After nearly nine months on the training table, the wait is over. Two-time league MVP Patrick Mahomes is officially back for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Andy Reid told reporters Tuesday that Mahomes will start Monday against the Denver Broncos, provided there are no setbacks. The decision caps a remarkable recovery from the ACL and LCL tears Mahomes suffered against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15.

With multiple MVPs and three Super Bowl rings before turning 30, Mahomes has been an anomaly since taking over under center in Kansas City. Last year marked the first time in his career that the Chiefs missed the postseason, falling to a 6-11 record after his injury. 

Between key defensive roster changes and the arrival of Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker, Mahomes has a brand-new dynamic around him. With his return against the Broncos now locked in, all eyes shift to a high-stakes AFC West division battle.

Mahomes won’t just face a competitive division featuring quarterbacks like Justin Herbert and Bo Nix, but reclaiming the top spot will be a genuine challenge. The expectations only intensified after the Chiefs suffered their first losing season of the Mahomes-Reid era.

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While Mahomes has provided steady leadership in recent years, the raw production hasn’t matched the eye-popping numbers from earlier in his career. In 14 games last season, he completed 62.7% of his passes for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

With Mahomes set to return, all eyes will be on his potential bounce back to see how competitive the new-look Chiefs appear in a wide-open AFC conference.

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Making it to Super Bowl LX isn’t enough to reserve a spot in Colin Cowherd’s top 10 – the first Herd Hierarchy before Week 1 of the 2026 regular season, shared on Tuesday’s edition of “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” revealed as much. 

The New England Patriots aren’t the only team missing, however: Cowherd made a point of saying that the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens were both close to making this inaugural list… but not close enough.

There’s plenty of season left for the teams missing from it now to play their way into the Hierarchy. But for now, here is Cowherd’s actual top 10 before Week 1 kicks off – which includes Super Bowl LX’s champions, at least.

10.

Cowherd’s thoughts: “One of the most improved teams, and one of the teams that I thought made real moves, the Cincinnati Bengals. They’ve won the division the two times they’ve given Joe Burrow a top-20 defense. And by adding Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Kyle Dugger, Cashius Howell and Boye Mafe, I think they’re going to have a top-20 defense. You also look in their division: old Aaron Rodgers twice, the Browns’ quarterback situation twice, I think when Burrow doesn’t have to only win by track meet, is a playoff quarterback.”

9.

Cowherd’s thoughts: “Best defense in the league by a margin. Listen, they’ve won 10 of their last 11 games, I’m a fan of C.J. Stroud — though the last two years, too many mistakes — they return 10 of the 11 starters that made their defense and shut down the L.A. Rams. The Seahawks couldn’t even do that. I like the Texans a lot: Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson Jr., Derek Stingley Jr. are about as good as anybody in the league at their positions, and I love head coach DeMeco Ryans and their GM — they just can’t stay healthy at wide receiver.”

8.

Cowherd’s thoughts: “Listen: 10-1 when they won the turnover battle. And here’s the good news: Caleb Williams doesn’t turn the ball over. He does not throw interceptions. He didn’t at USC, he doesn’t in the NFL, he didn’t in high school. And I think Colston Loveland, Luther Burden and Rome Odunze, as they now age, are going to become an elite, top of the league trio. Rome Odunze had a nice camp, he’s finally healthy. Do I worry about a lack of a consistent pass rush? Yes, that’s why I have the bears at No. 8.

TDs, not INTs, that’s what Caleb Williams gives the Bears. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

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7.

Cowherd’s thoughts: “I think we’re overselling the fact that they trailed in a lot of games last year. Well, adding Jaylen Waddle, there’s a chance that will rejuvenate the passing game a little bit. They gave up the fewest sacks, and for two years in a row have led the NFL in sacks. They have an elite coach and returned 41 of their 43 offensive touchdowns. Yes, their schedule’s hard, yes, it’s a great coaching division, but I think Bo Nix is — and I think a lot of people are struggling to acknowledge — pretty good! He may not be great, but he’s pretty good.”

6.

Cowherd’s thoughts: “Worry about the interior O-line again, but I’m going to put the Chargers in — 11-6 last year, with the lowest-rated offensive line. They got an upgrade at offensive coordinator in Mike McDaniel, I think their weapons are good enough, they’ve added a rookie edge rusher with their first-round pick, Omario Hampton now healthy at running back — only team in the league top-five in third down and third down defense. Now they have the perfect coordinator for Justin Herbert.”

5.

Cowherd’s thoughts: “It gets real close now. Philadelphia, Week 1, big favorites against Washington. No. 2-ranked O-line, and you know what I say about O-lines. Hard not to make the playoffs when you have  a top-5 or -6 O-line in the league. DeVonta Smith, is he a great No. 1 receiver with A.J. Brown gone? Well, they added Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown and Makai Lemon from USC (who had a spotty camp)… they’re good enough at wide receiver, great at running back, good at quarterback. Easy schedule, by NFC standards.”

A.J. Brown is gone, but Dontavion Wicks is in Philadelphia now. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

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4.

Cowherd’s thoughts: “I think the Lions will battle for the Super Bowl. Easiest schedule in the league, they have a new offensive coordinator that’s viewed in-house as an upgrade, their skill positions — Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam Laporta and Jameson Williams are really, really electric playmakers. That matters in the long NFL season, you can’t have 13-play drives, week after week. You need some over the top home runs by Jahmyr Gibbs or Williams. Great teams get occasional easy touchdowns; not everything are perfect long drives.

3.

Cowherd’s thoughts: “I like Buffalo more than most, largest favorites to win their division. Josh Allen is 28-8 against his division — it’s got a Tom Brady feel. They traded for D.J. Moore — because he’s not flashy and not terribly demonstrative, people don’t understand how good he is. Durable, professional, open — I love D.J. Moore, a real serious No. 1 receiver. We gotta be honest about this: their rush defense was bad. But the last two years, they’ve spent more draft picks on defensive capital than any other team. I think some of those start to pay off.”

2.

Cowherd’s thoughts: “The Rams are the most talented team in football. I put them No. 2 because I worry about being hunted, week after week after week. I also think if you look at their schedule, when you’re a heavy favorite it’s hard to stay motivated. They’ve also got some age in a couple of spots. Will DaVante Adams stay healthy? Will Puka Nacua always be available? I love their tight ends, running back, coach and quarterback, but he’s what, 38 years old? I have them at No. 2.

