We've done plenty of player breakdowns in the NFL futures market, it sure seems fitting for us to transition to a few of the teams we have our eye on this season.
The first foray into that area of football will be a look at which divisions seem to be the most competitive this season, judged by the odds available on which division wins the Super Bowl this season.
Found under Futures - Champion Specials on DraftKings
Digging into this market can be an interesting study, and it's a good way to think about the NFL futures market as a viable way to invest in the season, and hedge along the way should opportunities present themselves.
For example, Kansas City is +550 to win the Super Bowl. They are really the only viable contender we see this season, so there's no real value in backing the AFC West at +500, just back the Chiefs to win their third in a row (if you feel so inclined).
There's a similar argument to be made that the only team out of the AFC South to offer us value as a true Super Bowl champ this year is Houston, who you can bet at +1600. That's a far more appealing option than the division at +800.
When considering a division to back, you need options. Ideally, you're sitting here in the Divisional Round of the playoffs with two teams from that division still alive. That's when you can begin weighing some hedge options. To us, there's two divisions in particular we expect to be heavily involved come January.
I for one love the value we're getting here on the NFC North. The division had the Detroit Lions on the doorstep last season, and the Green Bay Packers also out-performed expectations with Jordan Love at the helm and were up heading into the fourth quarter in the divisional round.
The Lions are well-positioned to run it back, and Green Bay has a tremendous young core that has allowed them to spend big this offseason to beef up the rest of their roster.
Then we have to mention the Chicago Bears. While it's unrealistic to expect Chicago to make or win a Super Bowl in Caleb Williams's rookie season, they are favored to reach the postseason, and for a market like this, all we need is as many cracks at the conference title as we can get.
Chicago is in a very good spot here for a big 2024-25 season with an elite defense and surrounding Williams with a loaded group of skill-position players. This division could very well send three teams to the playoffs out of the NFC, making it our favorite value play in this market.
We have to also mention the AFC North, which has seen a team from the division reach the AFC Championship Game for three straight years.
Baltimore should once again be one of the conference's best assuming health, and Joe Burrow's return should remind everyone just how good he and the Bengals have been the last few seasons.
There are some quarterback concerns in Cleveland and Pittsburgh, but both teams sport elite defenses, and this division has historically churned out winning records and 2-3 playoff teams. 2024 figures to be more of the same, and they are an understandable favorite, and one worth backing in a market like this.
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