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The NFL campaign is nearing its halfway mark, and survivor pool participants are feeling the heat—only a small fraction, perhaps 2-20%, remain in contention depending on their skill and fortune. Week 7 brought two more stunning upsets: the Giants toppled the Texans on the road as double-digit underdogs, and the Jets fell to the previously winless Dolphins, underscoring why they are a risky survivor pool choice even when favored.
Fortunately, Week 8 offers several lopsided matchups and some compelling options. Below, we break down the top picks to keep your survivor hopes alive.
Chalk Pick: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Tennessee Titans
The Bengals return home to face one of the league's weakest teams and are riding high after a statement victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Cincinnati erased a 13-point halftime deficit by scoring 35 unanswered points in the second half, with Joe Burrow tossing four touchdown passes to four different receivers. Depending on the sportsbook, the Bengals are favored by 10.5 to 12.5 points, making them one of the largest favorites on the Week 8 slate; at FanDuel, they are currently 12.5-point favorites. The Titans have struggled offensively all season and are unlikely to keep pace if Cincinnati's offense carries over its momentum from last week's dominant second half.
Safe but Not Chalk: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
If you haven't been following the latest NFL transactions, the Colts appear to be waving the white flag on the season and shifting their focus toward the future. After losing to the Titans and handing them their only win of the year, Indianapolis fired general manager Chris Ballard. The team then traded All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner for draft picks, signaling a major organizational reset. This pick is less about the Jaguars and more about the Colts' apparent free fall. Jacksonville sits at 4-2 with a 2.5-game lead in the division and has had two weeks to regroup after its shootout loss to the Texans in London. The Colts look like an ideal get-right matchup for the Jaguars, who should have a good opportunity to add another win and maintain their comfortable lead in the AFC South.
Riskier Pick: New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins knocked out all of the survivor pool pickers who chose the Jets last week. They will revert back to being a flawed football team this week when they face the Patriots. The Pats are coming off of a loss to the Bears, but seem to have gotten Drake Maye and the offense back in the right direction. After scoring 36 points across all three of the first three games, the Pats have gone 3-1 and averaged 31 points per contest over their last four. The Dolphins won't have an answer for Drake Maye, who's averaging 300 yards and 3 touchdowns per game over the last month. Patriots win 38-17.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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Matthew Rumack has been working in the Fantasy Sports space for almost a decade, including stints at FantasySP, DrRoto, Varsity Sports Media, and the FNTSY Sports Network. He specializes in Fantasy Golf and Fantasy Football. Born and raised in New York, he's a massive Knicks, Giants, and Yankees fan. When he's not writing about, playing, or watching sports, he's usually walking his dog, Freddie.