EVERYTHING YOU
NEED TO GET STARTED
Learn the rules, the formats, and the beginner strategies that keep you alive in your first NFL survivor pool.
The premise is simple — pick one NFL team to win each week, but never use the same team twice. One decision a week, season-long suspense, and a real shot at the prize. No lineups, no waivers, no fantasy headaches.
One Pick a Week, Four Simple Beats
Survivor pools (also called elimination or knockout pools) run all season. Here's the loop you'll play out every week until one player is left.
Make Your Pick
Choose one NFL team you think wins this week. Just one — and you only need to be right, not perfect.
Win, You Survive
Your team wins and you advance to next week. A loss (or a tie, in most pools) knocks you out for good.
Never Repeat
Once you use a team, they're off your board for the rest of the season. Spend your best teams wisely.
Outlast Everyone
Survive longer than the field. The last player standing takes the pot — or splits it with the final few.
Four Guides, Beginner to Confident
Work through them in order, or jump to whatever you need. Each one is written for first-timers — no jargon, no assumptions.
What Is an NFL Survivor Pool?
The simplest possible explanation: pick one winner a week, never repeat a team. Learn how these office-pool classics work and why beginners can compete with confidence.
Learn more
Pool Rules, Explained Simply
One team to win each week, never the same team twice, survive while others fall. Plus the common variations — strike weeks, multiple picks, and tiebreakers — that shape your game.
Master the rules
How Pools Work (& Why They're Fun)
Minimal commitment, season-long drama, and big-payout potential. See how the elimination format creates weekly suspense — and lets casual fans go toe-to-toe with the experts.
Why they're fun
Survivor Pools FAQ
Every question a first-timer asks, answered in one place — from basic rules to the strategic calls that help you outlast your competition. Bookmark it and check back all season.
Get answersPool Variations You'll Run Into
Not every pool plays it straight. Check your pool's rules before Week 1 — these three twists change how you should pick.
Strikes & Buybacks
Some pools give you a second life — one wrong pick (a "strike") doesn't end your run, or you can buy back in for another shot.
Multiple Picks
Higher-stakes formats may require two or more picks each week — and every one of them has to win for you to survive.
Tiebreakers
When several players are still alive at season's end, pool-specific tiebreakers — like margin of victory — decide the winner.
Make Smarter Picks with Spreadwise
Simulate your season, factor in injuries, and find the optimal pick path for your pool size — free on the App Store.