How NFL Survivor Pools work, and how Payday Survivor is different

An NFL Survivor pool is an elimination contest: every round you make a pick, and if it loses you are out. You can't reuse a choice you have already made, and the last entry left standing wins the pool. That simple format is why Survivor is one of the most popular ways to follow a football season.

Classic NFL Survivor rules

In a traditional office-style Survivor pool, you pick one NFL team to win each week. If that team wins, you move on to the next week. If it loses, you are eliminated. Each team can only be used once all season, so picking a heavy favorite early means you can't use them later. The challenge is balancing safe picks now against keeping strong teams for later weeks.

How Payday Survivor works

Payday Survivor keeps the elimination format but replaces team picks with player props. Instead of picking a team to win, you pick MORE or LESS on player stat lines each round. You pay one entry fee for the whole run.

Round 1

• You pick 2 starters and 2 subs, all from 4 different teams.
• At least 1 of your starters must win for you to advance. A push counts as a loss.

Round 2 and beyond

• You pick 1 starter and 2 subs.
• Your starter must win for you to advance.

The rules that shape strategy

• No repeats: you can't use the same player twice in one entry, so saving a star for later rounds is part of the game.
• Subs: if a starter's pick is voided, Sub 1 steps in automatically, then Sub 2.
• Voids: if every pick in round 1 is voided, the entry is voided and the entry fee is refunded. In round 2 or later, an all-void round eliminates the entry with no refund.
• Hidden picks: other players' picks become visible only after the round locks.

How Survivor pays out

The last entry standing wins the prize pool. If the contest reaches its maximum number of rounds, or every remaining entry is eliminated in the same round, the survivors split the pool. The prize pool is fixed and is never reduced, and Payday may add a boost on top. Each contest shows its platform fee before you enter. If a contest is cancelled, your entry fee and platform fee are refunded in full.

You can enter more than once, up to the cap shown on each contest. Notifications tell you when a round opens, remind you to make your pick, and give a final countdown 30 minutes before lock.

Survivor strategy tips

1. Use your subs well. Choose subs from games you trust to be played, since they only matter when a starter is voided.
2. Save stars, within reason. With no repeats allowed, burning the best player on the board in round 1 leaves less for later. But you have to survive round 1 to use him.
3. Watch the lock time. Picks are hidden until the round locks, so injury news close to kickoff can decide a round.
4. Spread multiple entries. Using different players across entries lowers the chance that one bad game knocks out all of them.

When can I play?

Payday runs free and paid Survivor contests during the NFL season. They aren't offered every week, so check the app or the Promos tab for current contests. Read the full rules in the Payday Survivor help article.

NFL Survivor FAQ

What happens if my Survivor pick pushes?

In round 1, a push counts as a loss for that starter. You still advance if your other starter wins.

Can I pick the same player twice?

No. Each player can be used only once per entry, across all rounds.

What happens if everyone is eliminated in the same round?

The entries eliminated in that round split the prize pool.

More terms are in the Payday glossary, including starter, sub and prize pool. Payday Fantasy is available in eligible states. Play responsibly.