NFL Futures: Best Bet to Win NFC West (2020)

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As summer rounds into focus and the world at large settles into a new normal with the coronavirus pandemic, the NFL calendar has yet to miss a beat and all things are pointing towards an on-time start to training camp and the regular season. While the NHL playoffs and MLB regular season will no doubt draw a big handle amongst deprived sports bettors, the NFL is king in the United States,  both from a fandom and betting perspective.

With that said, second to only maybe fans and bettors, sportsbooks are licking their chops with the NFL just around the corner. One area of NFL betting that gets a ton of offseason attention is the futures markets.

The competitiveness of the league is at an all-time high, with parity ripe throughout especially at the divisional level. In the NFC West, the defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers (-134) are the favorite to win it, with the Seattle Seahawks (+225) trailing close behind. The Los Angeles Rams (+500) and Arizona Cardinals (+750) lag behind, but both intend to have something to say about those long odds.

Let’s take a closer look at the odds posted by our friends at FanDuel and identify where I see the most value currently remaining. And check out our consensus odds to win the NFC West here.

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Heading into the 2019 season, the talk in Seattle was all about quarterback Russell Wilson, and his new deal making him the highest-paid player in the league. Of course, then, those who said he wasn’t worth the money, were quickly silenced.

Finishing the season with 31 touchdowns and just five interceptions, Wilson finished the 2019 regular season with the best touchdown to interception in the league. Wilson also finished in the top five among starting quarterbacks in RTG (106.3), QBR (69.8), touchdowns, and interceptions (5).

Having to carry a lackluster defense, which we’ll get to in a second, Wilson was complimented by third-year running back Chris Carson, who rushed for 1,230 yards over 15 games. If Carson can get his fumbles under control, he should prove to be a critical piece of the 2020 Seahawks who look to take another step forward on both sides of the ball.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Seahawks are looking to get even more out of safety Quandre Diggs in what will be his first full season in Seattle. While he’s a far cry from the iconic Richard Sherman in his prime, Diggs, is boosted by cornerback Quinton Dunbar on the corner, who if cleared of his recent offseason charges, should help to bring this Seahawks defense back to where they need to be to compete.

The Seahawks also spent their first-round pick this season on a linebacker in Jordyn Brooks (Texas Tech), who is expected to come in and make an impact day one as he competes for starting job. Last season’s first-rounder DK Metcalf made an immediate impact on their offense in 2019, and his further progression is signs of even more optimism for this offensive unit.

While there’s still a lot to prove for a defense who allowed 381.6 yards per game in 2019, the veteran leadership of Wilson paired with a proven winner at coach in Pete Carrol, makes this over 2 to 1 pick very enticing.

Prediction: Seattle Seahawks +225