Welcome to the new era of the National Football League. In a year with only a few teams standing above the rest, opportunity has come knocking for mediocre teams to make some noise. The Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams probably weren’t the best teams from their respective conferences last year. Why should we prematurely hand the Super Bowl to a team that hasn’t earned it 🏆?
This #NFLTradeDeadline showcased a sense of urgency that we’ve never seen before—at least as long as I’ve been around to see it. There’s conversations to be had about the decision-making processes of above-average teams trying to accelerate their Super Bowl window, but that’s not what we’re here for. These trades can affect our bottom line. How will these trades change our bets?
Chase Claypool to the Chicago Bears
A trade early Tuesday might not change much on the championship front, but can have some immediate ramifications. The market is yet to buy in on the Chicago Bears’ hot streak, and our friends at DraftKings can help you take advantage: BET $5 GET $150 IN BONUS BETS.
Chase Claypool will take on the “big slot” role in the Windy City. He’ll be asked to stretch the field vertically and threaten defenses with his size deep over the middle of the field and up the seam. He gives an instant boost to Justin Fields and the Bears offense, opening up some bets for #NFLWeek9.
Consider taking the 45.5 point over (-110 odds) against a shaky Miami Dolphins defense. If Fields stays hot, we’ll look to buy the Bears 🐻 until the market adjusts.
Bradley Chubb and Jeff Wilson to the Miami Dolphins
Speaking of the Dolphins, they are firmly going for it. The fastest team in football has boat raced defenses behind Tua Tagovailoa’s emergence and an elite wide receiver combination. That offense got stronger Tuesday when they traded a day three pick for Jeff Wilson.
Wilson may not start over Raheem Mostert, but he’s a perfect scheme fit and a solid complement to the incumbent starter. Expect him to replace Chase Edmonds, dealt in the Bradley Chubb deal, and give Miami an upgrade offensively. No back has been worse than Edmonds, and with 30-40% of the backfield touches up in the air, another starting caliber running back is a subtle, but definite, boost.
Of course, Chubb headlined the day in South Beach. A prominent edge threat helps a bottom-three pass defense gain a little more potency. Chubb may not be quite as good as advertised, but that isn’t to say he’s not an excellent player. He’ll open things up for Jaelan Phillips, who is already having a strong year 🐬.
BetMGM currently has the best odds on Miami to win the conference, at +1800. This futures bet can net $1800 in profit with a $100 wager. If you can manage the temporary loss, they are worth taking a look at. Read more about futures in our Basic Tips section below.
Naturally, the Dolphins will only go as far as their quarterback takes them, but there’s reason to believe they’ll compete deep into January. Tagovailoa is playing the best ball of his career, and Mike McDaniel has weaponized athleticism in incredible fashion. If the pass rush can just be good enough to cover up the holes in the back seven, they’ll have a shot on the road in the playoffs.
Nyheim Hines to the Buffalo Bills
One of the teams Miami will have to beat (and has beaten already) is the Buffalo Bills. Their quest to add a pass-catching back has been completed in the Nyheim Hines deal. It brings them one step closer to a truly unstoppable offense.
Yes, he’ll be in a timeshare with Devin Singletary and James Cook. Yes, the offense runs through its electric receivers. