NFL Survivor Week 18 Rankings

To the fortunate and skilled who have survived this long in NFL Survivor pools, welcome to the final week of the season.

It’s been a wild ride, and with playoff spots firmed up, starter availability up in the air and a weird Week 18 on the horizon, it won’t get any easier.

The NFL Week 18 odds tell a story about what the oddsmakers believe will happen. But what will actually take place? Let’s explore.

Survivor Week 18 Best Picks

Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Commanders

Did the officials give the Dallas Cowboys a little boost last week against the Detroit Lions? It certainly feels that way.

Regardless, Dallas had a wonderful week. That win, coupled with the Eagles’ loss, has put the Cowboys in a position to win the NFC East and host at least one playoff game. The only thing standing in the way is the Washington Commanders.

At this point, that doesn’t feel like much at all.

Granted, Dallas has to play on the road. Given how well this team has played at home, that is at least, well, something. Still, QB Dak Prescott and star wideout CeeDee Lamb are likely to put on one more show during the regular season.

The Commanders, winners of just four games, are ready for the offseason. Dallas by plenty.

Use our NFL Eliminator tips to place bets with the top NFL odds:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers

In search of a team with something to play for? Search no further.

While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren’t the only remaining team with plenty on the line, they are the only team playing the worst squad in football.

Granted, tanking will do the Carolina Panthers no good. The Chicago Bears have Carolina’s first-round pick, and the No. 1 overall pick has been locked up already. Does that change the way the Panthers will play?

Does it even matter?

Tampa Bay is coming off an ugly loss to the New Orleans Saints, although the Bucs won four straight before that. Baker Mayfield threw two interceptions last time out, but he’s played exceptional football this year.

Expect to see more of that, and expect the Buccaneers’ defense to play a much better game against a rookie QB who has scored fewer than 10 points in three of his team’s last four games.

Survivor Week 18 Rankings Grid

Survivor Week 18 Sleeper

Los Angeles Chargers vs Kansas City Chiefs

Now, let’s play the game.

The Kansas City Chiefs are locked in as the No. 3 seed in the AFC. Nothing that happens this week will change that.

As such, one must assume that head coach Andy Reid will rest his key starters. While coaches will vary when it comes to sitting players, this one is pretty obvious. Even if Patrick Mahomes starts, and he’s unlikely to, he won’t finish the game.

For all the issues the Los Angeles Chargers have had since QB Justin Herbert was knocked out for the season, playing a slew of backups and third stringers at home should be the ideal remedy to close out the year.

Although Los Angeles has just one win in its last eight games, this is a unique situation and opportunity thanks largely to the opposition.

Survivor Week 18 Chalk Team That Could Lose

Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears

For the Green Bay Packers, it’s pretty simple. If they beat rival Chicago at home, they’re in the playoffs. Green Bay could also get through in other ways, but a win over the Bears eliminates all additional scoreboard watching.

As good as Jordan Love has looked for Green Bay, the Bears have quietly won four of the last five games. While there is a decision in the near future regarding quarterback Justin Fields, that decision can wait.

Fields has shown some promise of late, as has the rest of the Chicago offense. And with an opportunity to keep their rivals out of the playoffs, the Bears feel like a dangerous team.

At home, Green Bay is a deserving favorite, although the oddsmakers see this as a tight, losable game. It’s hard to argue with that.