NFL Survivor Picks This Week: Safest and Riskiest Predictions for Week 6

Safest NFL Survivor Pick: Packers to Beat Bengals

Fading the Bengals without QB Joe Burrow in the lineup is one of the best NFL survivor picks this season. The Bengals were depending on the offense led by Burrow to hold them up. It was abundantly clear that the Bengals don’t have a defense built to win games.

However, without Burrow and the absence of a reliable defense, the Bengals are in a whole lot of trouble right now. After a tough matchup against the Detroit Lions last week, it doesn’t get any easier for the Bengals in Week 6 against another NFC North opponent.

Packers’ QB Jordan Love shouldn’t face too many issues navigating past a Bengals’ defense that has been getting torched. The Bengals rank in the bottom three of the league defensively overall. Regardless of whether it’s against the rush or pass, the Bengals haven’t had success.

Depending on QB Jake Browning to cut down the Packers isn’t going to work out well. He looks like a deer in the headlights in the pocket and can’t read the field without a reliable offensive line. The Bengals are in the bottom quarter of the league in sacks allowed in the NFL.

Micah Parsons in his return to Dallas

8 pressures
1 sack
34.5% pass rush win rate pic.twitter.com/IFqnGqbrlC

— PFF (@PFF) September 29, 2025

Browning needs time to process the field, but he doesn’t have that luxury in Cincinnati. Expect DE Micah Parsons to feast on the Bengals. He should have a field day against a sieve of protection for Browning. The Packers are a top 10 team in sacks per game, so it’s a brutal mismatch for the Bengals.

The Packers should be able to go through the motions and still get a win in this one. If you haven’t used the Packers for your NFL survivor pool picks yet, this is the time to do so against the Bengals!

Moderately Safe NFL Survivor Pick: Buccaneers to Beat 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are coming off a signature win over the Los Angeles Rams on the road. With a myriad of injuries inflicting the 49ers, QB Mac Jones confidently led the 49ers past their division rival.

The 49ers were without the services of WR Brandon Aiyuk, WR Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, TE George Kittle, and QB Brock Purdy, among many others. The defensive line was dealing with injuries, too, and the hits kept coming against the Rams.

Rookie CB Upton Stout, who has been having a strong campaign, exited the game with an ankle injury. DT Kalia Davis also had to leave the game, which is a sizable blow to a team that hasn’t been great up front. The 49ers have had extra time to play after appearing on Thursday Night Football, but they aren’t going to be healthy by any means.

Purdy’s status remains in the air, though Jones can run this offense. My biggest concern is that the 49ers have a big letdown after securing a massive victory. Perhaps if they were healthy, I wouldn’t be worried. However, it’s going to be difficult playing another perfect game down some bodies, especially on the road against a capable and underrated Buccaneers squad.

BUCKY IRVING 72-YARD TD

PHIvsTB on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/a4mwpvFFUz

— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2025

The Buccaneers should take advantage of the 49ers’ deficiencies in this one. They’ve been mediocre against the pass and run. Overall, they’ve been a mid-tier defense, and more injuries aren’t going to help matters against Buccaneers’ QB Baker Mayfield and the Bucs.

As a small favorite at NFL betting sites, the Buccaneers should prevail at home over the 49ers. It isn’t the safest of Week 6 NFL survivor picks, but a solid option nonetheless.

High Risk/High Reward NFL Survivor Pick: Panthers to Beat Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys head on the road for what could be a trap spot against the Carolina Panthers. They have a big divisional matchup against the Washington Commanders next week, so this could be a lookahead spot in Charlotte.

Oddsmakers suspect that something could be up as well. The Cowboys are only 3.5-point favorites, so this is expected to be a closer contest than most people anticipate. Laying -3.5 on the Cowboys could be seen as a trap to bettors as well.

Dallas has been an inconsistent team this season. Would it surprise anyone, including Cowboys fans, if they go on the road and lay an egg in Carolina? The Panthers have looked good at times, especially in a 30-0 blowout over the Atlanta Falcons at home.

Bryce Young spoke with @sarahkustok after the @Panthers dominant win over the Falcons. pic.twitter.com/1yXJnTzcer

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 21, 2025

They’ve been inconsistent in their own right, but if the Panthers catch the Cowboys napping, an upset is brewing. The Cowboys’ defense ranks at the bottom of the league against the pass. They’ve gotten shredded for roughly 300 yards through the air. Additionally, the Cowboys are dead last in yards allowed in 2025.

Panthers’ QB Bryce Young has a chance to shine in a spot versus a Cowboys squad that may very likely take their eyes away from the prize in Week 6. I am willing to bet that you haven’t used up the Panthers for your 2025-26 NFL survivor picks. In a week that everyone will avoid them again, this looks like an upset scenario for the Panthers at home.