Survivor 48 is in full swing. Ahead of the premiere, Jeff Probst teased that the current season was the opposite of a slow burn, telling viewers they could expect drama right away. After viewing a series of chaotic episodes, I’m happy to report Jeff was right. We’ve seen blindsides, rivalries, injuries, and so, so much lying.
It’s still early on but fans are already throwing out their winner picks, especially after two players wowed us with a shocking blindside in Episode 4. We decided to jump in on the action with our early predictions of who could win Survivor 48.
Here are the top contenders.
Mary Zheng – Could Win Survivor 48
Mary Zheng’s Survivor 48 journey has been rife with conflict. Before the tribe swap, Mary had the misfortune of being placed on the Vula tribe where she struggled to find her footing. Her tribemates left her out of alliances and made it clear she was on the bottom. Her game became more complicated thanks to Vula’s inability to win an Immunity Challenge. The tribe lost three challenges in a row, forcing Mary to fight for her life each week at Tribal Council. She had no one looking out for her and one of her so-called “teammates” Sai Hughley was constantly plotting her demise.
Mary believed her fate was sealed when Vula lost their third challenge in Episode 3. She knew she was the target, so she decided to play her Shot in the Dark. Thankfully, the odds were in her favor and she was granted safety, nullifying the votes cast against her. The 31-year-old has proven to be a smart, savvy player and I feel more optimistic about her chances after the tribe swap. She is one to watch.
Kyle Fraser – Could win Survivor 48
Kyle Fraser played it lowkey in the beginning, relying on his affable personality to carry him through the game. However, Episode 4 forced the attorney to kick it into high gear when a tribe swap put him in danger of elimination. Kyle and his Civa ally, Kamilla Karthigesu, were placed in a group with Lagi tribe members Thomas Krottinger, Shauhin Davari, and Joe Hunter. Knowing they were at the bottom, Kyle and Kamilla had to act fast. The two decided to downplay their relationship, letting their new teammates believe they would willingly flip on each other. But in reality, they had no such plans. Kamilla was in possession of an extra vote, which she gifted to Kyle. In addition, he whipped out his Idol at Tribal, nullifying the majority of votes cast against him. It was a brilliant play that definitely put him on viewers’ radar.
Kamilla Karthigesu – Could win Survivor 48
Like Kyle, Kamilla’s masterful blindside in Episode 4 caught fans’ attention. She proved to be a stealthy player who could manipulate her fellow castaways to get her way. She and Kyle managed to worm their way out of a truly dire situation and keep their Civa numbers intact. In addition to being a strategic mastermind, she’s a likable player who knows how to make connections and form useful alliances. There are some hotheads in Survivor 48, which makes a player like Kamilla stand out.
Cedrek McFadden – Could win Survivor 48
Cedrek McFadden is playing a smart game. Unlike some of his OG Vula tribemates, he doesn’t let his emotions cloud his judgment. He makes logical decisions about what is going to help his game. In Episode 3, Cedrek found himself in a power position at Tribal Council after a tie vote provided him the chance to single-handedly decide a player’s fate.
He used the opportunity to mend the tension between Mary and Sai whose rivalry was affecting the entire group. He told Sai he would save her only if she and Mary would co-exist peacefully. He’s easy to work with and isn’t stubborn about game decisions. However, he won’t blindly go along with a plan that doesn’t serve his interests. In Episode 2, he vetoed Kevin Leung’s plan to vote out Sai because it wasn’t advantageous for him. He’s playing a solid game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the finale.
Survivor is available to stream on Paramount+
TELL US – DO YOU AGREE WITH OUR LIST? WHO IS YOUR SURVIVOR 48 WINNERS PICK?
