7 Best NFL Futures Bets One Week Out From Season Kickoff

• The most important aspect of futures is not holding up too much money or taking a bet with expensive odds.
• Since the majority can be hedged later, these bets are not designed to be outright winners but close enough to secure profit later.

PHOENIX - One week out from the start of the 2024-25 NFL season, it's best to look at some of the best NFL futures at sportsbooks.

Bet #1 - Atlanta Falcons Win NFC South (-135)

Though favored, they are one of the cheaper outright favorites on the board. With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning the last three, the NFC South odds shifted in favor of ATL. Opening at +200 last season, the Falcons found themselves at or under these odds for the entire season.

Now, the Bucs sit at +285 with the Saints (+465) and Panthers (+900) pretty well out of it.

With the addition of Kirk Cousins paired with Bijan Robinson and Drake London, there is no excuse for this offense not to succeed.

Bet #2 - Aidan Hutchinson Leads The League In Sacks (+1100)

Recording 9.5, and 11.5 sacks per season in his first two years, Hutchinson has proven he's among the elite defensive ends.

Another beautiful factor? He hasn't missed a game.

Though he is off the leaderboard by a few - T.J. Watt led the league in 2021 with 22.5 sacks and again in 2023 with 19 - he's finished top 20 each season.

As the Lions Super Bowl odds have them as a contender, it's safe to assume teams will be passing heavily against the Lions this year. This increase in usage could get Hutchingson around 15 on the season, which if he hits early enough can be hedged.

Bet #3 - Jonathan Gannon Wins Coach of the Year (+1800)

I know. I know. But it's the odds and data to factor into play. Not only did Kyler Murray only play eight games, but their defense ranked 31 in points against last year.

Still, this improvement is what could help push Gannon over the edge. The Cardinals are projected to win 7 games this year and if they hit 9-10, he would be in consideration. This mindset goes back to Zac Taylors odds to win coach of the year in 2021-22, who opened as the third-longest option on the board.

With the addition of Marvin Harrison Jr., and hopefully a healthy Kyler, the Cardinals should fare rather well in their division of average teams trying to take on the 49ers.

Bet #4 - Bryce Young (+3900) or Justin Fields (+3400) Win Comeback Player Of The Year

There isn't much to come back from for Bryce Young, as his rookie season saw a 2-14 record and 11 touchdowns on 10 interceptions. Still, the Panthers went all in on offense for the NFL Draft, drafting Legette, Brooks, and Sanders in rounds 1,2 and 4 respectively.

The only two games the Panthers won were in games where Bryce Young went on a game-winning drive. If he can continue this hero mindset with a boost in touchdowns, it's a chance that I'd be willing to play at nearly 40 times my money.

For Justin Fields, this is different. Fields and Russell Wilson are in a QB battle. But it doesn't have to be all in Fields' hands here. Take Joe Flacco last year, who played five games (4-1) to end the season and won the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Award. Throwing for over 300 yards a game and 13 TDs to 8 INTs, these are numbers Fields can match through the air and ground.

And that was good enough to take away Damar Hamlin as the COPY!

Fields threw for 2500 yards, 16 TDs, and 9 INTs last year, so there isn't much to "come back" from except the situation the Bears threw him into. But at 34x your money, a third of a unit still pays out over 11 units.

Bet #5 - Packers To NOT Make The Playoffs (+155)

The Green Bay Packers had an excellent run last year, finishing second in the division at 9-8 and signing Jordan Love to a massive contract. Now, the Packers Super Bowl odds are +1100 - tied for fifth overall.

Perhaps slightly overrated, taking the "No" result here is much wiser than trying to chase the "Yes" option (-210).

The NFC North has improved with Caleb Williams and Jared Goff leading their teams who are both capable of splitting the season against the Packers.

Green Bay is favored to go under 10.5 wins (-145) with a middle-of-the-road schedule as far as SOS. Despite an easy start to the year, they come across a challenge near the middle of the season, which could derail them.

• Week 5: @ Rams
• Week 6: v Cardinals
• Week 7: v Texans
• Week 8: @ Jaguars
• Week 9: v Lions
• Week 10: BYE
• Week 11: @ Bears
• Week 12: v 49ers
• Week 13: v Dolphins
• Week 14: @ Lions

Bet #6 - Broncos Win Over 6.5 Games (-115)

In Sean Payton I trust. Winning eight games last season was the worst season Payton has had since 2016. Fun fact: In his 16 seasons, Payton has never lost less than seven games on the season - and all but two came when the season length was still 16 games.

The Broncos are not the best team, and the Super Bowl LIX odds prove that. But, we're talking about a few wins. Denver has the 25th hardest schedule, despite playing the Chiefs twice. With a realistic chance to finish second in the division, the Broncos should be able to pull wins away from Seattle, LAC, New Orleans, Carolina, and Las Vegas to say the least.

Bet #7 - Dallas Cowboys Finish 2nd In The NFC East (EVEN)

In a runoff between the Cowboys and Eagles, the Cowboys are attempting to do something that hasn't been done in over 20 years: win the NFC East in back-to-back years (Philadelphia 2003, 2004).

Winning three of the last six division titles, the Eagles are attempting to get to that level this year, as the -190 betting favorite. While the NFC East odds aren't as close as many would assume, the Cowboys are probably underrated in anything.

Still, a one-year-older Zeke running the backfield alongside Dak, they seem to be a lesser version of themselves who lost in the Wild Card Round two of the last three years.

The Cowboys have talent, but do they have enough to overcome the Eagles? Not only the division but the Cowboys Super Bowl odds will be on the line when they play the Eagles in Weeks 10 and 17.