Welcome to Week 13 of your NFL survivor pool. While I was knocked out a couple of weeks ago, I'm still here to analyze the best choices of the week and help win your pool.
There are some interesting choices this week, so let's jump right in. Here are the projected win percentages for every game remaining in the season:
I normally look for teams with a win percentage of 70% or higher, but late in the season I know options become limited so I listed the top eight teams for the week and their key statistics.
I've also weighted Yahoo's pick percentages more as the season has progressed. There are clearly a bunch of ESPN users who set their picks before the season and never check them again.
Here are the top options for Week 13:
At the top of the list we have two big favorites in the Packers and the Chiefs. If you have the Packers, use them this week. Seriously, you're done and you can stop reading now.
If you have the Chiefs, I would use them as well. Unless you look really thin in Week 17, I don't see a reason to save them, especially because there's a chance they have the top seed in the AFC locked up and rest some key starters.
Now comes the big decision of the week.
The Seattle Seahawks have the third-highest win percentage but over half of all selections are taking them. Generally, we want to avoid taking popular picks to gain an advantage on the rest of the field.
The decision on whether or not to take Seattle comes down to one variable: the size of your pool. If you are just playing with some buddies or coworkers and are down to a few entries, you can still take the Seahawks and try to gain ground in later weeks.
If you are in a big pool at Yahoo or FanDuel, then you need to avoid taking the Seahawks even if they are the best option to advance this week. This is reminiscent of the Vikings in Week 3.
If you have already used the Packers and Chiefs, which I would assume is a large majority of you reading this, then I think the next best option is:
The Pick: Tennessee Titans
Yuck. It doesn't feel great, does it? This team has been an enigma all season, but for the most part its offense has looked like the Little Giants before they figured out the Annexation of Puerto Rico.
That being said, if there is one opponent that can help a team get its mojo back, it is the New York Jets. The Titans are 7.5-point favorites and offer a good way to avoid the Seahawks.
The next best pick is the team that just thrashed the Titans on Monday Night Football. The Texans are 6-point favorites against the Cleveland Browns who have looked downright competent since Hue Jackson was fired.
If you're down at the bottom of the list, I prefer the Dolphins to the Rams and Patriots. If you saved either one of those teams, then I think you are better off using them in future weeks and going with Miami at home in its only viable option remaining.
As always, if you have any specific questions about your entry you can hit me up on twitter @BetLabsTravis. Best of luck, and I hope to see you alive in Week 14.