Will age be a problem for Matthew Stafford and the Rams in 2026? (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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1.

Cowherd’s thoughts: “What I like about the Seahawks is all their best players are either all going into their athletic prime — Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Devon Witherspoon — or they’re in their prime. They have no egos. It’s not like the other Seahawks with Pete Carroll, where Marshawn Lynch was a star and Richard Sherman was a star and Russell Wilson was and Pete Carroll was. In his own division, Mike Macdonald is the third-most talked about head coach. Sam Darnold still has that perfect chip on his shoulder. JSN doesn’t get nearly the pub that he should. I think Seattle doesn’t have the brand stars, so they’re still sort of undervalued in the market.”

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Welcome to the only NFL betting guide you’ll need this season, whether you’re a first-time bettor or a seasoned veteran.

From Super Bowl and MVP futures to season win totals, player props and award markets, this guide features our top wagers across the board, detailed breakdowns of teams and players, long-shot bets and much more to prepare you for the 2026 NFL season.

To Win Super Bowl | To Win Division | Over/Under Win Totals | To Make Playoffs | To Miss Playoffs | MVP | Offensive Player of the Year | Defensive Player of the Year | Offensive Rookie of the Year | Defensive Rookie of the Year | Over/Under Player Stats

To Win Super Bowl

Los Angeles Rams +500

Yes, the Rams are heavy favorites to win the Super Bowl. But on paper, this might be one of the best NFL teams of the last decade. In 2025, the Rams lost twice to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seahawks by a combined four points in two games they had legitimate chances to win. Now, while Seattle lost several key contributors this offseason, Los Angeles has significantly upgraded its biggest weakness, the defense. The Rams acquired reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and two-time All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie, while also bringing back franchise sack leader Aaron Donald. That’s a massive boost for a defense that allowed the 16th-most yards per game and the 14th-most passing yards per game in 2025. 

With Garrett, McDuffie and Donald now in the fold, it’s difficult to find a weakness on this roster. And the offense? The Rams return the entire unit that led the NFL in scoring and total offense last season. They also ranked first in pass plays of 20-plus yards and third in big plays. The Rams were already one of the NFL’s best teams. After addressing their biggest weakness this offseason, they enter 2026 with arguably one of the best preseason rosters in recent NFL history.

Los Angeles Chargers +1700

Last season, the Chargers won 11 games despite being without two of the best offensive tackles in the NFL for most of the year. Rashawn Slater suffered a season-ending injury in training camp, while Joe Alt was injured in Week 4, returned in Week 8 and then suffered another ankle injury in Week 9 that ended his season. Now, both are expected to be back in 2026, giving Los Angeles what could be the best tackle duo in football. And they’ll be joined by new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who has already begun reshaping the offense around Justin Herbert. 

So imagine getting this team at +1700 to win the Super Bowl. The Chargers won 11 games and made the playoffs last season despite their injury issues, and at times — especially early in the year — looked like one of the best teams in football. Now, they’ve replaced their offensive coordinator with McDaniel and should be significantly better up front. We’ve already seen what McDaniel’s system can do with Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback. Now put Justin Herbert in that offense, behind a healthy Slater and Alt, and watch out.

Chicago Bears +2400

Two words: Ben Johnson. 

There are plenty of people who believe the Bears will take a step back after seven comeback wins and plenty of late-game heroics propelled Chicago to an 11-6 record, an NFC North title and a playoff win in Johnson’s first season as head coach. Caleb Williams now has another year to develop and become more comfortable in Johnson’s complex offensive system. After throwing for a franchise-record 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns last season, there is plenty of room for another jump in Year 2 under Johnson. 

The biggest concern is the defense. Chicago allowed 361.8 yards per game last season, ranking 29th in the NFL, while surrendering 32 passing touchdowns. The defense needs to improve, but there’s no reason this high-powered offense can’t be among the NFL’s best. The Bears finished sixth in total offense and second in explosive plays last season, and with Williams entering another year in Johnson’s system, this unit could be even better in 2026.

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To Win Division

Baltimore Ravens -112

After 18 seasons under John Harbaugh, the Baltimore Ravens have entered a new era, one led by Jesse Minter. The 2025 season was a nightmare for a Ravens team that entered the year with Super Bowl aspirations. Baltimore started 1-5 and battled injuries throughout the season, most notably to Lamar Jackson. Jackson missed four games and was banged up for much of the year, never consistently looking like his usual self. Now, Jackson enters 2026 healthy, while Minter brings a defensive-minded approach to Baltimore. 

The Ravens also added four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, giving a defense that recorded just 30 sacks last season a proven closer off the edge. With Jackson and Derrick Henry leading the offense and Minter and Hendrickson helping reshape the defense, this roster has very few weaknesses. On paper, this could be one of the most complete teams Baltimore has assembled during the Jackson era.

Dallas Cowboys +235

It was a tale of two sides of the ball for Dallas in 2025. While the offense showed plenty of promise, the defense struggled significantly, finishing last in the NFL in both points allowed per game (30.1) and passing yards allowed per game (251.5). The Cowboys also ranked third-worst in total yards allowed per game (377.0) and takeaways (12), seventh-worst in sacks (35) and 10th-worst in rushing yards allowed per game (125.5). 

However, Dallas went out and aggressively addressed its biggest weakness this offseason. The Cowboys hired Christian Parker as their new defensive coordinator, signed Quinnen Williams to a massive extension, acquired Rashan Gary and Dee Winters, added Jalen Thompson and Cobie Durant, and drafted Caleb Downs in the first round. If the new additions make the expected impact, Dallas has everything it needs to contend for the NFC East title.

New Orleans Saints +235

New Orleans finished last season on a strong note, winning four of its final five games. During that stretch, quarterback Tyler Shough emerged as a bright spot, throwing for 1,316 yards, the fifth-most in the NFL over that span. He also ranked fourth in explosive passes of 16-plus yards and fourth in completion percentage (69.9%). 

The Saints added Travis Etienne Jr. and David Edwards this offseason, further strengthening an offensive line that has the potential to be one of the league’s best. In a wide-open NFC South that the Panthers won with just eight victories last season, expect New Orleans to take a significant step forward in Year 2 under Kellen Moore.

Over/Under Win Totals

Los Angeles Chargers Over 9.5 Wins

As stated above, we’re extremely high on the Chargers in 2026.

