Survivor Pool Strategies to Help You Dominate Contests in 2025

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve survived a few weeks in a survivor pool only to watch it all blow up thanks to an upset you “didn’t see coming.”

You’re not alone.

Survivor pools — especially NFL survivor pools — are brutal by design. Even the sharpest bettors get bounced early because they don’t have a real strategy.

Here’s how to change that in 2025. Below, I’ll break down actionable survivor pool strategies, plus how to adjust your approach based on the size of your pool.

Let’s guide you to your best survivor pool season yet. And win the whole thing!

While you're here, don't forget to check out Wager Relay's upcoming contests, including NFL and college football survivor pools.

Understand the Game You’re Playing

At its core, a survivor pool is simple:

• Pick one team to win each week.

• If your pick wins, you move on.

• If your pick loses, you’re out.

• You can’t pick the same team twice.

That’s it. But the simplicity is deceptive because you’re not just trying to survive one week. You’re trying to outlast everyone. The decisions you make in Week 1 ripple all the way to December.

For more on the basics Survivor Pools, check out our beginner's guide.

Survivor Pool Strategies

Plan Ahead

One of the biggest mistakes players make is picking the biggest favorite every week. Sure, it feels good to “lock in” the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1, but what happens when you really need them in Week 10?

Look ahead at the schedule. Identify weeks where strong teams play weak opponents later on, and try to preserve those teams for when you need them most. Many players don't have the patience to save the absolute best teams for later in the season.

Stay Disciplined

It’s tempting to overthink and pick a risky team early just to be different. Don’t. You can’t win if you don’t survive. Just because you might avoid the biggest favorite doesn't mean you have to go for a massive underdog.

Monitor Injuries & Situations

Late-breaking news can create hidden value or turn a good pick into a disaster. Always check for injuries, weather, and betting line movement before locking in.

Strategies for Different Sized Pools

Not all survivor pools are created equal. The size of your pool drastically changes the strategy.

Small Pools (Under 25 players)

In a small pool, the goal is to avoid the big mistake.

• Play it safe early.

• Don’t worry too much about saving teams for “later” — there may not be a later.

• Focus on picking winners, not being different.

• When only a few players are left, then you can start making contrarian plays.

Medium Pools (25–100 players)

Now you need to start balancing safety and strategy.

• Start identifying spots where you can zag while others zig but only when the value is clear.

• Track what teams others have likely used. In public pools, you might see usage percentage.

• Consider saving elite teams for later weeks when others have already burned them.

Large Pools (100+ players)

Here’s where things get spicy.

• In big pools, playing it safe rarely wins because too many players pick the same favorites, and the pot often gets split.

• Be willing to take calculated risks earlier — especially if you can avoid a heavily picked team in favor of a solid but less obvious one.

• Think of it like a poker tournament: to win, you’ll need to accumulate leverage while still surviving.

Remember, getting eliminated in Week 13 pays the same as getting eliminated in Week 3. These are the times to take a chance because the prize pools also come with a bigger reward.

Contrarian Picks: When & Why

In survivor pools, the riskiest weeks are the ones where 80 percent of the pool is on the same team. If that team loses, the pool gets decimated — and if you picked differently (and won), you gain massive equity. Remember the Bengals in Week 1 against the Patriots? Exactly.

These contrarian plays work best:

• When you’re confident in the alternative.

• In larger pools where the prize is worth the risk.

• When the most popular pick is riskier than people realize (trap game, injured QB, etc.).

Advanced Tactics

Here are a few more strategies to keep in mind:

Save Two “Escape Hatches”

If your pool allows two entries or double picks (like ours at Wager Relay), use one conservatively and one aggressively. It keeps you alive while giving you upside.

Track Opponent Picks

If your pool shows what others have already picked, adjust accordingly. If everyone already burned the Bills and you haven’t, that’s a weapon later.

Reverse-Engineer Weeks

Work backward from Week 18 — which teams are you going to want late? Plan from there.

How Wager Relay Helps

At Wager Relay, we designed our survivor contests to give you the tools to succeed:

• Two entries, so you can hedge & survive longer.

• Point-based leaderboard, so ties don’t ruin the fun.

• Survivor pools across multiple sports — not just NFL.

Don't forget, our In-Game Edge alerts can build your bankroll while sweating your survivor picks. For years, our live-betting model has delivered profits. Don't miss out on the opportunity this football season.

Survivor pools are some of the most fun (and most frustrating) contests in all of sports contests.

The difference between surviving and busting out early comes down to preparation, discipline, and knowing when to take a stand.