NFL Survivor Pool Rules Explained Simply

An NFL survivor pool (also called "eliminator" or "knockout" pool) is a season-long contest where participants make one pick each week, selecting a team they believe will win its game outright. The key twist that makes survivor pools uniquely challenging: you cannot pick the same team twice during the season.



If your selected team wins, you "survive" and advance to the next week. If your team loses or ties, you're eliminated from the pool. The last person standing (or those remaining after Week 18) split the prize pool.

A referee is giving a thumbs up on a football field.

Basic Survivor Pool Rules

Standard Rules

  1. One Pick Per Week: Each participant selects one NFL team they believe will win their game that week.
  2. Win or Go Home: If your selected team wins, you continue to the next week. If they lose or tie, you're eliminated.
  3. No Repeats: You cannot select the same team twice during the season. Once you pick a team, they're off your board for the remainder of the pool.
  4. Straight-Up Winners: Most survivor pools only care about wins and losses, not point spreads or margins of victory.
  5. Last Person Standing Wins: The competition continues until only one participant remains, or until the end of the regular season (Week 18).

Common Variations and Additional Rules

Many survivor pools include variations to the standard format:

  • Mulligan Option: Some pools allow one "second chance" if your pick loses, typically for an additional entry fee.
  • Multiple Picks: Advanced pools might require participants to make two or more team selections in certain weeks, especially later in the season.
  • Thanksgiving Week Special: Some pools require participants to pick all three Thanksgiving Day games correctly to advance.
  • Elimination Pools: A reverse format where you pick a team you think will lose each week (still can't pick the same team twice).
  • Confidence Points: Some hybrid pools assign point values to your picks based on confidence.
  • Buy-Back Options: Larger pools sometimes allow eliminated players to buy back in once, creating a separate prize pool for second-chance participants.

How to Join a Survivor Pool

Office Pools and Friend Groups

The most common survivor pools happen among coworkers or friends. These typically involve:

  • Entry fees ranging from $20-$100 per entry
  • Manual tracking via email or spreadsheet
  • Weekly reminders to submit picks
  • Winner-take-all or tiered payout structures


Online Survivor Pool Options

Several websites host survivor pools with varying entry fees and prize structures:

  • Commercial Sports Sites: ESPN, Yahoo Sports, and CBS Sports offer free and paid survivor pool options
  • Pool Hosting Sites: Sites like RunYourPool or Officefootballpool specialize in hosting custom pools
  • Sportsbooks: In states with legal sports betting, many sportsbooks offer survivor pool contests with significant prize pools


Basic Strategy for Beginners

While we cover advanced strategy in other guides, here are the fundamental principles for newcomers:

  1. Pick Teams Playing at Home: Home teams historically win about 57% of NFL games.
  2. Save the Best Teams: Don't use elite teams (like the Chiefs, Eagles, or Bills) against other strong opponents early in the season. Save them for favorable matchups later.
  3. Check the Point Spread: While survivor pools are straight-up (not against the spread), the point spread indicates how heavily favored a team is. Teams favored by 7+ points win approximately 75% of the time.
  4. Consider the Schedule: Look ahead at future weeks to avoid using a team that might be your best option in an upcoming difficult week.
  5. Avoid Division Games When Possible: Games between division rivals are often unpredictable regardless of team records.

How to Make Weekly Picks

The process for making your weekly selection is straightforward:

  1. Review the Full Schedule: Look at all games being played that week.
  2. Identify Heavily Favored Teams: Focus on teams favored by 7+ points.
  3. Check Your Available Teams: Remember which teams you've already used.
  4. Consider Future Value: Assess whether saving a top team for later makes sense.
  5. Submit Your Pick: Make your selection before the weekly deadline (typically before the first game of the week kicks off).

What Makes Survivor Pools Different from Fantasy Football

Survivor Pool Fantasy Football
One pick per week Manage entire roster of players
Can't reuse teams Use same players each week
One bad pick means elimination Can recover from bad weeks
Minimal time commitment Requires ongoing management
Focus on team performance Focus on individual players

Survivor pools are perfect for football fans who want the excitement of having something at stake each week without the time commitment of fantasy football.


Common Mistakes to Avoid

New players often make these errors that lead to early elimination:

  1. Picking Based on Team Loyalty: Never choose your favorite team just because you're a fan. Make objective decisions.
  2. Using Top Teams Too Early: Many beginners use their best teams in the first few weeks, leaving tough choices later.
  3. Ignoring the Home/Away Factor: Teams typically perform better at home, especially after long travel.
  4. Overlooking Injuries: A key player injury (especially quarterback) can dramatically impact a team's chances.
  5. Making Last-Minute Changes: Second-guessing often leads to poor decisions. Research, make your pick, and stick with it.

  • What happens if my selected team ties their game?

    In most survivor pools, a tie game counts as an elimination, just like a loss. The logic is simple: you didn't pick a winner, so you don't advance. However, some pools have special rules for ties, so always check your specific pool's guidelines before the season starts. If you're running a pool, make sure to clarify this rule, as NFL ties have become slightly more common since overtime rules changed to reduce game duration.

  • Can I participate in multiple survivor pools in the same season?

    Absolutely! Many serious players join multiple pools to increase their chances of winning at least one. This strategy also allows you to diversify your picks across different pools. For example, if you're torn between two teams in a particular week, you might pick Team A in one pool and Team B in another. Just be careful to keep track of which teams you've used in each separate pool—mixing up your available teams is an easy way to make a crucial mistake.

  • What's the best strategy for managing my survivor pool picks in the final weeks of the season?

    The late-season strategy is particularly challenging because team motivations change dramatically. Some teams will be fighting for playoff positions while others may be resting starters or evaluating young players for the future. The best approach is to save at least 2-3 strong teams for Weeks 15-18. Pay close attention to playoff scenarios and target teams that still have something meaningful to play for (like playoff seeding) against opponents who may have checked out mentally. Weather also becomes a significant factor in December and January games, so northern outdoor stadiums might present more risk than climate-controlled environments.