Even with a difficult schedule, including an early-season stretch of six straight games against teams that made the playoffs last year, this team is built to handle it. Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel are the perfect complements to each other. Harbaugh’s leadership and physical identity should pair perfectly with McDaniel’s offensive creativity, especially with arguably the best collection of talent McDaniel has ever had to work with. 

The Chargers also return a defense that led the NFL in scoring defense last season (20.0 PPG allowed), while ranking 10th in sacks and seventh in turnovers forced. Los Angeles has won 11 games in back-to-back seasons, and this combination of talent and coaching is significantly better than what the Chargers had in 2024 or 2025.

Las Vegas Raiders Over 5.5 Wins

The Raiders have won a combined seven games over the last two seasons, but those came with Antonio Pierce and Pete Carroll at the helm. Now, Klint Kubiak takes over in what was arguably one of the best head coaching hires of the offseason. 

Kubiak comes from the highly regarded Kubiak-Shanahan coaching tree and played an instrumental role in the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run last season as offensive coordinator. Las Vegas also spent $281 million in free agency, making several major additions on defense while signing All-Pro center Tyler Linderbaum to help overhaul what was one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines a season ago. After winning just seven games over the past two seasons combined, reaching six wins this year should be well within reach.

Houston Texans Over 9.5 Wins

After starting last season 0-3, the Texans went 12-2 over their final 14 regular-season games, the third-best record in the NFL over that span. Houston then dominated Pittsburgh in the Wild Card round before falling to the eventual AFC champion Patriots in a game plagued by five turnovers, including four C.J. Stroud interceptions. 

The Texans also featured one of the NFL’s most dominant defenses in 2025, ranking first in total defense (277.2 YPG allowed), second in scoring defense (17.4 PPG allowed), third in takeaways (29), fourth in rushing defense (93.7 YPG allowed) and sixth in passing defense (183.5 YPG allowed). They enter 2026 with the league’s 26th-toughest strength of schedule and play in an AFC South that has typically been one of the NFL’s weaker divisions. Houston won 12 of its final 14 games last season and is well-positioned to carry that momentum into this season.

Denver Broncos Over 9.5 Wins

After winning 14 games in 2025, sportsbooks have set their win total at just 9.5 entering this season. If Bo Nix doesn’t get hurt in the Divisional Round, Denver very well could have reached the Super Bowl, and perhaps even hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. Now, the Broncos return most of their starters from last year’s 14-win team while adding Jaylen Waddle, who should bring another dynamic element to the offense. 

Oddsmakers doubted Denver throughout last season, yet it still won four of its five games as an underdog. Despite the low win total, there isn’t much reason to expect a major drop-off from the Broncos in 2026. This roster remains loaded, and Denver should once again be among the AFC’s top contenders.

Green Bay Packers Under 9.5 Wins

The Packers are coming off a heartbreaking wild card loss to the Bears in which they blew an 18-point lead. Now, there are plenty of reasons to expect Green Bay to take a step back in 2026. Jordan Love has missed multiple games in each of the last two seasons, and Malik Willis is no longer there to provide a reliable backup option. 

The Packers also lost several key defensive players this offseason, including Rashan Gary and Quay Walker, which could lead to significant regression on that side of the ball. Green Bay wasn’t particularly dominant in any area last season, either. The Packers ranked 16th in scoring offense (23.0 PPG) and 15th in total offense (332.6 YPG), while finishing 11th in scoring defense (21.2 PPG allowed), 12th in total defense (311.8 YPG allowed) and eighth in rushing defense (117.7 YPG allowed). 

Seattle Seahawks Under 10.5 Wins

The defending Super Bowl champions have a win total of just 10.5, which feels surprisingly low for a team coming off a title. 

But perhaps oddsmakers know something. 

Seattle lost several key contributors from last year’s Super Bowl run, including Kenneth Walker III, Boye Mafe, Coby Bryant and Riq Woolen. With that much talent departing, some regression feels inevitable. The Seahawks reached the mountaintop last season, but don’t expect them to match that success in 2026. Take Seattle to go Under its win total.

To Make Playoffs

Minnesota Vikings +154

The Vikings moved on from Sam Darnold heading into last season, and the decision didn’t exactly work out. Darnold went on to win a Super Bowl with Seattle, while Minnesota battled quarterback instability throughout the year and missed the playoffs. 

However, there was one major bright spot: the Vikings finished the season with five straight wins, allowing an absurd 10.4 points per game over that stretch. That was easily the best mark in the NFL, with the next-best team allowing 15.0 points per game. Now, with Kyler Murray under center, Minnesota’s offense should be significantly improved. 

Pair that with a defense that finished last season playing at an elite level and one of the league’s best offensive-minded head coaches in Kevin O’Connell, and the Vikings should get back to their winning ways in 2026.

New York Giants +255

Since winning the Super Bowl in 2011, the Giants have made the playoffs just twice, in 2016 and 2022. New York has also won a combined seven games over the last two seasons. But there’s reason for optimism with John Harbaugh now at the helm. 

Harbaugh brings an impressive track record to New York, including a Super Bowl title and a 193-124 record across 18 seasons as the Ravens’ head coach. The Giants also have promising young talent on both sides of the ball and get Malik Nabers back after he missed most of last season. With an accomplished head coach taking over and a healthier roster, there’s strong value in backing New York to take a significant step forward in 2026.

To Miss Playoffs

New England Patriots +184

The Patriots had a dream season in 2025. In Mike Vrabel’s first year at the helm, he transformed New England from a 4-13 team in 2024 into a 14-3 team that won the AFC, an incredible 10-win improvement in just one season. 

But there’s a catch. 

New England went 13-1 against teams that finished with losing records last season, compared to just 1-2 against teams with winning records. Its opponents finished with a combined 113-176 record (.391), giving the Patriots the easiest strength of schedule in the NFL. Fast forward to 2026, and the situation looks much different. New England enters the season with the sixth-hardest strength of schedule based on its opponents’ combined 2025 winning percentage (.531). 

Most Valuable Player

This is the year for Justin Herbert. 

Everything has finally fallen into place. Since 2021, Herbert has the third-most passing yards in the NFL, trailing only Patrick Mahomes and Jared Goff. After spending the past two seasons with Greg Roman as his offensive coordinator, Herbert will now have one of the league’s best offensive play-callers by his side in Mike McDaniel. Herbert also played through significant injuries around him last season, particularly along the offensive line and in the backfield. 

