3 NFL Awards Futures Bets for 2026: MVP, OPOY and CPOY

In a volatile NFL betting market, it’s vital to secure as much value as you can, creating profitable paths later in the year when the list of contenders starts to tighten up. If you have not attacked the MVP, OPOY, and CPOY markets yet, below is a breakdown of three of my favorite futures to jump-start your portfolio, giving you a base for each award before adding others as the year progresses.

My 3 Favorite NFL Awards Bets For 2026

MVP: Drake Maye (+1200, Caesars)

From a player to monitor to one of my favorite MVP bets, I can’t stop clicking on Drake Maye as we near the start of the regular season. The New England Patriots QB took a massive leap in the second year of his career, leading all qualified QBs in CPOE while anchoring an offense that hovered near the top of the board in DVOA and in Success Rate.

Not only does Maye ooze star-caliber talent, but he also finds himself in a very favorable situation, operating behind an offensive line that led the league in Pass Block Grade. Maye’s supporting cast is also expected to take a major step forward with their production after the acquisition of A.J. Brown, bringing in a versatile WR who can flip the field position in a flash.

Regression will also continue to remain on the sideline in regard to their schedule, with the Patriots entering the year with the 11th-easiest slate in the league. If Maye can continue to build on his momentum, expect to hear his name called for the MVP award.

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OPOY: Ja’Marr Chase (+1100, Fanatics)

Matthew Freedman’s 1.01 in our rankings, Ja’Marr Chase is arguably the most talented player not only at his position, but in the entire league. Unfortunately for the Cincinnati Bengals' star WR, his ceiling is capped by Joe Burrow’s health, making it difficult for him to string together his performances when his QB is unable to remain on the field.

Even when cuffed to the likes of Joe Flacco and Jake Browning, Chase was still able to play at a high level, ranking in the top 10 in EPA per play and in YPRR. With health back on Burrow’s side, positive regression looms large over Chase, giving him the stability he needs at QB to pull away from the field for the OPOY while putting up video game numbers on a weekly basis.

Comeback: Daniel Jones (+2200, Caesars)

Just when it looked like Daniel Jones was going to build a serious case for winning the MVP award, his impressive 2025 campaign was cut short when he suffered a season-ending leg injury. Before going down, Jones rivaled the top players at his position in most QB metrics, finishing the year ranked in the top 10 in EPA per play, Bad Throw Percentage, and Air Yards/Reception.

Jones' resurgence turned the Indianapolis Colts' offense into a lethal unit, a group that led the league in DVOA while he was under center. With Josh Downs turning into a viable WR2 while Jonathan Taylor continues to pull defensive attention to the box, Jones will benefit from the extra space on the outside, increasing his chances of replicating last year’s efficient performance.

In regard to the other top contenders for the CPOY, Jayden Daniels (+700, FanDuel) is worth an investment, a dominant dual-threat QB who is capable of rivaling Jones’ output. Kyler Murray is also worth monitoring after winning the job in Minnesota, yet his current odds make him a pass until we get more concrete data on how he performs in a new system.

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