NFL Survivor Strategy Guide

NFL Survivor contests make every game in the NFL season a thrill, especially when you’re playing against your friends for cash on Splash Sports. The task is simple yet challenging: pick one team each week that you believe will win their game. If your chosen team wins, you advance to the next week. If they lose, you’re out. The catch? You can only pick each team once per season. This unique format requires a blend of strategic thinking, game theory, and a bit of luck. In this article, we’ll delve into strategies for success in NFL Survivor contests, with a special focus on peer-to-peer competition on Splash Sports.

Basic Strategies for NFL Survivor Contests

Avoid the Temptation of Early Favorites

While it’s tempting to use top-tier teams like the Chiefs or the Bills early in the season, it’s often wiser to save these powerhouses for later when matchups may be trickier. Early in the season, look for mid-tier teams with favorable matchups to ensure you have strong options as the season progresses.

Analyze Matchups Thoroughly

Each week, analyze the matchups in detail. Consider factors such as team form, injuries, home-field advantage, and historical performance. Websites and analytical tools can provide in-depth insights and predictions to aid your decision-making process.

Plan Ahead

Successful players plan their picks several weeks in advance. This approach allows you to identify favorable matchups for future weeks and avoid getting stuck with only difficult choices late in the season. Be prepared to adjust your plan based on injuries and other unforeseen changes.

Balance Risk and Reward

Sometimes, taking a calculated risk can pay off. It’s truly any given Sunday in the National Football League, and if you can predict a big upset, you’ll have a leg up on the competition. If a less popular pick seems strong for a particular week, choosing them can help you save more obvious choices for future weeks and gain an advantage over your friends who might be picking the same high-profile teams.

Game Theory in NFL Survivor Contests

When competing in a peer-to-peer platform, understanding game theory can give you a significant edge. Game theory involves predicting the decisions of your competitors and adjusting your strategy accordingly.

Predicting Opponents’ Picks

Knowing your friends and their tendencies can be a huge advantage. If you know a friend is a die-hard fan of a particular team, they might avoid picking against them, even when it’s a smart choice. Use this knowledge to your benefit by choosing teams they’re less likely to pick.

Diversification and Contrarian Picks

If most of your friends are likely to pick a certain team, it might be wise to choose a different team with a favorable matchup. This contrarian strategy can be risky but can also lead to a significant payoff if the favored team loses, eliminating a large portion of the contest.

Tracking Public Picks

On Splash Sports, you’ll be able to see valuable pick and availability reports as your contest goes on. Use this information to your advantage, taking note of which contest participants have used which teams, and who they have remaining for a given week. Utilizing availability reports can help you differentiate yourself from the rest of your contest so that you aren’t making the same picks as your opponents. 

Strategies for Peer-to-Peer Survivor Contests

Competing against friends on Splash Sports adds an additional layer of strategy and fun. Here are some tips to outsmart your peers:

Psychological Battles

With enhanced social and chat features that make it simple to engage in a bit of friendly banter, Splash Sports is the true home of competition. Talk some trash to your friends in your Survivor contests, get under their skin, and maybe you can force an error to give yourself the upper hand. 

Historical Data on Friends’ Picks

If you’ve played with the same group for several seasons, analyze their past behavior. Do they favor certain teams? Are they risk-averse or do they prefer bold choices? Use this information to anticipate their moves and outmaneuver them.

Social Dynamics and Peer Pressure

Be aware of how social dynamics influence picks. Friends might pick teams based on social bonds or rivalries. Understanding these dynamics can help you predict and counter their choices effectively.

Splash Sports Settings to Consider

Double Picks

Commissioners on Splash Sports can opt to include Double Pick weeks, which are exactly as they sound. For those weeks, you’ll need to pick two teams to win in order to advance in the contest. Many Commissioners will choose to add Double Pick weeks later in the season in order to thin the herd and add an extra layer of strategy to a contest.

Additional Lives 

Also known as mulligans, Additional Lives gives you more opportunities to pick in case of a losing selection. If your pick loses and your Commissioner has enabled Additional Lives, your entry will remain alive in the contest and you can pick in the upcoming week. Commissioners can enable up to two Additional Lives giving contest participants a total of three lives throughout a Survivor contest. 

Contest Revivals 

If all remaining participants in a Survivor contest are eliminated and Contest Revivals are turned on, only the participants who were eliminated in the previous week will be revived and able to pick again the following week. This decreases the opportunity of splitting the final prize at the end of a Survivor contest and gives participants more chances to pick and win. 

Picks Per Week 

While most Survivor contests require only one pick per week, Commissioners can choose to have participants pick between one and four teams per week in their contest. More picks mean more chaos and more thought that you’ll have to put into each pick! 

Conclusion

NFL Survivor contests on Splash Sports are a test of strategic thinking, game theory, skill, and football knowledge. By avoiding the temptation to use top teams too early, analyzing matchups thoroughly, planning ahead, and leveraging game theory, you can increase your chances of outlasting your friends. Remember, knowing your opponents and their tendencies can provide a crucial edge in a peer-to-peer competition. Whether through psychological tactics, studying past behavior, or understanding social dynamics, outsmarting your friends is as much a part of the contest as picking the right team. With these strategies in your arsenal, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the complexities of NFL Survivor contests and emerge victorious. Download the Splash Sports app and start competing against your friends for cash!