Week 9 marks the halfway point of the 2025 NFL season. If you are still alive in your Survivor pools, take a deep breathe. As Bon Jovi said, “You’re halfway there,” but hopefully you’re not living on a prayer. 

If you’re doing a second-half Survivor pool and are new to the format, or if you just need a reminder on how Survivor pools work, here is a refresher. 

Your goal is to pick one winner each week of the season correctly. If you pick correctly and your chosen team wins, you are safe.If your chosen team loses, you are either outright eliminated or you have a significant disadvantage the rest of the season, depending on the platform. To make the contest even trickier, once you use a team, you cannot select them again. So, whatever team you used for your survivor pool in Week 1, Week 2, and all preceding weeks will eventually be off limits for the rest of the year. That makes each selection not only important for that week, but you have to look forward and see if that team will have a better matchup in the future that you’re okay missing out on. 

Here is more on who we are backing for Survivor pools in Week 9 of the NFL season.

The Sporting News’ Best Survivor Pick, 2025 Record: 8-0

Last week: Colts ✅Previously: Week 1: Cardinals ✅, Week 2: Ravens ✅, Week 3: Seahawks ✅, Week 4: Bills ✅, Week 5: Lions ✅, Week 6 Broncos ✅, Week 7 Patriots ✅

MORE: Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings

Best NFL Survivor Pick Week 9Los Angeles Chargers vs. Tennessee Titans

The Chargers will hit the road to take on the Titans. Even though the West Coast team is traveling east and playing in the early slot of the Sunday slate, Los Angeles should still be able to handle business. 

Tennessee enters this game 1-7. The Chargers are better on both offense and defense, and should steamroll the Titans. 

Should is the operative word there because we have seen Los Angeles look like the best team in the league one week and suffer a head scratching loss the next.

Looking at the rest of the Chargers’ schedule, this is the week to believe in Justin Herbert and cash in on the Chargers to hopefully stay perfect in Survivor heading to Week 10. 

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Week 9 Survivor Sleeper teamsLos Angeles Rams vs. New Orleans Saints

While the Chargers are an L.A. team heading east, the Rams are an L.A. team that will welcome an East Coast team to town. The Rams are coming off an international game and a bye in consecutive weeks, but it should have been enough time for them to get Puka Nacua healthy.

New Orleans is benching Spencer Rattler in favor of rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. He will make his first start against the Rams defense, which has been one of the better units in the league this season.

The only reason that Los Angeles isn’t the pick overall is just because the Rams play on the road against the Carolina Panthers in Week 13.

It is a risky move, but currently earmarking them for that week. 

Seattle Seahawks vs. Washington Commanders

The Seahawks will go on the road to take on the Commanders for Week 9’s edition of Monday Night Football. Seattle has won five of its last six games. 

Washington is expected to get Jayden Daniels back under center, but at the expense of Terry McLaurin already being ruled out due to re-injuring his quad. The Commanders should get a boost, but Seattle should be able to come away with their third win in a row. 

Week 9 Survivor chalk pick to fade or saveSan Francisco 49ers vs. New York Giants

The 49ers still have uncertainty under center between Mac Jones and Brock Purdy. San Francisco is coming off a bad loss to the Houston Texans. The 49ers have a great matchup this week against the New York Giants, especially given that New York is going to have to once again re-invent its offense and find its identity following the loss of running back Cam Skattebo for the season.

In addition to the bad loss to the Texans, another reason to wait on the 49ers is that they have a great schedule down the stretch for Survivor. San Francisco still has games against Carolina, Tennessee and the Cleveland Browns down the stretch. 

MORE: Where does Jonathan Taylor’s 2025 fantasy season rank historically?

Survivor NFL Week 9 Grid Rankings

Note: The Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are all on bye this week. 

RankSurvivor TeamOpp1Los Angeles Chargersat TEN2Los Angeles Ramsvs. NO3Jacksonville Jaguarsat LV4Denver Broncosat HOU5New England Patriotsvs. ATL6Detroit Lionsvs. MIN7San Francisco 49ersat NYG8Green Bay Packersvs. CAR9Indianapolis Coltsat PIT10Seattle Seahawksat WSH11Dallas Cowboysvs. ARI12Minnesota Vikingsat DET13Pittsburgh Steelersvs. IND14Arizona Cardinalsat DAL15Washington Commandersvs. SEA16Baltimore Ravensat MIA17Cincinnati Bengalsvs. CHI18Chicago Bearsat CIN19New York Giantsvs. SF20Carolina Panthersat GB21Miami Dolphinsvs. BAL22Atlanta Falcons vs. NE23Houston Texansvs. DEN24Las Vegas Raidersvs. JAX25Kansas City Chiefsat BUF26Buffalo Billsvs. KC27New Orleans Saintsat LAR28Tennessee Titansvs. LAC