Five NFL Futures Bets To Make Before Week 1

The NFL season is right around the corner, and now is the time to get those futures bets in before training camps get underway later this month.

As always, there is a ton of value on the board, and rather than just picking the favorites in each category, we’ve found some mid-range value bets and some longshots that are worth putting a few units on before the season kicks off.

So, without further ado, here are the five futures bets you need to make ahead of Week 1 on your favorite sportsbook:

1. Denver Broncos to Win Super Bowl LXI (+2000)

It’s wild how one injury can completely change our perception of a team. The Denver Broncos were the No. 1 seed in the AFC last season and would likely have been favored to beat the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game if it weren’t for a fluke injury to Bo Nix. 

They were the best team in the conference all season, and their season came crashing down despite an overtime win over the Bills in Round 2.

Going into the 2026 season, there is no reason why the Broncos can’t be better this year. They added Jaylen Waddle to their offense and retained Vance Joseph to run the defense. They have one of the league’s best offensive lines, and Sean Payton is one of the most decorated coaches in the league.

There are currently eight teams in the AFC that have better odds of winning the conference than the Broncos, and that just doesn’t make much sense. It’s arguably the most talented roster in the league (outside of the Rams), and they play in a weaker conference. Take the Broncos to win the Super Bowl at 20:1 before those odds move.

The Broncos ranked 2nd in the NFL in yards allowed per game (274) and 3rd in points allowed (18.3/g) in 2025, while leading the league with 68 sacks. Vance Joseph’s unit was elite, and additions made them a nightmare matchup again. Which is all the more reason to take them to come out of the conference and steal a Super Bowl win.

And if you think this bet is too bold, consider taking the Broncos at +220 to win the AFC West on FanDuel or wherever you can get a comparable number.

2. Minnesota Vikings To Win NFC North (+490)

NFL fans tend to have a short memory when it comes to betting, and the Vikings are the perfect example of a post-hype sleeper. The Bears are the new “fun” team in the NFC North with Caleb Williams on the verge of becoming a superstar. The Lions and Packers are both good teams with major questions on defense.

But the Vikings sit at the bottom of the division in terms of the odds, and it doesn’t make much sense. Despite awful quarterback play in 2025, they still won nine games in the season and were just one victory short of a playoff berth. Minnesota is now 43-25 over the last four seasons under Kevin O’Connell, and this might be the most talented roster they’ve had during that span.

Kyler Murray is expected to be the opening-day starter for Minnesota, and while no one believes he will be an MVP candidate, he should prove to be a huge upgrade over Carson Wentz, Max Brosmer, and J.J. McCarthy. Even if Murray just plays at an average level, he could add 3-4 wins based on the team the Vikings had last season.

Minnesota is one of the best-coached teams in the league, and now they have a dynamic quarterback who is capable of going toe-to-toe with some of the best passers in the league. Grab the Vikings at +490 now to win the division before the betting public sees how big an upgrade Murray is over Wentz/Brosmer/McCarthy.

3. Houston Texans over 11.5 wins (+250)

You might not remember it, but the Texans finished the 2025 season with a 12-5 record despite starting the season off at 0-3. You don’t need to be a math major to realize that they won 12 of their final 14 games, with their only losses coming against the Seahawks and the Broncos. And on paper, the Texans should be even better in 2026.

Houston made some big improvements on their offensive line, and it’s also worth noting that they traded for David Montgomery. While he won’t move the needle a ton, he does give them another viable running back.

But the reason why you should be bullish on the Texans is DeMeco Ryans and his defense. Houston has won double-digit games in all three of his seasons with the team, and they have the No. 2-ranked scoring defense from last season. 

With even more talent on that side of the ball this year (Kayden McDonald, Reed Blankenship), there is no reason this can’t be a dominant unit once again. For that reason, take the over on wins for the Texans at 11.5, especially at +250 on FanDuel. But be sure to shop around for the best price before making this wager.

4. Joe Burrow to win NFL MVP Award (+900)

If you want to take a stab at the NFL MVP award, look no further than Joe Burrow. When healthy, he is the caliber of quarterback capable of putting up huge numbers, and he certainly has the receiver corps to do it. During the 2024 season, Burrow led the NFL in passing yards (4,918) and touchdowns (43) and is the all-time leader in completion percentage (68.5%), according to Pro Football Reference.

Burrow’s 2024 season wasn’t just big by his standards, as he led the NFL in Total QBR and EPA per dropback among qualified passers while posting historic efficiency. With the Bengals’ porous defense likely forcing 35+ pass attempts per game again, he’s set up for another 4,500+ yard, 40+ TD campaign, which he will need if he wants to be in MVP contention.

Health is obviously the big concern, but he enters the 2026 season completely healthy and will be playing with the exact same starting lineup that he had in 2025. MVP awards are typically narrative-based awards, so if Burrow can lead the Bengals back to the playoffs, he’ll get some votes. 

Burrow is the best quarterback in the league who has yet to win an MVP award, and this year feels like the perfect time for him to get one.

5. Steelers, Panthers, and Vikings to make playoffs (+1966)

Let’s take a big swing for our final bet. We’ve already made it clear that we like the Vikings to win the NFC North this season, and if they don’t, a Wild Card berth seems very likely. They will be the anchor team in this three-team parlay.

The next team is the Pittsburgh Steelers, who just have a habit of finding their way into the postseason. Mike Tomlin is gone, but Mike McCarthy has a similar track record, and his teams usually perform well in the regular season. The Steelers have made several “win-now” moves this offseason, such as bringing back Aaron Rodgers and acquiring Michael Pittman Jr. via trade.

The Steelers aren’t Super Bowl contenders, but they've performed well in their division and have an easy schedule in 2026. Don’t be surprised if they grind out double-digit wins again and sneak into the playoffs during the final year of Rodgers’ career.

And the final team on our list is the Carolina Panthers, who won the NFC South last season almost by default. We are still waiting for Bryce Young to take a big step forward, but the defense looks to be much improved, and the Panthers play in the worst division in sports. They should win close to double-digit games again this year, giving them a decent chance of making the postseason.