NFL Survivor Picks For Week 3: Mahomes' Turn to Target the Dolphins

Welcome to Week 3 in your Survivor Pool. The good news is we’re starting to see which teams look like competitors and others that could end up with a top-10 draft pick.

There are three games this week to focus on that will help you keep going.

Week 3 NFL Survivor Picks

Kansas City Chiefs (at Miami Dolphins)

It might be time to look at the Miami Dolphins and build a strategy around picking against them.

That’s how bad the Dolphins look early in the season; they are 24th in points allowed per game (24.9) and 26th in yards allowed per game (348.8).

The offense may be worse; they aren't spending much time on the field, ranking 27th in plays per game (53.0). The lack of surrounding offensive pieces has affected their best player, as De’Von Achane has rushed for just 110 yards on 3.5 yards per carry.

They host the Chiefs, who look like their fall from grace was just a one-year blip. Patrick Mahomes looks like the two-time NFL MVP and is coming off throwing for 382 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-30 overtime win over the Colts.

What makes this Kansas City offense even more dangerous is that it now has a run game. Bringing in Kenneth Walker could be the most impactful signing of the NFL offseason, as he currently leads the league with 290 rushing yards.

San Francisco 49ers (vs. Cardinals)

Injuries and the substation were punchlines during the 49ers’ training camp, but no one is laughing now.

They have two dominant wins over the Rams and the Dolphins and are the only team in the league ranked among the top six in both points scored and points allowed.

Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy is one of the most efficient quarterbacks, leading the league in completion rate (80.4%) and is second in EPA per dropback (+0.52).

On defense, the 49ers could have the best unit in football. The defense has been aggressive, ranking fourth in quarterback knockdowns (17.6%) and seventh in pressure rate (31.6%), while sitting only 19th in blitz rate (22.8%).

The San Francisco defense could suffocate a Cardinals offense that might have had false hope after Week 1. Arizona was thought to have had one of the more surprising wins in Week 1 over the Chargers. However, it might just be that the Chargers are bad.

Any hope the Cardinals had for this season might have been quickly erased after the Seahawks crushed them 31-7. Arizona managed just 151 total yards, while Seattle surpassed that total in just rushing yards.

Seattle Seahawks (at Commanders)

This might be your best shot at taking the reigning champs, as they head into a rough stretch. After the Commanders and Chargers, they face the 49ers, Broncos, Chiefs and the Bears, who could have Caleb Williams back.

This week they face the Commanders without Jayden Daniels, who suffered a dislocated left elbow for the second time in a year. Marcus Mariota looked lost in relief, throwing for 111 yards on 6.9 yards per completion.

For a defensive specialist like head coach Dan Quinn, the Commanders have started the season poorly on defense. The Commanders rank 27th in points allowed per game (30.5) and 26th in EPA allowed per play (+0.31).

They face Seattle, which remains one of the league’s top offenses while playing with a backup quarterback, scoring 31 points with Drew Lock behind center. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, looks like he could win the award again, as he leads the league in receiving yards (277).

Defensively, it’s no surprise they are still dominant, as the starting unit from last year remains the same. They are second in the league in points allowed per game (8.5) and are sixth in opponents’ success rate (38.0%).