passing situations. On the flip side, Denver’s offense doesn’t need to do much—just play mistake-free football and let the defense and crowd carry them.
This is as clean a survivor setup as it gets: elite defense, home-field advantage, and an opponent in total disarray.
Want my full survivor card—including bonus data, potential upset traps, and late-week injury updates? Head over to HotStreakPicks.com and join our free Skool community for the full breakdown and my Top Confidence Play of the Week.
Survive. Advance. Stack wins. That’s the name of the game.
