NFL Futures: What are the Best AFC North Futures Bets?

NFL futures bets are red-hot now that the league’s regular-season schedule has been released – and there are no shortage of intriguing win totals and player prop options in what should be an entertaining AFC North battle. Our betting experts share their favorite plays within the division (odds courtesy FanDuel Sportsbook; odds may vary between sportsbooks).

Check out our complete list of team win totals and Super Bowl odds here >>

Q1. Which AFC North wins total is the most intriguing play in 2020?

The Steelers OVER 9 wins (-110) is the most intriguing to me, as they’ll be getting Ben Roethlisberger back under center, and while he was out, they became a legitimate top-five defense with the acquisition of Minkah Fitzpatrick. They won eight games last year despite starting Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges, two guys who may never start a game again. Did you know that Mike Tomlin has coached the Steelers for 13 years and has never gone worse than 8-8?
– Mike Tagliere (@MikeTagliereNFL)

The Steelers went 8-8 last year with a hodgepodge of terrible quarterback play and James Conner battling through injury. If they’re not at least two games better this year with a healthy Ben Roethlisberger, something went terribly wrong. There’s a ton to like about Pittsburgh this year – they still have an elite offensive line and their defense, which improved greatly with Minkah Fitzpatrick, remains largely the same other than the loss of Mark Barron. In addition to Roethlisberger’s return, another year of Diontae Johnson, and the additions of Chase Claypool and Eric Ebron should do wonders for their offensive explosiveness. It’s not the greatest schedule but with the talent on the team, I’ll take the Steelers OVER 9 wins (-110).
– Dan Harris (@danharris80)

I’ll take the Bengals OVER 5.5 wins (-125). Sure, the Bengals only won two games last year but they return A.J. Green, two injured offensive linemen and upgrade to a pro-ready quarterback. That alone should put them in the 5.5 win territory if they actually were a 2 win team last year but that isn’t exactly the case. Cincy lost by one score @ Seattle, @ Buffalo, vs Arizona, @ Baltimore, @ Oakland, vs Pittsburgh, @ Cleveland and @ Miami. This could have easily been a six-win team last season if a few more plays went their way. I’d frankly bet the over on the Bengals if they were at 6.5 this season.
– Bobby Sylvester (@bobbyfantasypro)

Give me the Bengals UNDER 5.5 wins (+105). Outside of drafting quarterback Joe Burrow, the only substantial difference from last year to this year is wide receiver A.J. Green figures to be healthy. Rookie quarterbacks always tend to struggle, and in a year where the pandemic may substantially impact off-season workouts, I expect Burrow to need plenty of time to get acclimated to the NFL and his new system. While Green is certainly a difference maker on offense, his availability will not lift this team from 2-14 to the six wins they need to hit the over.
– Mike Spector (@MikeSpector01)

Check out our complete list of 2020 player prop bets here >>

Q2. Which AFC North player prop are you highest on at the moment?

It’s pretty rare for a quarterback to throw for less than 3,200 yards in today’s NFL. That’s the mark Lamar Jackson needs to get to in 2020 – and I’m all about the OVER (-112). It’s absolutely doable considering he’ll have a healthy Mark Andrews (who played through injuries all last year), a healthy Marquise Brown (who had foot surgery last year), and new weapons in Devin Duvernay and JK Dobbins. Jackson himself acknowledged he’s not going to run the ball as much in 2020, so what do you think? That they’re going to take the ball out of his hands completely? Nah, he’s going to crack 3,200 yards through the air.
– Mike Tagliere (@MikeTagliereNFL)

I usually lean toward unders in player props but I am happy to scoop up Joe Burrow OVER 3,800.5 passing yards (-112). The Bengals have certainly improved on defense but given their division and overall schedule, they are going to be playing from behind often. Burrow has A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, John Ross, and Auden Tate to throw to, and he’s going to be chucking the ball with frequency. Above all, Burrow is just really, really good. He’s coming of one of the best collegiate QB seasons of all time, will start from the outset of the season, and should be able to put up one of the better rookie seasons from a quarterback. I project him to pass 4,000 passing yards, so 3800.5 is a no-brainer.
– Dan Harris (@danharris80)

I’m taking Baker Mayfield OVER 23.5 passing touchdowns (-112). Last year he struggled, no doubt about it, but much of that had to do with the state of his #1 worst pass-blocking offensive line in football. That appears to be fixed now which should give us a return to the Baker who broke the NFL rookie touchdown record in 2018 despite only starting 13 games. Not only is the offensive line improved, but they’ve upgraded at tight end with Austin Hooper who when added to Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt and David Njoku gives Mayfield one of the strongest receiving corps in the league.
– Bobby Sylvester (@bobbyfantasypro)

I love Pittsburgh wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster OVER 6.5 receiving touchdowns (-126). Smith-Schuster had seven touchdowns apiece in each of his first two seasons. Last year he finished with a disappointing three touchdowns, though he only played in 12 games. Another reason for last year’s decline was having Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges throwing him the majority of passes. With a healthy Ben Roethlisberger back in 2020, there is no reason why JuJu cannot at least match his seven touchdowns from his first two seasons.
– Mike Spector (@MikeSpector01)

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