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

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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 for the NFC North. 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 NFC North wins total is the most intriguing play in 2020?

This division is tough to say anything with certainty, but the Vikings are a team that should take a step back with the somewhat of a rebuild they’re going through on the defensive side of the ball. They’ll have a new trio of cornerbacks, while their defensive line lost Linval Joseph, and might lose Everson Griffin (who opted out of his contract). Add in the loss of Stefon Diggs on the offense and a potential holdout by Dalvin Cook, and it all adds up to me leaning toward the UNDER on 8.5 wins (+125).
– Mike Tagliere (@MikeTagliereNFL)

I get that the Packers weren’t nearly talented enough to be in the NFC Championship Game or win 13 games, and their draft may have been the most insane draft of all time. But four wins is a lot to fall off, especially when you’re getting plus money on the over, which is why I’m intrigued by the Packers OVER 9 wins (+120). Aaron Rodgers isn’t what he once was but if there was ever a “middle finger” season coming from a player after the Packers’ draft, it’s this one. The schedule isn’t terrible considering Green Bay gets the Bears and Lions four total times, as well as games against the Panthers, Jaguars, and Falcons. If Allen Lazard or Jace Sternberger can step up, the team should have a decent chance to get to 10 wins, at least enough of one where it’s worth it for plus money.
– Dan Harris (@danharris80)

My answer here has to be the Chicago Bears OVER 8 wins (+105). While I am a Bears fan, this seems like too low of a line for how talented this team is, particularly the defense. Last season, the Bears were facing a first-place schedule, the defense was marred by injuries, and Trubisky regressed immensely at QB. With all that, they were still able to finish with 8 wins in 2019. Now, the Bears have brought in Nick Foles, who should be able to help keep the offense on track. Additionally, they’ve added Robert Quinn to play alongside Khalil Mack, who is a major upgrade over Leonard Floyd. As long as the offense can get back on track and the key players on defense can stay healthy, this Bears team should easily hit the over on 8 wins.
– Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL)

Give me the Minnesota Vikings UNDER 8.5 wins (+125). Perhaps no team that is viewed as a contender has as many holes as the Vikings do. The Vikings lost cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander. They have very little cornerback depth on the roster and are filling these holes with inexperienced players. In addition to the question marks at corner, the Vikings traded one of their top-two receivers in Stefon Diggs. Minnesota now enters the season with Tajae Sharpe as the No. 2 receiver to Adam Thielen, which does not appear all that intimidating of a threat on the outside. Lastly, the Vikings are weak at offensive tackle and have also lost guard Josh Kline in the process.
– Mike Spector (@MikeSpector01)

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

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

In a year where it was his first year in a new offense, and with no receivers outside of Davante Adams (who was hurt for over a month), Aaron Rodgers was able to throw for over 4,000 yards in 2019. He’s now played at least 15 games in 10 seasons. In those seasons, he’s thrown for at least 3,922 yards nine times. The one he didn’t was 2015 where he threw for 3,821 yards, making the OVER on 3,899.5 passing yards (-112) feel like easy money.
– Mike Tagliere (@MikeTagliereNFL)

Being bearish on rookie receiver props is often going to be the right play this year, both because they won’t have had a normal camp to get up to speed on their new offenses and because, well, some players are inevitably going to miss time with COVID-19. I like Justin Jefferson’s long-term outlook but I’ll take the UNDER on 5.5 touchdowns, even at -136. The Vikings ran the ball fourth-most often in the red zone last year, and they’ll likely keep roughly the same scheme even without Kevin Stefanski. I have Kirk Cousins again projected for 26 touchdown passes, and it’s hard to see a rookie like Jefferson catching six of them, particularly with the Vikings’ other options near the goal-line.
– Dan Harris (@danharris80)

Davante Adams OVER 9.5 receiving TDs (-112) seems like a ridiculous bet at first glance, but he may easily finish with more than 10. Adams has been a TD machine over the past few seasons and he’s one of the only viable receiving options on this team. Adams could easily see over 160 targets in 2020, which will inevitably lead to TD production.
– Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL)

Davante Adams OVER 9.5 receiving TDs (-112) is my best bet. Before an injury-riddled 2019 campaign, Adams had 10+ touchdowns each of the three years prior. Adams went down with a turf toe injury in Week 4 last year, and was not the same player when he was back. The Packers caught a lot of flack for not drafting a receiver to help Aaron Rodgers late in his career. Therefore, look for Adams to continue to be a target hog and find the endzone early and often in 2020.
– Mike Spector (@MikeSpector01)

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