NFL Survivor Pool Picks for Week 6: Rams, Chiefs, Colts
Week 5 provided another reminder that there is no such thing as a guaranteed survivor pool pick in the NFL.
The Dallas Cowboys entered the week as the most popular survivor selection and closed as 9.5-point home favorites against the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It wasn't enough, and Tampa Bay pulled off a 24-16 upset, which sparked the biggest news of the week. The Washington Commanders created more chaos with their 27-27 tie against the New York Giants.
Conversely, the Houston Texans handled Tennessee 26-3, the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Miami Dolphins, and the Jacksonville Jaguars escaped the Philadelphia Eagles on a last-second field goal.
Week 6 presents another decision between using the safest team available and preserving elite options for later.
NFL Survivor Pool Picks for Week 6
Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams are the obvious place to start in Week 6 as legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Los Angeles is favored by around 12.5 points at home against Arizona, with the Rams priced anywhere from roughly -750 to -950 on the moneyline. No other Week 6 matchup carries a spread particularly close to that number.
Arizona enters at 1-4 and is coming off a 45-21 loss to Detroit. The Cardinals have allowed 21 touchdowns through five games, more than any other team in the league, and just traded wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to Houston.
The Rams are only 2-3, so their record doesn't look like that of a typical massive survivor favorite. But the matchup makes this an attractive bounce-back spot with solid odds.
The biggest question is future value. Los Angeles should have several opportunities to be a strong survivor option later this season, and the Rams are projected to be the most popular selection this week. Still, survivor pools are about staying alive. If the Rams are available, they're the safest Week 6 pick.
Up to 200 Prophet Cash in first 30 days 
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City offers an excellent alternative for anyone who wants to fade the popular Rams or has already used Los Angeles.
The Chiefs are 4-0 and coming out of their bye week before hosting the 0-5 Los Angeles Chargers. Kansas City is favored by around 8.5 points with a moneyline around -410 to -440 on most sports betting apps.
The matchup is appealing because of how poorly things have gone for the once-hopeful playoff contender, the Los Angeles Chargers. Justin Herbert has thrown five touchdowns against seven interceptions through five games, while Los Angeles ranks near the bottom of the league offensively. The Chargers are also dealing with injuries to several pass catchers and offensive linemen.
Kansas City, meanwhile, is rested and unbeaten. Patrick Mahomes is 10-4 in his career against the Chargers, and the Chiefs have been productive on both sides of the ball this season.
There is significant future value with Kansas City, so using the Chiefs now comes with a cost. But survivor projections have their usage well below the Rams, Patriots and Colts, giving Kansas City useful leverage.
Indianapolis Colts
For survivor players who want to preserve both the Rams and Chiefs, Indianapolis is another viable Week 6 option.
The Colts are roughly seven-point home favorites against Tennessee and sit around -330 on the moneyline at most sportsbooks. Indianapolis is only 2-3, but Tennessee has been one of the NFL's weakest teams through five weeks.
The Titans are 0-5 and have scored 20 or fewer points in every game this season. They were especially poor in Week 5, losing 26-3 at home against Houston. Tennessee has also won just two road games since the beginning of last season.
Indianapolis isn't nearly as trustworthy as Los Angeles or Kansas City. The Colts are coming off a 34-22 loss to Pittsburgh, and their defense has struggled enough to make this an uncomfortable divisional matchup.
Indianapolis carries less future survivor value than teams like the Rams, Chiefs and 49ers. If the Colts handle the winless Titans at home, players can advance without using one of the league's premier teams.
How Do NFL Survivor Pools Work?
NFL survivor pools require players to select one team to win outright each week. If that team wins, the entry advances. If it loses, the entry is usually eliminated, although some pools use one- or two-strike formats.
The catch is that each team can generally only be used once during the season. That makes future value an important part of the decision.
Week 5 showed why simply taking the biggest favorite isn't foolproof. Dallas looked like one of the safest picks on the board and still eliminated nearly half of the remaining Circa field.
For Week 6, the Rams offer the safest path on paper, Kansas City provides a strong alternative with lower projected popularity, and Indianapolis gives players a chance to preserve an elite team for later.
-
NFL Survivor Pool Picks for Week 6: Rams, Chiefs, Colts
-
Trade $25 Get $55 on Rays vs Guardians MLB: Use Kalshi Code PREMARLINES
-
Sweepstakes Casinos Begin to Pull Back From Oklahoma
-
International NFL Games Are 'Tentpole' Events for Potential Problem Gamblers: Analysis
-
Tilt Rips Launches Limited-Edition VIP Concierge: Premium Racing & Food Experiences
-
Inter Miami vs. New York Prediction, Odds & Picks for Oct. 14: Herons to Secure Big Victory