NFL Survivor Picks For Week 4: Minnesota's Time to Shine

Welcome to Week 4 in your Survivor Pool. We have a strategy for which teams to pick against, as they have looked terrible this season.

These three games this week will help you come back for another week.

Week 4 NFL Survivor Picks

Minnesota Vikings (vs. Miami Dolphins)

Questions lingered about the Vikings' quarterback situation coming into the season. The starter would be either the struggling former first-rounder J.J. McCarthy or the recently signed Kyler Murray, whom the Cardinals let go.

Murray won the starting job but left the first game with a concussion; Carson Wentz came in relief and led the Vikings to two straight wins. On Murray’s Week 3 return, the Vikings won and are now in first place in the NFC North.

The defense has been the Vikings' anchor, leading the league in EPA per play (-0.22) and in pressure rate (46.2%).

The best strategy for winning a survivor pool seems to be betting against the Dolphins. No team has yet gone 0-17 in the NFL, but the Dolphins likely have a chance. Miami ranks in the bottom five in both offensive and defensive scoring. They will now play the rest of the season without their top player, as De’Von Achane suffered a torn ACL in Week 3.

The Vikings offense has not measured up, and they are only one spot ahead of the Dolphins in EPA per play at 26th. However, this defense at home should keep the Phins contained.

This might be the best spot to take on the Vikings, given the tougher schedule ahead, including the Lions, Bills and 49ers.

Baltimore Ravens (vs. Titans)

The Ravens got a walk-off field goal in the Rio to take down the Cowboys, but this week could be a much easier matchup. After struggling against the Saints in Week 2, the Ravens’ offense looked much better, with Lamar Jackson throwing for two touchdowns and Derrick Henry rushing for two.

This week, they face the winless Titans, who could compete with the Dolphins for the No. 1 overall pick. Last week against the Giants, they managed just 268 total yards. Second-year quarterback Cam Ward struggled in that game, with just 181 passing yards, and threw an interception in the end zone for what could have been a game-winning touchdown.

This is the game to take the Ravens because their schedule gets tougher. They play the Falcons, who looked great last week with Michael Penix as quarterback; the Browns have won two straight, then the Bengals, Bills and Jaguars.

This game also features Derrick Henry playing his former team, and he could have a big performance.

Dallas Cowboys (at Texans)

You may think this one is a little risky, but the Cowboys should roll to an easy win.

The Texans are among the more disappointing teams to start the season, largely because of the defense. This unit was one of the league's best last year, allowing the fewest points per game (17.4) and yards (272.2), but it has regressed significantly. This season, they are 19th in points allowed per game (25.0) and 16th in yards allowed (325.3).

Houston’s defense carried this team to the playoffs last year because the offense struggled, and C.J. Stroud has regressed since his breakout rookie year. This season, he has a career-worst completion rate (60.0%), success rate (42.3%) and yards per attempt (6.6).

The Cowboys attempted to upgrade their defense in the offseason, but it hasn’t improved. They currently rank 25th in points per game (27.3) and 30th in EPA allowed per play. The offense has carried the team and ranks seventh in points per game, while Dak Prescott ranks seventh in passer rating (107.2).

Even if the Texans play better offensively than they have all season, it still won’t be enough to keep up with the Cowboys.