Now, he’ll get Omarion Hampton back healthy, along with a deep running back room and a young receiving corps that should only continue to improve. Most importantly, the Chargers also got both of their starting offensive tackles back after they missed most, if not all, of last season. 

The strides Caleb Williams made from Year 1 to Year 2 were significant, and we’re expecting another big jump in Year 3 and his second season under Ben Johnson. 

Williams threw for 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns with just seven interceptions last season, leading the Bears to an NFC North title and a playoff win. Johnson’s offense is notoriously complex, making Williams’ success in his first year in the system even more impressive. Now, Williams has another full offseason to master the offense and continue developing within it. 

With dynamic playmakers surrounding him and a system built to maximize his playmaking ability and natural talent, Williams is poised for a breakout season in 2026.

Since joining the Lions in 2021, Jared Goff ranks second in the NFL in passing yards (21,451) and completions (1,904), third in passing touchdowns (149) and attempts (2,803), and fourth in completion percentage (67.9%), passer rating (101.3), yards per attempt (7.65) and quarterback wins (48). 

But the biggest reason we like Goff as a long-shot MVP bet is Detroit’s defense. 

We expect the Lions to struggle significantly on that side of the ball, which could force Goff and the offense into plenty of high-scoring games throughout the season. If Goff puts up huge numbers while carrying Detroit’s offense and leading the Lions back to the playoffs despite a poor defense, he’ll have a compelling MVP case. At a big price, the value is there.

Offensive Player of the Year

With uncertainty at quarterback, Bijan Robinson is going to be called upon for a massive workload this season. In 2025, Robinson led the NFL in scrimmage yards (2,298) and scrimmage yards per game (135.2). He rushed for 1,478 yards, fourth-most in the league, while averaging 5.15 yards per carry and scoring seven touchdowns. 

He was just as dangerous as a receiver, finishing second among running backs in both receptions (79) and receiving yards (820), while adding four receiving touchdowns. Robinson finished fourth in Offensive Player of the Year voting last season, trailing only Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Christian McCaffrey and Puka Nacua, three players who put together historic seasons. 

Defensive Player of the Year

Last season, Will Anderson Jr. recorded 12 sacks, eighth-most in the NFL, along with 20 tackles for loss, which ranked fourth. He also added 23 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles and 54 total tackles. In 2026, Anderson will once again lead a Texans’ defense that is expected to be among the best in football. 

His sack total has increased in each of his first three seasons, and he enters this year fresh off a massive contract extension that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Anderson has already established himself as one of the league’s premier pass rushers, but 2026 could be the year he takes another leap and adds DPOY to his résumé.

Offensive Rookie of the Year

While Jeremiyah Love, Carnell Tate and Fernando Mendoza headline this rookie class, Ja’Kobi Lane is the long shot we’re eyeing at a big price. Lane landed in an ideal situation in Baltimore, where two-time MVP Lamar Jackson will throw him passes. 

The former USC wideout caught 49 passes for 745 yards and four touchdowns in 2025 while battling injuries, one year after scoring 12 touchdowns in 2024. At his best, Lane is a dangerous downfield threat because of his size and contested-catch ability. That skill set should pair nicely with Jackson, who has completed 247 passes of 20-plus yards since 2020, the 10th-most in the NFL over that span. If Lane earns a larger role in Baltimore’s offense, he has the talent and quarterback situation to significantly outperform his price.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

The Cowboys landed Caleb Downs with the 11th overall pick, which could end up being the steal of the entire draft. 

At one point, Downs was viewed as a potential No. 1 overall pick after establishing himself as one of the most talented and impactful defensive players in college football over three seasons at Alabama and Ohio State. Downs made an immediate impact as a true freshman at Alabama in 2023, leading the Crimson Tide with 107 tackles and becoming the first freshman in program history to lead the team in that category. That production continued throughout his college career. Downs started every game he played, logged more than 2,500 defensive snaps and finished with 250-plus tackles, six interceptions and multiple sacks while missing fewer than 10% of his tackle attempts. 

Over/Under Player Stats

In 2025, Aaron Rodgers threw for 3,322 yards in 16 games. Now, he’s reunited with Mike McCarthy, who takes over as the Steelers’ head coach and has plenty of familiarity with the veteran quarterback. 

During their 13 seasons together in Green Bay, Rodgers went 98-55-1 as a starter while throwing for 41,941 yards, 334 touchdowns and just 78 interceptions with a 103.6 passer rating. The duo also won a Super Bowl together, while Rodgers earned two MVP awards during that span. Pittsburgh has also given Rodgers an upgraded group of weapons, adding Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard to a receiving corps that already features DK Metcalf. With McCarthy calling the shots and plenty of talent around him, Rodgers is well-positioned to exceed his season passing total in 2026.

Omarion Hampton’s rookie season was derailed by an ankle injury that limited him to just nine games. He still rushed for 545 yards while averaging 4.4 yards per carry, but he clearly wasn’t the same player after returning from the injury late in the season. 

Before getting hurt, Hampton averaged 4.8 yards per carry. After returning, that number dropped to 4.0 yards per attempt. Now fully healthy, the former North Carolina standout is primed for a breakout season. With Mike McDaniel taking over an offense that has historically leaned heavily on its running backs, Hampton should have plenty of opportunities to put up big numbers in 2026.

Ashton Jeanty didn’t live up to expectations during his rookie season, rushing for 975 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games while averaging just 3.7 yards per carry. But much of those struggles can be attributed to the situation around him. 

Las Vegas was a disaster in 2025 and featured one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines. That situation should look much different in 2026. The Raiders hired Klint Kubiak as head coach after he helped lead Seattle to a Super Bowl as its offensive coordinator, while offensive line coach Rick Dennison brings a long track record of overseeing successful rushing attacks. Las Vegas also made a major investment up front, signing Tyler Linderbaum to an $81 million contract to help transform the offensive line. Jeanty avoided a potentially significant injury during training camp and has a chance to return for Week 1. Staying healthy will be the biggest key for him entering his sophomore campaign. 

Like Hampton and Jeanty, Rome Odunze battled injuries throughout the 2025 season. He missed five games with a foot injury and also played through the issue at various points during the year. When Odunze was at his healthiest over the first four weeks of the season, he averaged 5.0 receptions on 8.8 targets for 74 receiving yards and 1.25 touchdowns per game. He has all the tools to put together a breakout campaign in 2026.

