NFL Week 16 survivor pool picks: How to approach not having Texans available, plus rankings for every format

All the big favorites earned wins in Week 15, though the Seahawks made it interesting against Philip Rivers and the Colts. That means anyone who entered the week still alive in NFL survivor pools likely remains alive heading into Week 16, where big favorites will be a little harder to come by.

The biggest favorite is the Texans, and any survivors that still have them available are likely going to lock in that pick. But what about those who have to go in a different direction? Are the Bills OK to trust on the road against a Browns defense that has shown up against some good teams this year? If not, there are a few more decent favorites before getting into the territory of whether to trust the Bengals in Quinn Ewers' first start following the Tua Tagovailoa benching, or the Saints on a two-game win streak and hosting the Jets.

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We'll break down our preferred approach to Week 16 in both 18 and 20-gameweek formats as we keep an eye on the Christmas slate, along with ranking the best plays so that everyone still alive can find the right option to use. 

Why listen to me? I'm 718-623-37 and up more than 32 units on ATS picks over the last eight years and even better with my top five picks each week, going 464-379-27 (55%) over the last 10 years in the Las Vegas ATS contests. While survivor doesn't involve picking against the spread, I do believe by applying the strategies I've developed to have long-term success on those picks to survivor pools, we'll be in the best position to outlast the competition this season.

In Week 16, I've ranked several options for both small pool and large pool participants, weighing whether it's worth using what might be the consensus play or digging a little deeper into the options.

So which NFL survivor picks should you make for the 2025 NFL season, and which Week 15 pick could separate you from the pack? ... Join SportsLine right now to see NFL Survivor Pool 2025 strategy from the expert who's 718-623-37 on ATS picks from 2017 to 2024, returning more than 32 units!

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