NFC division longshots: You're gonna 'Love' these picks

On the offensive side of the ball, the Commanders have a wealth of talent at the skill positions. Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson make up a solid 1-2 punch in the backfield, while Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and Curtis Samuel are all big plays waiting to happen. Eric Bienemy joins the fold as the new offensive coordinator, and he should provide a jolt to an offense that ranks 24th in the league in points per game last year.

The final piece of the puzzle is the quarterback position, which has held Washington back for years. Enter Sam Howell, who lit up the preseason with a 75.7 percent completion percentage, 265 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Howell was considered a possible top-10 pick before a disappointing junior season at North Carolina, and he has as high of an upside as any young QB in the NFL this year.

The Commanders are an enticing worst-to-first option this season. Their +1300 price to win the division is well worth a sprinkle. 

NFC North: Green Bay Packers (+400 DraftKings)

The top two favorites in the NFC North are full fades for me this year. The Detroit Lions are +140 to win the division, but they shouldn't be that short considering they allowed the most yards per play in the NFL last season and didn't do much in the offseason to shore up their defensive issues. Second on the odds board are the Minnesota Vikings, the No. 1 team in the league due for regression after a fluky, fortuitous 13-4 season in 2022. 

Somehow, the Green Bay Packers have the longest odds to win the division this year even though the Chicago Bears finished last season with the worst record in the league. A few shiny, new toys won't be enough for Justin Fields to contend for the division title. The Packers, on the other hand, are live at +400.

Green Bay is similar to Washington in that all the pieces are in place to contend for a division title, and the rest depends on how the quarterback performs. Jordan Love will take Aaron Rodgers' place this year, and I have high hopes for the young QB after studying behind one of the greatest football players to ever live for a few years.

This defense is still loaded with top-end talent, the young wide receiving core is poised for a big year, and head coach Matt LaFleur always gets the best out of his rosters. The Packers have the most balanced roster in the NFC North, so if Love plays to his potential in Year 1 as the starter, this will be a division-winning team.