The former No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has fallen well short of expectations through his first two seasons. Harrison recorded 885 receiving yards as a rookie before finishing with just 608 yards in 2025, although he missed five games due to injury. 

But 2026 presents an opportunity for a breakout. 

With offensive-minded head coach Mike LaFleur taking over and an Arizona defense expected to rank near the bottom of the league, the Cardinals could find themselves playing from behind often. That should create plenty of passing opportunities, particularly in the second half of games. If Harrison can stay healthy, the talent and opportunity are still there for him to finally deliver the breakout season many have been waiting for.

It was a tale of two seasons for Jonathan Taylor and the Colts in 2025. 

Through Week 10, Indianapolis was 8-2 and held the No. 1 seed in the AFC. During that stretch, Taylor was dominant, rushing for 1,139 yards while averaging 6.0 yards per carry and 113.9 yards per game, with 15 rushing touchdowns. But following the Colts’ Week 11 bye, Taylor’s production plummeted. He was held to 446 rushing yards over the final seven games, averaging just 3.3 yards per carry and 63.7 yards per game while scoring three rushing touchdowns. 

Indianapolis lost all seven of those games. Some of that decline came after Daniel Jones suffered an injury in early December, but the offense had already begun showing cracks. Inconsistent quarterback and offensive line play allowed defenses to stack the box and focus on slowing down Taylor. Now, the Colts enter 2026 without longtime starting right tackle Braden Smith, who departed in free agency, and there are depth concerns along the offensive line. 

Christian McCaffrey put together a historic 2025 season, playing all 17 games while racking up 2,126 yards from scrimmage and 17 total touchdowns, including 10 on the ground. 

But staying healthy has been a major concern throughout his career. In three of the five seasons prior to 2025, McCaffrey played seven games or fewer. After handling a massive workload last season, it will be difficult for him to replicate both that durability and production in 2026. With some regression likely after a remarkable 2025 campaign, take the Under on McCaffrey’s rushing touchdown total. 

Source

LSU is back in the top 10 of the first regular season AP Top 25 thanks to a blowout victory, while close-call wins for Michigan and Oregon weren’t enough to hold their preseason rankings.

No. 10 LSU made one of the biggest statements of Week 1 with its 51-10 rout of Clemson, living up to the hype of Lane Kiffin’s debut in Baton Rouge and rising two spots in the rankings.

Michigan plummeted out of the poll from No. 16 after a controversial Hail Mary, in the biggest drop to unranked by any team after a win since at least 2008.

No. 6 Oregon slipped from No. 2 after a 34-27 win over Boise State as a 25.5-point favorite.

Oregon Falls To No. 6, Opening Way To New Top 5

The Ducks’ narrow win against Boise State cost them top-five status in the AP Top 25, as Oregon dropped from No. 2 to No. 6. This shifted Georgia (2), Notre Dame (3), Texas (4) and Indiana (5) each up one spot.

Georgia rolled past Tennessee State 63-3, Notre Dame routed Wisconsin 41-13, Texas cruised past Texas State 59-7 and Indiana defeated North Texas 52-16.

Out Goes Michigan, In Comes Virginia

The voters have spoken and they were not quite convinced by Michigan’s 13-12 buzzer-beating win against Western Michigan.

After coming in at No. 16 in the preseason poll, Michigan became the only previously ranked team to stumble out of the AP Top 25 this week. Michigan’s absence cleared room for Virginia, which was voted No. 25 after a 34-8 win against conference foe NC State.

Michigan received the third-most votes of the unranked teams behind Boise State and Florida.

Here are the other teams that received votes, outside of the top 25: Boise State led with 86, three points shy of making the rankings. Florida followed with 83, while Michigan slipped to 69. Arizona (33), Memphis (23), South Carolina (19), Western Michigan (12), Pittsburgh (11) and Navy (10) all picked up double-digit vote totals, while UCLA (7) Virginia Tech (6), Illinois (6), James Madison (4), Minnesota (4), Colorado (3), Auburn (2), Arizona State (2) and Vanderbilt (2) also received votes.

Here is the top 25 after Week 1 of the 2026 college football season:

25. Virginia, ACC, 1-0
24. Louisville, ACC, 0-1
23. Missouri, SEC, 1-0
22. Houston, Big 12, 1-0
21. Iowa, Big Ten, 1-0
20. Utah, Big 12, 1-0
19. Washington, Big Ten, 1-0
18. Tennessee, SEC, 1-0
17. SMU, ACC, 1-0
16. Penn State, Big Ten, 1-0
15. BYU, Big 12, 1-0
14. USC, Big Ten, 1-0
13. Texas Tech, Big 12, 1-0
12. Alabama, SEC, 1-0
11. Oklahoma, SEC, 1-0
10. Texas A&M, SEC, 1-0
9. Ole Miss, SEC, 1-0
8. LSU, SEC, 1-0
7. Miami (Fla.), ACC, 1-0
6. Oregon, Big Ten, 1-0
5. Indiana, Big Ten, 1-0
4. Texas, SEC, 1-0
3. Notre Dame, Ind., 1-0
2. Georgia, SEC, 1-0
1. Ohio State, Big Ten, 1-0

Conference Breakdown

The SEC leads the way again with nine teams in the AP Top 25: Georgia (2), Texas (4), LSU (8), Ole Miss (9), Texas A&M (10), Oklahoma (11), Alabama (12), Tennessee (18) and Missouri (23).

The Big Ten has seven ranked teams: Ohio State (1), Indiana (5), Oregon (6), USC (14), Penn State (16), Washington (19) and Iowa (21).

The ACC has four teams in the mix: Miami (7), SMU (17), Louisville (24), Virginia (25).

The Big 12 has four ranked teams: Texas Tech (13), BYU (15), Utah (20), Houston (22).

Notre Dame (3) is independent.

Big Ten Goes 16-2, Dodges Major Upsets

Week 1 got off to a shaky start for the Big Ten.

After paying UMass $1.55 million in what was supposed to be an easy win, a 29.5-point favored Rutgers team was upset 37-21 by the Minutemen on Thursday night.

The conference’s other loss belonged to Wisconsin, which fell 41-13 to No. 4 Notre Dame.

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Boise State gave No. 2 Oregon a game, leading for the first half before the Ducks tied it up in the third. In a back-and-forth second half, Dakorien Moore’s 62-yard receiving touchdown with 7:51 on the clock proved to be the game-winner.

No. 16 Michigan also narrowly dodged a major upset with a controversial 13-12 win against Western Michigan. The Wolverines’ win hinged on one second being put back on the clock after time had expired.

The SEC Goes 16-0

For the first time since 1997, the Southeastern Conference swept its opponents with a perfect 16-0 record in Week 1.

No. 9 Ole Miss vs. No. 24 Louisville and Baylor-Auburn came down to the final moments. Ole Miss kicker Lucas Carneiro drilled a 48-yard field goal to come out on top of a barnburner with a 41-38 win. Auburn stopped Baylor short of a two-point conversion as the clock wound down for a 17-16 win.

All other SEC teams won by at least three touchdowns. Most notably, LSU cruised past Clemson 51-10.

Lane Kiffin’s Debut A Powerful Success

After much anticipation — and a two-hour rain delay — Lane Kiffin made his LSU coaching debut on Saturday.

Clemson took an early lead after its opening drive culminated with a 49-yard field goal. But LSU barely looked back.

Kiffin’s Tigers led 17-3 by the end of the first quarter after a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Dilin Jones and a 30-yard pick-six by Jordan Ross. That lead was extended to 31-3 by halftime after two second-quarter rushing touchdowns by quarterback Sam Leavitt.

Leavitt was done for the day at the end of the third quarter after leading LSU to a 44-3 lead. The high-profile transfer finished the outing 16-of-28 for 230 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also led LSU with 12 carries for 113 yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Backup quarterbacks Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet led drives for LSU in the fourth quarter en route to the 51-10 victory.

24 Of Top 25 Open With Week 1 Wins

Ranked No. 24 in the preseason, Louisville entered the weekend with limited room for error. But despite a 41-38 loss to No. 9 Ole Miss, the Cardinals proved they can hang with the best of them.

Louisville quarterback Lincoln Kienholz impressed as the former Buckeye completed 18-of-29 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns while also leading the Cardinals with 69 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.

All other Top 25 teams won in Week 1, though near upsets for Oregon and Michigan could impact their rankings. Eyes will also be on No. 11 LSU, which had arguably the best performance of the week with a 51-10 rout of Clemson.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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The Mid-American Conference appealed the outcome of the Michigan-Western Michigan game on Tuesday and asked NCAA and College Football Playoff administrators to recognize the Broncos as the actual winner.

Michigan won 13-12 on a Hail Mary pass after the replay official put one second back on the clock. The stadium clock and the one shown on television showed zeroes after Bryce Underwood’s first Hail Mary was thrown out the back of the end zone.

The Big Ten had said in a statement that time had not expired on a separate clock embedded within its replay system. Western Michigan and the MAC initially accepted the explanation, but that had changed by Tuesday.

The Big Ten released another statement shortly after the MAC’s appeal. 

“The Big Ten stands by the statement released following the conclusion of the Western Michigan at Michigan game and the determination made by the replay officials. We will have no further comment on the matter.”

“After further study and investigation, it is now evident that replay protocol was not properly followed in determining whether time remained on the game clock at the conclusion of the Western Michigan vs. Michigan football game,” MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said in a statement.

Western Michigan originally did not decide to appeal the outcome after president Russ Kavalhuna said Sunday he didn’t “discern anything unfair or untoward” with the Big Ten’s replay decision that put an extra second on the clock.

Kavalhuna added that he spent Saturday night speaking with Big Ten officials, including commissioner Tony Petitti. 

“He was gracious enough to let me talk with some of his staff who are over this issue,” Kavalhuna said. “And it is just a discrepancy. What the viewing public see and what the reviewing officials see are different, and that’s clear.” 

Messages seeking comment were sent to the NCAA and CFP.

Steinbrecher said the established replay protocol requires that the game clock displayed on the program feed be used in determining whether time remained. Instead, he said, the Big Ten replay crew relied upon the clock feed embedded within its replay system. As a result, one second was placed back on the game clock and an additional play was awarded.

“This was not a judgment regarding the proper amount of time to place on the clock,” Steinbrecher said. “It was an error in the application of the established replay protocol governing this specific end-of-game timing situation. Had the protocol been properly followed and the program-feed clock been used, no additional play would have been awarded, and Western Michigan would have won the game, 12–7.”

The MAC is requesting the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee and the CFP recognize Western Michigan as the actual winner for purposes of their respective rankings, evaluations and selection deliberations.

Michigan was ranked No. 16 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll but dropped out of the rankings Tuesday.

The Assocated Press contributed to this report.

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Was the 2026 NFL season just the beginning for Sam Darnold and the defending Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks?

“I’m big on Seattle,” “FOX NFL Kickoff” Analyst Julian Edelman stated on Tuesday’s edition of “The Herd.” “They’re returning 20 of 22 starters. I got to sit and talk with all these guys in a production meeting in the preseason. Sam Darnold was mad about his performance in the Super Bowl, and the week before that he had an unbelievable game performance to beat the Los Angeles Rams. He gets to go into the offseason almost like he lost the Super Bowl with his mindset after winning a Super Bowl. And then they get to hear all the hype on the Rams. I think this is a storm brewing to just wipe out a lot of teams. They’re really good.

“I was so impressed with [Seahawks head coach] Mike Macdonald’s calm, cool and collected demeanor but also his way where he’s big with the connections with the players, but he also has kind of that hard alpha trait to him because he is a defensive guy and his mentality with steering the ship. I’m so impressed with every single guy they have.”

The Seahawks open the 2026 regular season at home against the Patriots on Wednesday night in a rematch of Super Bowl LX.

Seattle is coming off a 14-3 season that saw it win the NFC West for the first time since 2020, with its 14 regular-season wins a franchise record and its Super Bowl triumph the second in franchise history (2013 was the first).

The Seahawks lost offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who became the new head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, replacing him with former San Francisco 49ers offensive assistant Brian Fleury. With Darnold in his first season under center for Seattle, Kubiak’s offense was third in the NFL in points (28.4 per game) and eighth in total yards (351.4 per game).

Julian Edelman on Rams’ travel concerns, Patriots underrated, Josh Allen

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Meanwhile, Seattle’s defense, which returns defensive coordinator Aden Durde for a third season, was first in opponent points (17.2 per game) and sixth in total yards (285.6 per game).

As for the “hype” surrounding the Rams, quarterback Matthew Stafford is coming off a 2025 campaign that saw him win NFL MVP honors. On the transactional front, Los Angeles, most notably, acquired superstar defensive end Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns and cornerback and 2023 All-Pro Trent McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs. And if that wasn’t enough, superstar defensive lineman Aaron Donald recently came out of retirement after two years away from the game to play for the Rams once again.

Seattle’s offseason has primarily been based on retaining its own. The Seahawks extended wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (four-year, $168.6 million deal) and cornerback Devon Witherspoon (four-year, $132 million deal) on deals that make them the highest-paid players at their respective positions.

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Seattle also extended defensive lineman Leonard Williams (three-year, $90 million deal), while re-signing wide receiver/returner Rashid Shaheed (three-year, $51 million deal) and cornerback Josh Jobe (three-year, $24 million deal), among other moves. In the draft, the Seahawks selected Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jadarian Price with the No. 32 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, a pick that combats the departure of running back and Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III.

“They draft, develop and pay their guys,” Edelman said of the Seahawks. “They got a lot of great things going for them, and the biggest thing is that no one’s even talking about them. It’s the quietest Super Bowl champion team I’ve ever heard of. It’s unreal, and it’s going to play into their favor.”

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Week 1 of the college football season is in the books, and what a week it was.

From thrilling and controversial finishes to stunning upsets and incredible individual performances, the opening week delivered plenty of memorable moments.

A pair of Miami superstars delivered record-breaking performances while Jayden Maiava and Jeremiah Smith put their names right into the Heisman conversation. 

With that, let’s dive into the top offensive performances from Week 1 of the CFB season.

QB Darian Mensah

Darian Mensah threw for 401 yards and five touchdowns against Stanford (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images).

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In his first start with the Hurricanes, Darian Mensah balled out. He finished Friday night’s win over Stanford with 401 passing yards and five touchdowns, becoming just the sixth quarterback since 2000 to complete at least 90% of his passes while throwing for 400-plus yards and five touchdowns in a game. After his dominant Week 1 performance, Mensah is now the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy at +600. No player’s stock went up more than Mensah in Week 1. 

QB Mason Heintschel

Mason Heintschel threw seven touchdowns against Miami Ohio (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images).

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In Week 1 against Miami Ohio, Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Heintschel completed 31 of 41 passes for 453 yards and seven touchdowns. Yes, seven. Heintschel became just the 26th player in college football since 2000 to throw for at least 450 yards and seven touchdowns in a game, leading Pitt to a dominant 59-14 win and a dream start to the 2026 season. Heintschel introduced himself to the college football world on Saturday and immediately put his name on the map.

QB Jayden Maiava

In Week 1 against Fresno State, Jayden Maiava completed 23 of 25 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns, leading USC to a dominant 39-0 win. His 92% completion rate was the highest in USC history in a game with at least 25 pass attempts and the second-highest overall with at least 20 attempts, trailing only Matt Barkley’s 95% mark in 2012. Maiava’s performance also tied for the 10th-highest completion percentage in an FBS game with at least 25 attempts and 300 passing yards since 2000. The Trojans’ quarterback has put himself right into the Heisman race as his odds sit at +1750 to win the award. 

RB, Kamari Moulton

Against Northern Illinois, Iowa running back Kamari Moulton rushed 11 times for 183 yards and two touchdowns, averaging a ridiculous 16.64 yards per carry. The senior set an Iowa single-game record for yards per carry with at least 10 attempts, shattering Fred Russell’s previous mark of 12.14 in 2002. Moulton’s 16.64 yards per carry also ranks fifth among Big Ten players since 2000 with at least 10 carries in a game. His 183 rushing yards are tied for the 10th-most by an FBS player on 11 or fewer carries since 2000.

RB Jaylin Carter

Jaylin Carter rushed for 183 yards against Arkansas State (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images).

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Jaylin Carter rushed 19 times for 183 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 9.63 yards per carry, while adding an 18-yard reception to finish with 201 total yards. Carter became just the fifth player in Tigers program history to rush for at least four touchdowns in a single game. Through the first two games of his sophomore season, Carter has already racked up 280 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 34 carries, averaging an impressive 8.24 yards per carry.

RB Nate Sheppard

Nate Sheppard led the country in rushing yards in Week 1 (Photo by Alex Halloway/Getty Images). 

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Against Tulane, Duke running back Nate Sheppard rushed 35 times for 227 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 6.49 yards per carry. His 227 rushing yards were the most by any FBS player in Week 1 of the 2026 season. After earning second-team All-ACC honors and rushing for more than 1,000 yards last season, Sheppard looks poised for another big year in the Blue Devils’ backfield.

WR Malachi Toney

Malachi Toney set Miami’s single-game receiving yards record against Stanford (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images).

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On Friday night, Malachi Toney hauled in 12 catches for 234 yards and three touchdowns against Stanford, setting Miami’s single-game receiving yards record. The historic performance continued Toney’s incredible start to his college career after he led the FBS with 109 receptions as a true freshman last season and set Miami’s single-season receiving yards record with 1,211, surpassing Charleston Rambo’s previous mark of 1,172 in 2021. Toney hit the Heisman pose three teams as his odds to win the award surged after Week 1 from +4000 to +1250. 

WR Deuce Alexander

Deuce Alexander had 159 yards and two touchdowns against Louisville (Photo by Roger Wimmer/Getty Images).

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In Ole Miss’ 41-38 win over No. 24 Louisville, senior wide receiver Deuce Alexander hauled in five catches for a career-high 159 yards and two touchdowns. Alexander caught two 62-yard touchdown passes in the third quarter, providing a major spark to the Ole Miss offense in the second half. His 31.8 yards per reception are tied for the third-highest single-game average in Ole Miss history among players with at least five catches. After his explosive Week 1 performance, Alexander looks poised for a massive season as Trinidad Chambliss’ No. 1 target.

WR Jeremiah Smith

Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns in Ohio State’s dominant win over Ball State, with all of his production coming in the first half. His 151 receiving yards were the second-most he’s recorded in a first half, trailing only the 161 he had against Oregon in the 2025 Rose Bowl. Smith now has 29 career receiving touchdowns, six more than any other college football player since 2024. He also recorded his 12th career 100-yard receiving game, passing Chris Olave for the second-most by an Ohio State player since 2000 and trailing only Marvin Harrison Jr. (15). Smith will have a real chance to break that mark in 2026 as he continues to show why he’s the best receiver in the country. Smith currently has the third-best odds to win the Heisman at +1000.

