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Kyle's top Week 9 NFL survivor pool selections, his 3 best NFL Survivor/Eliminator picks for 2025. Target and avoid these NFL teams in Week 9 Survivor contests.
Week 9 brings a flurry of elite matchups. The Chiefs at Bills is the game of the week in the afternoon, but there are some highly intriguing early slate games in the AFC, including the Broncos at Texans and the Colts at Steelers. However, we are looking for teams we can trust to secure a clean, easy win to survive and advance to the next week.
In this article, we will go through three of my favorite survivor picks to trust in Week 9. All three of these teams are safer picks this week and could help you advance in your pools. This article will also feature two teams that you can't trust to pick this week.
So, let's dive in and look at the best and worst survivor pool selections for Week 9.
Editors Note: RotoBaller's NEW Survivor Grid Tool provides an easy-to-use color-coded interface with each team's full schedule, including Vegas spreads. Plan your picks, create multiple entries, and save your progress. Click here to use the Survivor Grid today.
Survivor Pool Tools and Resources
Love survivor pools as much as we do? Of course you do. Be sure to check these out:
Survivor Picks Tool
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Survivor League Guide
For detailed Survivor Pool strategy and tips to help you win, check out our "How To Win Your Survivor League" guide!
Los Angeles Rams (-14) vs. New Orleans Saints
The Rams are fresh off a dominant 35-7 win over the Jaguars in Week 7 and then had the bye to reset for the second half of the season. Meanwhile, the Saints are who we thought they were after the Spencer Rattler train fell off the tracks over the last two weeks. Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough will make his NFL debut, and Sean McVay has historically done very well against rookie quarterbacks with an 8-2 record.
However, one of those losses came against Tua Tagovailoa back in 2020, who was also making his first career start. It's a tall task for Shough and the Saints as the Rams have been one of the most complete teams in football through eight weeks. They are one of four teams to rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive EPA/play.
Puka to the rescue. BIG first down.#NOvsLAR on Prime Video
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Nz8Z54zYm0 pic.twitter.com/0TajLN589u— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2023
Plus, the Rams will be getting superstar wideout Puka Nacua back after missing one game with an ankle injury. It's a game where the Rams could get caught sleeping with a tough three-game stretch upcoming afterwards, including two divisional games against the 49ers and Seahawks that could decide the winner of the NFC West. It's a big spread, but they should get in and get out with an easy win.
Green Bay Packers (-12.5) vs. Carolina Panthers
The Packers could have been a common survival pick at multiple times of the season, likely including their inexplicable loss in Week 3 at Cleveland. But they are rounding into form now and have scored 27 or more points in every game except for their lone loss. Green Bay is the only NFC team with one loss, while the Panthers are somehow 4-4, but still look like a bottom-10 team in the league.
Bryce Young (ankle) makes his return for this Week 9 matchup after a big-time Andy Dalton stinker in his place last week against the Bills. Young is 0-7 on the road against teams with a .500 record or better and faces another stiff test against Micah Parsons and the Packers' vaunted pass rush. However, one of Young's two career 300-yard passing games came against the Packers in 2023, but that was before Jeff Hafley came on as the Packers' defensive coordinator. Carolina could also exploit Green Bay's weakness defensively, which has been against the run of late.
Throwback to Bryce Young’s impressive performance as a rookie in his first ever game against the Packers 😤
CARvsGB– Sunday 1pm ET on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/YWfmz332EL
— NFL (@NFL) November 1, 2025
Green Bay ranks 27th in defensive rushing success rate since Week 6. Rico Dowdle, who already has two 200-rushing-yard performances on the season, is set to handle the bulk of the touches for Carolina on Sunday. It should still be a game where Jordan Love and the offense have their way, but if he makes a questionable interception like he's prone to do and allows Carolina to hang around and move the ball on the ground, it could get interesting.
Los Angeles Chargers (-10) at Tennessee Titans
The Chargers got back into the win column last week with a dominant 37-10 win over the Vikings on Thursday Night Football. Now coming off a mini-bye, they also get a pillow matchup with the Tennessee Titans. Star left tackle Joe Alt made his return for that game, and his impact on the Los Angeles offense can't be overstated. The Chargers are undefeated in games where Alt starts and finishes the game.
Rookie quarterback Cameron Ward had positive moments in their Week 8 loss against the Colts after some brutal performances in the weeks before. Interim head coach Mike McCoy did not inspire a ton of confidence in his first game, refusing to go for multiple shorter fourth downs as a heavy underdog. Perhaps that changes this week.
41-yard field goal for the OT win! @Titans #LACvsTEN pic.twitter.com/rdudKJDBpN
— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2023
Meanwhile, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh usually has his teams ready to play when they travel east. However, the Chargers haven't won a game in Tennessee since 2009. Justin Herbert's only game at Tennessee came in 2023, where they lost in overtime 27-24. But the Titans have shown little to no life this season, with their only win coming in Week 5 after the Arizona Cardinals gift-wrapped it for them.
Other Survivor Picks in Consideration:
- Detroit Lions (-9.5) (vs. MIN)
Top Survivor Pool Picks to Avoid for Week 9
- Indianapolis Colts (-3.5) at PIT
- New England Patriots (-4.5) vs. ATL
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