Goodbye to everyone who took the Los Angeles Chargers in survivor pools last week, which was a lot. LA's loss eliminated more than 30 percent of the entries in Circa's survivor contest, and it's safe to assume that number was similar across other pools. The Chargers were the biggest betting favorite of the week.
As for me, I'm still alive after rolling with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but maybe I should trust my gut more. I recommended the Las Vegas Raiders as the most strategic survivor pick last week but was too much of a coward to pick them myself.
Hey, can you blame me? Nobody wants to start the season with a loss. But let's see if that decision backfires as we roll along. Here are my picks for Week 2.
The best Week 2 survivor pick most likely to win
- San Francisco 49ers (vs. Miami Dolphins)
Record: 1-0
On paper, this is the most lopsided
matchup on the Week 2 slate, and that's reflected by a 13.5-point spread that's the largest of the week. But there is some risk in taking the 49ers in their first game back from Australia, as there could be some lingering effects from the travel. It shouldn't make a difference in how the game turns out, but there will be better weeks to take San Francisco in the future.
The best strategic Week 2 survivor pick
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Cleveland Browns)
Record: 1-0
Take a look at the Bucs schedule and tell me you see another guaranteed win up there. Because I don't, outside of division games against the Saints, Panthers and Falcons. But good luck guessing which of those games the Bucs will win, because all four teams are capable of beating each other at home or away. This is the time to burn your Bucs pick.
My Week 2 survivor pick
- Philadelphia Eagles (at Tennessee Titans)
Record: 1-0
Already used: Jaguars
I'm doing it again, going against my own strategy in the name of playing it safe. But I'm striking a different balance than in Week 1, rolling with a slightly riskier Eagles pick on the road. Now, don't get me wrong, the Eagles are playing the Titans, so it's only slightly riskier. But road games are always risky. The thing is, a part of me still doesn't completely trust Tampa, even against a bad Browns team. So I'll burn my Eagles pick before Jalen Hurts and that Philly offense can scare me away later in the year.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 2026 NFL survivor pool Week 2 picks: Buccaneers in perfect spot for bounce back
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