I am not going to say that Rogan is smart because that would give him too much credit. However, I do think Rogan consciously knows how to make people believe he is dumber than he actually is. It doesn’t sound like much, but being underrated is one of the biggest strengths you can have. Nobody expects Rogan to pull a fast one on them because they think he’s an idiot. Thus, if he fools them, they would have to be dumber than him. Rogan knows he doesn’t need to be the smartest guy in the room; he just needs to be better than you think he is.

Rogan also uses his friends and allies to make his moves. On WOTW 2, when it was time to vote Kyle into elimination, finally, Rogan didn’t put his vote in till Joss (Kyle’s friend) did first. He kept Dee on a string, and she kept coming back when proved even though he was only looking out for himself. In a game like Survivor, Rogan would not only thrive, but he would keep goats next to him in a Final Tribal situation. Not to mention, he has an uncanny ability to look someone in the eyes and lie. He has those vacant eyes that you can’t truly get a handle on.

8 Derrick Henry

Derrick sucks/sucked at the Challenge. It’s a fact. Survivor is not the Challenge, though. And I think in a world where the cast is not 80% returning players and Derrick has a fair shot at playing the game politically and socially, he would thrive. We are talking about a guy who earned a master’s degree in four years while being a starter for a Division 1 basketball team. A man who makes friends quickly and creates connections so easily. It’s the reason why he has been on TV so much. He has a magnetic personality that comes out in person (met him twice). Derrick is a bit goofy, but in a Survivor atmosphere, it is more charming and approachable to competitors than someone like Cory ever would be. He is also strategic. On Ex on the Beach, Derrick convinced all of the other exes to send “crush hearts” to their exes and show love, so that he would have the sole vote to cut his enemy Tor’i.

One of his flaws on reality shows has been relationships with women. He hooked up with at least three girls from his Ex on the Beach. Not to mention, he had a relationship with Angela Babicz, which takes a mental toll on you. On Survivor, you take away alcohol and women, and now all we have is nerd Derrick, not fuckboi Derrick.

7 Mattie Lynn Breaux