There have been some changes in which NFL futures are getting the most attention following the conclusion of preseason action. However, the shift among the most popular picks and predictions for the NFL regular season has been most substantial when it comes to overall handle as opposed to number of bets.
Below, you’ll find tables that lay out the following:
- 10 Most Popular 2026 NFL Futures By Total Handle
- 10 Most Popular 2026 NFL Futures By Number of Bets
We’ll also look back at the most popular NFL Futures that we broke down prior to preseason action and see where there have been some changes.
Most Popular NFL Futures for 2026 Season
- Most Popular NFL Future by Total Handle: The Rams remain the betting favorite to win it all this season, and bettors have not wavered from backing that pick throughout preseason action. The Bet: NFL 2026/27 Winner – LA Rams.
- Most Popular NFL Future by Number Bets: Despite some personnel changes within the division, the Bills remain the favorites to win the AFC East. Bettors have responded accordingly, with there being more betting tickets on this pick than any other NFL Future this season. The Bet: AFC East Winner – BUF Bills.
10 Most Popular NFL Futures by Number of Bets
| By Bets | |
| Market | Pick |
| 1. NFL 2026/27 – AFC East Winner | BUF Bills |
| 2. NFL 2026/27 – NFC West Winner | LA Rams |
| 3. NFL 2026/27 – AFC South Winner | HOU Texans |
| 4. NFL 2026/27 – AFC North Winner | BAL Ravens |
| 5. NFL 2026/27 – NFC East Winner | PHI Eagles |
| 6. NFL 2026/27 – Winner | LA Rams |
| 7. NFL 2026/27 – NFC North Winner | DET Lions |
| 8. NFL 2026/27 – NFC South Winner | TB Buccaneers |
| 9. NFL 2026/27 – AFC West Winner | DEN Broncos |
| 10. NFL 2026/27 – NFC Winner | LA Rams |
Unlike the most popular NFL Futures by handle, this group has not changed a whole lot since we first gauged where things stood in late July. Nine of the 10 bets from July’s breakdown remain in the top 10, with NFL 2026/27 – Winner – LA Rams being the only pick to drop yet remain in the grouping while NFL 2026/27 – NFC West Winner – LA Rams and NFL 2026/27 – AFC South Winner – HOU Texans garnered more tickets.
Broncos to Win AFC West
The one change among the 10 most popular NFL Futures by number of bets was AFC West-centric. While the NFL 2026/27 – AFC West Winner market remained in the same spot in the rankings, the Broncos took over for Kansas City. The Chiefs could bounce back this season, but time is not on their side. And with the Broncos adding Jaylen Waddle at WR, it’s no surprise that Denver overtook KC as the popular pick.
Still, the Chiefs are still getting respect as far as odds go. They’re atop the division at +170, with the Chargers (+190) and Broncos (+210) not far behind in the division winner market. So, on top of the addition of Waddle and Denver having won the division last season, backing the Broncos also presents bettors with potential for the greatest return of the division’s three contenders. Again, easy to see how they’ve become the popular pick.
Looking at the splits within the division, the handle-versus-bets breakdown also indicates a sharper lean toward the Broncos (with the Raiders getting a little action at +2000):
| Pick | % of Handle | % of Bets |
| DEN Broncos | 41% | 34% |
| LA Chargers | 27% | 31% |
| KC Chiefs | 24% | 32% |
| LV Raiders | 8% | 3% |
10 Most Popular NFL Futures by Total Handle
| By Handle | |
| Market | Pick |
| 1. NFL 2026/27 – Winner | LA Rams |
| 2. NFL 2026/27 – AFC North Winner | CIN Bengals |
| 3. NFL 2026/27 – NFC East Winner | DAL Cowboys |
| 4. NFL 2026/27 – NFC North Winner | DET Lions |
| 5. NFL 2026/27 – AFC East Winner | BUF Bills |
| 6. NFL 2026/27 – AFC South Winner | JAX Jaguars |
| 7. NFL 2026/27 – NFC Winner | CHI Bears |
| 8. NFL 2026/27 – AFC West Winner | DEN Broncos |
| 9. NFL 2026/27 – NFC South Winner | SO Saints |
| 10. NFL 2026/27 – NFC West Winner | LA Rams |
There’s been quite a bit of fluctuation here:
- OUT
- NFL 2026/27 – NFC East Winner – NY Giants
- NFL 2026/27 – NFC North Winner – CHI Bears
- NFL 2026/27 – AFC Winner – CIN Bengals
- NFL 2026/27 – NFC South Winner – ATL Falcons
- NFL 2026/27 – Regular Season MVP – Joe Burrow
- IN
- NFL 2026/27 – NFC East Winner – DAL Cowboys
- NFL 2026/27 – NFC North Winner – DET Lions
- NFL 2026/27 – NFC Winner – CHI Bears
- NFL 2026/27 – NFC South Winner – NO Saints
- NFL 2026/27 – NFC West Winner – LA Rams
Bears to win NFC
While the Lions have now received the most money of any betting option in the NFC North Division Winner market, the Bears have accrued the most handle in the NFC Conference Winner market.
Currently, the Bears carry the seventh-shortest odds to win the conference, tied up with the Cowboys at +1250. The odds make for an intriguing dart throw, but the splits are what truly make this play worth consideration. On just 9% of the bets made in the market, NFL 2026/27 – NFC Winner – CHI Bears has received 28% of the handle. NFL 2026/27 – NFC Winner – LA Rams has seen the greatest percentage of bets in the market at 34%, but those bets have only made up 16% of the handle.
Rams to win NFC West
While there are Rams-related bets that carry longer odds than the -105 odds they have to win the division, this is an option that’s worth revisiting based on the handle that’s been thrown down.
This pick did not surface among the 10 most popular NFL Futures by total handle back in July despite being among the most popular by number of bets. That indicated this pick has received some larger-sized wagers in the last month-plus.
As it stands, NFL 2026/27 – NFC West Winner – LA Rams has received 69% of the bets made on this division and 65% of the handle. The only team with a greater percentage of handle than bets is Arizona, who’s seen 8% of the market’s handle on just 1% of the bets. Only NFL 2026/27 – AFC East Winner – BUF Bills has a greater percentage of bets (73%) or handle (74%) within their respective divisional market than the Rams.
Most Popular NFL Bets Broken Down by Division
Our NFL analysts did a deep dive into more popular picks and predictions being made ahead of the 2026 season. Check out the expert analysis conducted on the best made specific to each division here:
