Looking for the best NFL wagers available right now? You’ve come to the right place. It’s an interesting time for football betting. The draft is in the books and teams are getting their rosters finalized. Some gaping holes still exist, such as who is playing quarterback for the New England Patriots this year, but there won’t be much movement until we get closer to training camps. And hopefully those will be starting in July.
May is an interesting time to make NFL bets. For example, oddsmakers still like the aforementioned Pats, they’re +120 to win the AFC East, and seem to think Joe Burrow will have a nice season, he’s +220 to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. However, there are some other odds you will want to take advantage of before they get adjusted in the next few months.
*All odds are from FanDuel
Best NFL wagers to place right now
Cam Akers – Offensive Rookie of the Year (+2000)
Since 2000, only three wide receivers have won Offensive Rookie of the Year with Odell Beckham Jr. being the last to do so in 2014. The odds for Burrow aren’t great and the other rookie quarterbacks don’t have an obvious path to starting. Running backs Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Ke’Shawn Vaughn are getting the most buzz, but Cam Akers of the Los Angeles Rams might have the easiest path to the award.
Todd Gurley has recorded 19, 21 and 14 touchdown seasons in the past three years and someone will need to pick up his workload. Darrell Henderson did not look like the guy in 2019 and why would the Rams draft Akers in the second round if they thought Malcom Brown could carry the load. If Akers comes in and is as good as advertised, he will be in the Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation at season’s end. And at +2000, the risk is worth it.
Denver Broncos – Win AFC West (+1100)
Before we explain why the Denver Broncos winning the AFC West is one of the best NFL wagers to make now, let’s dispel the myth about Super Bowl champions. The Eagles and Broncos finished 9-7 after their Super Bowl wins while the Ravens concluded their defense with an 8-8 record. Meanwhile, the Patriots, Seahawks and Packers all managed to top their respective divisions the year after winning the Super Bowl. There is no logic that suggests the Chiefs will fall back in 2020.
This is more about what the Broncos have done to improve a team that closed 2019 by going 4-1. Denver had a really good draft picking up Jerry Jeudy and a few other targets for Drew Lock. The team also improved its defense by trading for A.J. Bouye and Jurrell Casey. It’s a good roster that should make a push for the playoffs and possibly give Kansas City a run for its money in the AFC West.
To think about this another way, the San Francisco 49ers were at anywhere from +500 to +700 to win the NFC West as everyone was drooling over the Rams at this time last year. No one paid attention to what was going on by the Bay and bettors slept on a really good team.
Arizona Cardinals – Make the Playoffs (+260)
Remember, seven, not six, teams make the NFL playoffs now. That gives a lifeline to teams like the Arizona Cardinals who will be around nine wins in 2020. We all know about the firepower Kyler Murray has at his disposal, but the Cardinals also play a fairly easy schedule this season. They get the Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins at home along with road contests against both New York teams and the Panthers.
Arizona will need to improve on its 1-5 divisional from a year ago which may not be easy considering the other teams in the NFC West. However, the Rams at 9-7 would have made a seven-team playoff field with the 8-8 Cowboys and Bears just missing out. There is no reason to think the Cardinals can at least be in that mix this season.
