Survivor Pool Rules & Strategies
Everything you need to know about survivor pools - how they work, the rules, and strategies to survive longer.
What is a Survivor Pool?
A survivor pool (also called an elimination pool or knockout pool) is a competition where participants pick one team per week to win. If your team wins, you survive to the next week. If they lose or tie, you're eliminated. The last person remaining wins.
Basic Rules
- One Pick Per Week: Each participant selects exactly one team to win each week.
- No Repeats: You cannot pick the same team twice during the season.
- Win or Go Home: If your team loses or ties, you're eliminated immediately.
- Deadline: Picks must be submitted before the first game of the week kicks off.
- No Pick = Elimination: Forgetting to make a pick results in automatic elimination.
Winning Strategies
1. Save Your Best Teams
Don't use elite teams like the Chiefs or Bills in Week 1. Save them for later when the field has narrowed and you need a safe pick.
2. Consider Future Matchups
Look ahead at the schedule. If a good team has multiple easy games, pick them for the harder one and save them for when you really need them.
3. Home Field Matters
Teams are generally stronger at home. Factor this into your decisions, especially for evenly-matched games.
4. Avoid Trap Games
Heavy favorites sometimes lose to underdogs. Be wary of teams coming off a big win or playing a team they should "easily" beat.
5. Differentiate Late
If you're in the final few survivors, consider picking differently than others. You can't win if everyone picks the same team and wins.
Common Mistakes
- Using a top team in Week 1 (you'll need them later!)
- Forgetting to submit a pick before the deadline
- Not checking for injuries or weather conditions
- Following the crowd instead of thinking independently