Who to take in Week 17 in your NFL survivor pool

Kevin Erickson | Staff Writer

In Week 16, we used a strategy which has been pretty reliable late in the season for those still alive in NFL survivor pool play: pick against the Carolina Panthers, if you can.

Ironically, due to weather in Week 15, we stayed away from the Panthers when they actually won a game. Spoiler alert ... we haven't used the team Carolina is playing this week. More on that shortly. We used the sub-.500 Green Bay Packers, on the road, no less, and they got it done in Charlotte, although it was a pretty close shave. The Panthers definitely showed up and fought hard.

For the second option, the Denver Broncos inexplicably lost to the New England Patriots at home, significantly damaging their playoff hopes in the process. Good. I don't know about you, but when a team I pick loses, I tend to cheer against them the rest of the season. QB Russell Wilson has been benched in Denver, and that loss likely cost them a shot at the postseason. That's what they get.

Overall, we've lost our No. 1 option 3 times, but I'll continue to do my best to help if you're fortunate to still be alive in your NFL survivor pool.

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The chalk: Jacksonville Jaguars

Who they play: Home vs. Panthers – 1 p.m. (CBS)

We saved the Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7) for the No. 1 option until Week 17, and, ironically, it's when it might be most risky to play the Jags. Yep, we're picking on those Carolina Panthers (2-13) again.

Jacksonville was humming through the schedule, sitting pretty in the AFC South at 8-3 heading into a Week 13 showdown on Monday Night Football. There was talk of a No. 1 overall seed in the AFC. But that all went out the window when QB Trevor Lawrence suffered a high-ankle sprain late in the Week 13 OT loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Lawrence has been tough as nails, as he hasn't missed any starts despite the ankle, and then a shoulder injury. The offensive line play in front of him has been terrible, and that's usually the death knell for a quarterback. He has played on, but the Jaguars head into this must-win game against a bad team with a 4-game losing streak.

Thankfully for Lawrence and the Jaguars, they get the 2-win Panthers at EverBank Stadium in Duval, looking to turn this thing around. As such, JACKSONVILLE IS MY TOP WEEK 17 SURVIVOR POOL PICK.

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No. 2 option: Los Angeles Rams

Who they play: At Giants – 1 p.m. (FOX)

The Los Angeles Rams (8-7) have been playing great football, somehow playing their way into playoff position when nobody gave them a chance at the beginning of the season.

A giant key to the turnaround for the Rams has been the run game, as RB Kyren Williams has been amazing, giving Los Angeles a great option out of the backfield in addition to solid downfield threats with WRs Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua.

Williams has 3 straight 100-yard games, and he has hit the century mark in 4 of 5 games since coming back from the reserve/injured list, scoring 5 total times in 5 games since returning. The triple-digit streak is likely to continue, as the New York Giants (5-10) rank 29th in rushing defense, allowing 134.2 yards per game.

The Giants have covered in 4 of the past 5, and they had won 3 in a row in the brief, magical run of QB Tommy Devito. He is gone as quickly as he came on, and it's now veteran QB Tyrod Taylor under center. The Rams are going to give him fits.

Others to consider

Houston Texans: Home vs. Tennessee Titans – 1 p.m. (FOX)

Seattle Seahawks: Home vs. Pittsburgh Steelers – 4:05 p.m. (FOX)

2023 survivor game log

NO. 1 OPTION

Week 1: WIN – Ravens 25, Texans 9

Week 2: WIN – Cowboys 30, Jets 10

Week 3: WIN – Dolphins 70, Broncos 20

Week 4: LOSS – Titans 27, Bengals 3

Week 5: WIN – Lions 42, Panthers 24

Week 6: WIN – Rams 26, Cardinals 9

Week 7: WIN – Seahawks 20, Cardinals 10

Week 8: WIN – Eagles 38, Commanders 31

Week 9: LOSS – Vikings 31, Falcons 28

Week 10: LOSS – Broncos 24, Bills 22

Week 11: WIN – 49ers 27, Buccaneers 14

Week 12: WIN – Chiefs 31, Raiders 17

Week 13: WIN – Buccaneers 21, Panthers 18

Week 14: WIN – Saints 28, Panthers 6

Week 15: WIN – Colts 30, Steelers 13

Week 16: WIN – Packers 33, Panthers 30

NO. 2 OPTION

Week 1: WIN: Commanders 20, Cardinals 16

Week 2: WIN – Bills 38, Raiders 10

Week 3: WIN – Chiefs 41, Bears 10

Week 4: WIN – 49ers 35, Cardinals 16

Week 5: LOSS – Steelers 17, Ravens 10

Week 6: WIN – Bills 14, Giants 9

Week 7: LOSS – Giants 14, Commanders 7

Week 8: WIN – Chargers 30, Bears 13

Week 9: WIN – Saints 24, Bears 17

Week 10: WIN – Cowboys 49, Giants 17

Week 11: WIN – Dolphins 20, Raiders 13

Week 12: WIN – Titans 17, Panthers 10

Week 13: LOSS – Bengals 34, Jaguars 31 (OT)

Week 14: LOSS – Giants 24, Packers 22

Week 15: WIN – Browns 20, Bears 17

Week 16: LOSS – Patriots 26, Broncos 23

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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