NFL futures betting offers several ways to find value before the regular season begins, from division winners and conference champions to season win totals and player props. Betting splits provide another layer of information by showing where both the betting public and larger wagers are landing, helping identify which futures are drawing the most interest.
Below are the best AFC North bets for the 2026 NFL season, complete with current odds, DraftKings Sportsbook betting splits, why each market is attracting action and my analysis on every wager.
AFC North Best Bets and Betting Splits
| Bet | Odds | Bets % | Handle % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bengals to Win the AFC North | +184 | 42% | 59% |
| Ravens to Win the AFC | +470 | 8% | 6% |
| Browns Under 5.5 Wins | +110 | 57% | 77% |
| Aaron Rodgers Over 21.5 Passing Touchdowns | -120 | 80% | 89% |
| Lamar Jackson to Win MVP | +800 | 4% | 4% |
| Joe Burrow to Win MVP | +850 | 15% | 19% |
Best AFC North Division Bet
Bengals to Win the AFC North (+184)
| Betting Splits | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Bets | 42% |
| Handle | 59% |
Why bettors are backing the Bengals
The annual dance with the Bengals, which begins every offseason, is underway. After getting injured in his rookie year, Joe Burrow led the Bengals to the Super Bowl in his sophomore season. Burrow and the Bengals have been riding on the goodwill of that postseason run for a long time. It seems like now or never for Burrow to get back to the postseason and go on another deep run. This is going to be one of the best offenses in the NFL if Burrow is healthy, which is why the Bengals to win the AFC North is the most bet-on team by handle to win their division in the entire NFL this offseason at DraftKings Sportsbook
Analysis
This does seem like the Bengals’ big chance. The Steelers and Ravens both parted ways with their long-time head coaches this offseason. While the Ravens are the favorites to win the AFC, there is a certain level of uncertainty due to the coaching change. If Joe Burrow can stay healthy and this Bengals offense hits its peak, they will be a very fun team to watch. The big question comes on the defensive side of the ball, where Cincinnati was awful last season. They made some moves to improve on that side of the ball, but only time will tell if it’s enough to push them past the Ravens in the division.
Best AFC North Conference Future
Ravens to Win the AFC (+470)
| Betting Splits | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Bets | 8% |
| Handle | 6% |
Why bettors are backing the Ravens
There is hype around teams like the Bengals, Jaguars, Chargers and Texans taking a jump to the next level. The Bills, Patriots, Broncos and Chiefs are constant threats. However, it is the Ravens who are the favorites to win the loaded AFC. Baltimore parted ways with John Harbaugh and brought in Jesse Minter to be its new head coach. If Minter can take this defense up to the next level, while Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry do their thing offensively, this will be a scary team to watch.
Analysis
There isn’t that much public support around the Ravens this offseason. They have a two-time MVP at quarterback, the best running back of his generation and a bright new head coach. However, bettors and fans have been burned too many times by this Ravens team in the postseason to back them to win the AFC, especially when they are betting the favorites. The health of Lamar Jackson has also become an annual concern, because without Jackson, this team goes from one of the best in the NFL to completely non-competitive.
Best AFC North Win Total Bet
Browns Under 5.5 Wins (+110)
| Betting Splits | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Bets | 57% |
| Handle | 77% |
Why bettors are taking the under
During the 2020-21 season, Baker Mayfield led the Browns to their first playoff win in 26 years. It was even sweeter that the playoff win came against their arch-rival Steelers. However, the Browns organization decided they needed to upgrade at quarterback to get to the next level. That is when they made one of the worst trades in NFL history and gave out one of the worst contracts in NFL history to make DeShaun Watson their franchise quarterback. Watson has now played in just 19 games across four seasons for the Browns, and Cleveland has invested in multiple young quarterbacks as a backup plan to Watson.
Analysis
The Browns have won fewer than 5.5 games in each of the past two seasons, and there’s no reason to think that they will improve. They had the best defensive player in the NFL, Myles Garrett, and shipped him off to Los Angeles. While a healthy DeShaun Watson is better than Shedeur Sanders or Dillon Gabriel, there is no reason to think Watson will stay healthy all season. Even if Watson plays, there is no evidence that he will be the guy that they traded for all those years ago. Until they find a way to completely start from scratch, it could be another rough season for Cleveland.
Best NFL MVP Bets
Lamar Jackson to win NFL MVP (+800)
| Betting Splits | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Bets | 4% |
| Handle | 4% |
Why bettors are backing Jackson
Lamar Jackson is a two-time MVP, so it’s easy to make the case for why he should be worth a bet. Josh Allen is the betting favorite to win the award this year, but Jackson is second on that odds list. Just like when it comes to the Ravens as a team, the betting public isn’t backing Jackson very heavily. As he has won the award twice, he is clearly more than capable of putting together an MVP season. However, something is holding the public back.
Analysis
There are several reasons why Jackson might not be getting the love in the betting market. There could just be some Baltimore fatigue because the team has yet to get it done on the big stage with Jackson. There could also be some distrust around Jackson staying healthy after playing in only 13 games last season. However, at 29 years old, Jackson is still at the peak of his powers and could very easily go on a scorched-earth MVP run this season.
Joe Burrow to win NFL MVP (+850)
| Betting Splits | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Bets | 15% |
| Handle | 19% |
Why bettors are backing Burrow
Joe Burrow is the most bet-on player by both bets and handle to win the NFL MVP this season on DraftKings Sportsbook. Just like bettors are all over the Bengals to win the division, they are all-in on Burrow putting together an MVP season. With Burrow, health is always the big concern. In his six NFL seasons, he has been fully healthy for three of them. However, when he’s healthy, he is undoubtedly one of the best quarterbacks in the game.
Analysis
Joe Burrow was a Heisman Trophy winner and national champion in college, but has yet to get the hardware he is looking for in the NFL. Burrow’s two big individual awards in the NFL have been his two Comeback Player of the Year awards. While it means he has had two great seasons, they both came on the back of major injuries. This time around, Burrow wants to prove he is the best player in the league.
He finished in fourth place in MVP voting in 2022-23 and 2024-25, but has yet to reach the mountain top. With his lack of running stats, it could be hard for Burrow to finish ahead of Jackson or Allen. However, if he puts up Matthew Stafford’s numbers from last season and leads the Bengals to a top seed in the AFC, he would have a great case to be the league’s MVP. It really comes down to whether or not you trust Burrow to stay healthy. I do not.
Best AFC North Player Prop Bets
Aaron Rodgers Over 21.5 Passing Touchdowns (-120)
| Betting Splits | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Bets | 80% |
| Handle | 89% |
Why bettors are backing the over
While it’s something we’ve heard a lot over the past few years, this really could be the last dance for Aaron Rodgers. His off-the-field controversies aside, he is one of the best throwers of the football to ever live. He ranks top-five all-time in passing yards and passing touchdowns. Rodgers needs just 13 touchdowns this season to surpass Peyton Manning and get to third on the all-time passing touchdowns list. While he isn’t the quarterback he once was, he has used his incredible football IQ to still be the guy the Steelers need when in scoring position.
Analysis
Last season was by no means “vintage Aaron Rodgers” in terms of his ability to spin the ball and push it down the field. However, in the red zone, he is still incredibly efficient and knows where to go with the ball. That is why he threw for 24 touchdowns in 2025-26. The season prior in New York, Rodgers threw for 28 touchdowns.
This is really a bet on Rodgers’ health. In the 15 seasons where Rodgers has played in at least 10 games, he has gone over this number. In fact, last year’s mark of 24 touchdowns was his lowest ever when playing in at least 10 games. So, Rodgers has somewhat comfortably cleared this mark in any season where he stays healthy. Therefore, if you believe that Rodgers can stay healthy for one more year, this over is worth a bet.
AFC North Bets FAQ
What are the best AFC North bets for the 2026 NFL season?
The featured AFC North bets include the Ravens to win the Super Bowl, Bengals to win the AFC North, Lamar Jackson to win MVP and Joe Burrow to win MVP.
What are NFL betting splits?
Betting splits show the percentage of tickets (bets) and money (handle) placed on each side of a wager. Comparing the two can provide insight into whether a market is being driven primarily by public bettors or larger wagers.
How should betting splits be used?
Betting splits should be one factor among many when evaluating a wager. They can help identify popular sides or where larger amounts of money are being wagered, but they should be combined with matchup analysis, injuries and market movement before placing a bet.
When do NFL futures bets close?
Most NFL futures markets remain open until the affected team’s first regular-season game, although odds and availability can change throughout the preseason.
