Finding the right NFL Survivor picks every week to last as long as possible in your pool can be very tricky. Our team is here to help by providing three suggestions: safe, medium, and risky Survivor Pool picks, so you can decide if the time to take a gamble is right.
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Without further ado, let’s move on to the top survivor picks for NFL week 5. We provide a summary first and our reasoning after that.
Best NFL Survivor Picks for Week 5
| MATCHUP | CONFIDENCE | SURVIVOR PICK |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers | Safest | 49ers |
| Cleveland Browns vs. Washington Commanders | Moderately Safe | Commanders |
| Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals | High Risk/High Reward | Bengals |
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These helpful tips can help you make your tough decisions each week for your best NFL survivor pool bets! Don’t have time to do your own research? Simply consider our best Week 5 NFL survivor picks below:
Our NFL Week 5 Survivor Picks (With Reasoning)
After analyzing the NFL Week 5 card, we have settled on the safest, moderately safe, and risky pick to win this week. Remember, you can only choose each team once per year, so keep the rest of the season in mind when making your picks!
Safest NFL Survivor Pick: 49ers to Beat Cardinals
The San Francisco 49ers (2-2) find themselves in an unfamiliar position in the NFC West heading into Week 5! They are behind the 3-1 Seahawks in the division, though there is still a lot of football to be played. As 7.5-point favorites, the 49ers are the largest favorite against the spread at the best NFL betting sites.
The Detroit Lions did the 49ers a favor with a win over the Seahawks on Monday Night Football this past week. Also, the 49ers are coming off a lift-me-up performance against the New England Patriots last week. They easily controlled the game for a 30-13 blowout at Levi’s Stadium. It was a nice bounce-back spot for the 49ers after dropping a 27-24 decision to the Rams a week earlier.
RB Jordan Mason had a strong game on the ground, while WR Jauan Jennings continued to assert himself as a reliable option for Brock Purdy. The 49ers don’t necessarily need Christian McCaffrey to win games right now if everyone else does their job in his absence.
Purdy to Jauan Jennings! Ridiculous on both ends.
📺: #NEvsSF on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/SJ2wMenYOU— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024
He will be needed for late in the season and the playoffs, but the 49ers should still be winning games with this roster. They should be able to lean on their run defense to bottle up the Cardinals’ offensive game plan to pull away this week. Arizona likes to establish the run with James Connor to set up QB Kyler Murray downfield.
However, the 49ers likely won’t allow this to happen consistently. They are sixth in the NFL, with 96.3 yards against on the ground per game. Conversely, Mason should have another big showing. The Cardinals have struggled against the run, conceding an average of 146.5 rushing yards per game for 28th in the NFL!
The Cardinals are just 2-11 outright in their last 13 games on the road. Additionally, the 49ers are 4-1 against the spread (ATS) over their previous five meetings versus the Cardinals. Look for the 49ers to build on last week’s win, so consider them for your best NFL survivor pool picks!
Moderately Safe Pick: Commanders to Beat Browns
Do you believe in rookie QB Jayden Daniels yet? Even to the biggest Caleb Williams believers, Daniels has separated himself from the Bears’ QB. Daniels is up in the NFL Rookie of the Year race and is unlikely to give it up as long as he remains in this dazzling form.
Through four NFL starts, Daniels has passed for 897 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He has been slippery as a dynamic runner, too. Daniels notched 218 yards rushing on 4.7 yards per carry and four touchdowns. The LSU rookie isn’t only putting up numbers, but most importantly, leading the Commanders to wins.
Jayden Daniels is already making an impact on the field. 🏈
(🎥 NFL, FOX) pic.twitter.com/s4Md5tUCzi
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) October 1, 2024
The Washington Commanders (3-1) lead the Cowboys and Eagles in the NFC East and are carrying momentum in this showdown against the Cleveland Browns (1-3). While the Commanders picked up a key 42-14 win, the Browns floundered in a 20-16 loss.
Will head coach Kevin Stefanski consider a change at quarterback to provide a spark to this offense? All indications are that Stefanski is going to stick with Deshaun Watson. There isn’t any energy from this team, but you can find a lot of it in Washington with this Commanders squad.
When the defense isn’t playing at an elite level, the Browns are going to suffer badly. That’s exactly what is happening, though. The Browns are getting beat on the ground to a clip of 123.3 rushing yards per game. They are just 17th in the NFL, with 21.8 points against per contest!
That is unlike the Browns, but I sense the poor rapport in the locker room is wearing off on the defense. The Commanders should emerge with a victory against a Browns team struggling with confidence. Look for Daniels to keep rolling on, so the Commanders are one of the best NFL survivor picks for Week 5!
High Risk/High Reward Pick: Bengals to Beat Ravens
Fresh off a huge win over the Buffalo Bills, the Baltimore Ravens (2-2) will look to turn their 35-10 win into another victory in the AFC. They have their sights on the Cincinnati Bengals (1-3) who are coming off their first win of the season!
The Bengals needed a “get right” matchup against the Carolina Panthers to secure their first victory of the year. Nevertheless, the Bengals have played well against superior opponents. They were a pass interference call away from beating the Chiefs, so it isn’t as if the Bengals have been completely useless.
Also, keep in mind that the Bengals have been slow starters over the last few years. They pulled this same act a season ago. The Bengals started off last season at 1-3 in September and finished with nine wins. I suspect that the Bengals will be up to their usual strategy in 2024.
WR Tee Higgins missed the first two games of the season and made his return in Week 3. It’s taken him some time to warm up, and I expect him to be in top form alongside Ja’Marr Chase against the Ravens. The Ravens’ defense has shown plenty of holes in the secondary thus far this season.
OH MY JA'MARR CHASE. ELECTRIC 63-YARD TD.
📺: #CINvsCAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/KwYspR7roj— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024
Baltimore lost key talent in the secondary on the defensive side of the ball, and it has been evident. The Ravens are 29th in the NFL, with an average of 257.5 yards allowed through the air per game! Look for Joe Burrow to have a strong contest in this one.
I anticipate the Ravens having a small letdown following their win over the Bills, so consider backing the Bengals in an upset for your best Week 5 NFL survivor pool picks!
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