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Preseason odds for NFL teams is a good way to look back to see expectations for the season and start to understand where things went wrong or right. Below, we will take a look at DraftKings Sportsbook’s preseason odds for win totals, division titles, player props and more while we discuss what led to their triumphs or disappointments.
Team Futures
Super Bowl: +5000
AFC East: +650 (finished third)
Win Total Over/Under: 7.5 (finished 7-9)
Player Props
Le’Veon Bell rushing yards: 1,125.5 (finished with 789)
Le’Veon Bell rushing TDs: 7.5 (finished with 3)
Le’Veon Bell receiving yards: 525.5 (finished with 461)
Le’Veon Bell rushing + receiving yards: 1,650.5 (finished with 1,250)
Robby Anderson receiving yards: 950.5 (finished with 779)
Robby Anderson receiving TDs: 6.5 (finished with 5)
Sam Darnold passing yards: 3,600.5 (finished with 3,024)
Sam Darnold passing TDs: 22.5 (finished with 19)
The New York Jets improved upon last year’s 4-12 performance, but expectations rose for them ahead of 2019. Sam Darnold was expected to take a big step forward, and a big part of his development was supposed to be because of the team’s acquisition of Le’Veon Bell. However, Jets players were underwhelming across the board.
Darnold’s season was derailed by illness early in the year, but his return wasn’t enough to fuel a successful campaign. It didn’t help that his supporting cast l was underwhelming after taking a year off in an attempt to settle a contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He undershot his expected totals for rushing yards, receiving yards while Robby Anderson underperformed as well.
Having Darnold in the fold for an entire season could help him gain some consistency, but improving the offensive line should benefit his performance and Bell’s. New York’s front line allowed the third highest adjusted sack rate (9.2%) in the NFL this past season, according to Football Insiders. That doesn’t make things easy for any starting quarterback or running back. Having a below average receiving corps also doesn’t yield the best results.
The Jets’ success will depend on Darnold’s development, but a sturdier foundation needs to be built around him. New York is among the league leaders in cap space for 2020 and needs to make smart decisions with the free agents it looks to acquire next. Whether it’ll address its offensive line struggles or upgrade its receiving corps with a first-round draft pick will be important.
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