Top Three NFL Futures Picks Ahead of the 2026 Kickoff

The excitement of the American sports calendar is building.

The NFL season kicks off Wednesday with a Super Bowl rematch between the Seahawks and the Patriots, followed by fifteen additional Week‑1 games over the coming days.

With just a few days left to place preseason futures bets, here are three selections we favor.

Denver Broncos to win the AFC West (+210, DraftKings)

Although the Kansas City Chiefs retain Patrick Mahomes, the overall depth of their roster has declined over the past couple of seasons.

The Los Angeles Chargers benefit from Jim Harbaugh, one of the league’s most steady coaches, and Justin Herbert, an underrated quarterback. However, they must overcome the loss of defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who has taken a similar role with the Ravens.

This positions the Denver Broncos as a strong pick, led by veteran head coach Sean Payton, rising quarterback Bo Nix, and the conference’s deepest talent pool.

Although Denver faces a first‑place schedule after capturing the division last year, the unusual makeup of last year’s AFC playoffs lessens the typical advantage. At +210 odds, implying a 32.3 % chance, they remain a sensible wager to repeat their division win.

Lamar Jackson to pass for more than 3,500 yards (+135, DraftKings)

Lamar Jackson has surpassed 3,500 passing yards only three times, yet two of those occurred in the last three seasons. Had he played a full schedule in 2026, he likely would have reached that mark, even though his overall performance last year was viewed as below his norm.

Injury risk remains a concern with Jackson, but his tendency to perform well in the first year under a new offensive coordinator offers some reassurance. This will be his third such stint, with Declan Doyle handling play‑calling for first‑year head coach Jesse Minter.

He passed for 3,127 yards in his rookie season under Greg Roman and 3,678 yards in his first year with Todd Monken. Over recent seasons, Jackson has displayed greater passing consistency. At +135 odds, implying a 43 % probability, the bet remains sensible despite his limited history of 3,500‑yard seasons.

Chicago Bears to win the Super Bowl (+2500, FanDuel)

After guiding the Bears to a turnaround in his first year, there is good reason to think Ben Johnson can give Chicago a genuine shot at ending its 41‑year Super Bowl drought in his second season.

Although the Bears’ +22 turnover margin last season was unusually high and unlikely to repeat, there is also optimism that Johnson has only begun to tap into the potential of third‑year quarterback Caleb Williams.

While they are unlikely to catch opponents by surprise in year two of their collaboration, the Bears will gain from greater offseason continuity and a deeper understanding of Johnson’s scheme. At +2500 odds, which implies a 4.0 % chance, the wager is speculative but worthy of a small stake.

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