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Aaron Judge returned to the New York Yankees after a 99-day absence caused by a broken rib, starting in right field and batting third Tuesday night against the Colorado Rockies.

A three-time AL MVP, Judge had missed 84 games since his last appearance on May 31. The 34-year-old skipped a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment.

Judge entered hitting .248 with 17 homers, 38 RBIs and a .907 OPS. He was initially injured attempting to avoid second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. during an unsuccessful try for a diving catch at Houston on April 26 and batted .263 with seven homers and 20 RBIs in 31 games before going on the injured list. 

He had just one homer in 18 games before the IL stint. New York was 36-23 after Judge last played on May 31 and went 45-39 in his absence. 

The Yankees hit .243 with 86 homers and a .770 OPS in 59 games through May 31 but .227 with 107 homers and a .681 OPS while Judge was sidelined. Their batting average during that stretch ranked 29th among the 30 major league teams, ahead of Seattle at .225.

New York entered 81-62, four games behind of AL East-leading Tampa Bay and two games in front of Boston (80-65) for the top AL wild card. The Yankees hold a potential tiebreaker over the Red Sox after winning the season series.

Judge hit a career-high .331 with 53 homers and 114 RBIs in 152 games last year, winning his third MVP and first batting title. He missed 10 games from July 26 to Aug. 4 with a flexor strain in his right elbow that he sustained on a throw to home plate July 22 in Toronto. He underwent a plasma-rich platelet injection and did not require offseason surgery.

Judge skipped a rehab assignment in 2023 when he missed 42 games with a fractured right big toe after crashing into the right-field fence at Dodger Stadium. He hit .245 with 18 homers, 35 RBIs and a .965 OPS over 57 games after his return.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald reportedly will not travel to Melbourne, Australia, for Thursday’s season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, officially ruling him out for Week 1.

Donald, who came out of retirement last month to rejoin the Rams, gave a vague response Monday regarding his travel plans while continuing a progressive conditioning ramp-up. 

Donald’s return to the Rams this offseason followed the team’s trade for edge rusher Myles Garrett, sending Jared Verse to the Cleveland Browns in the deal. Donald has said the addition of Garrett to a defensive line that already included Kobie Turner and Byron Young factored into his decision to come back.

Without Donald available, the Rams will rely on Garrett to lead their defensive front against San Francisco in Week 1. Donald retired following the 2023 season as a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, an eight-time first-team All-Pro and a 10-time Pro Bowl selection. He won a Super Bowl with the Rams in February 2022.

The Rams have taken a different travel approach than the 49ers throughout the buildup to the game.

San Francisco flew to Australia last week to acclimate to the time change and complete its final preparations on the ground, while Los Angeles kept its full training schedule at its facility in Woodland Hills, opting to fly in closer to kickoff.

The Rams and 49ers are scheduled to kick off Thursday night in the U.S., which will be Friday morning local time in Melbourne.

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The cliché states that there are two certainties in life — death and taxes.

Here’s a third: Betting will be huge on the NFL regular-season opener, even with an unusual Wednesday kickoff, as is the case in NFL Week 1 odds for the Patriots vs. Seahawks clash.

“It doesn’t matter what day the NFL starts — Tuesday or Wednesday, or a day that’s not even one of the seven,” DraftKings Sports director of operations Johnny Avello said. “Whatever day they start, there’s gonna be a huge audience, and it’s gonna be a heavily bet game.

“You could’ve put Jets vs. Titans on Wednesday and still gotten good handle. But since it’s Patriots-Seahawks, it’s gonna be one of the bigger starts to any season.”

Avello helps break down Patriots vs. Seahawks odds, in this rematch from Super Bowl 60.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Patriot Plays

Back in mid-May, DraftKings opened the Seahawks as 3.5-point home favorites for Wednesday’s 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff, and the spread stuck there all summer.

“There was absolutely no movement for months,” Avello said Tuesday afternoon. “That doesn’t mean it wasn’t generating good action. There was just no need to move.

“But as of Monday, we went to Seahawks -3 (-118).”

The reason for that? More bettors are weighing in on the Patriots and in multiple ways.

“I knew bettors would take the Patriots on the moneyline. Now, they’re taking the Patriots with the points,” Avello said. “So it’s no surprise that the line dropped to 3. I’m not sure that we’ll see 3.5 again.”

So where does Avello see action going as kickoff draws closer?

“I’m almost certain that the Patriots will continue to be bet on the moneyline,” Avello said, noting New England is currently +142 to pull the outright upset. “A lot of Patriots bettors are gonna take the plus number to win this game straight up.”

Which means DraftKings will likely be rooting for what’s termed a Super Bowl middle, where the favorite wins, but the underdog covers. So something like a Seattle 23-21 victory would be welcomed by bookmakers.

“We find ourselves in that situation quite a bit. We could be in that same position for 49ers-Rams on Thursday.”

More Scores

DraftKings’ Patriots-Seahawks total has been stagnant all offseason, opening and remaining at 44.5. And on Tuesday afternoon, on straight bets, it’s actually almost dead-even two-way action.

But rest assured, the public betting masses will flock to the Over between now and kickoff, if not on straight bets, then certainly on parlays/same-game parlays and such.

“I wouldn’t expect us needing the Over, even though the total has been pretty steady,” Avello said. “I can’t see the public betting anything but the Over.”

Player Prop Pops

Another big element of Wednesday’s game — and every game in NFL Week 1 odds, for that matter — is player props. These offerings have grown exponentially over the past few years.

Specifically, bettors love wagering on Player To Score First Touchdown and Anytime Touchdown.

“First Touchdown Scorer and Anytime Touchdown Scorer are the biggest prop bets on our network,” Avello said. “And on in-game wagering, we’ll have Next Touchdown Scorer and those types of props.”

So far, a couple of running backs are popular TD plays.

“Jadarian Price and Rhamondre Stevenson have taken some money on both anytime touchdown and first touchdown,” Avello said of the Seahawks and Pats running backs, respectively.

Price and Stevenson are +650 co-favorites to score the first TD on Wednesday night, with Stevenson +110 and Price +130 to score an anytime TD. Patriots wideout A.J. Brown, formerly with the Eagles, and Seahawks wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba are also getting attention in both markets, as will plenty more players by kickoff.

Smith-Njigba is +800 in First TD and +135 in Anytime TD, while Brown is +1000/+155.

“Touchdown scorers seem like the props that have really resonated with bettors and get the most handle of all the prop bets,” Avello said.

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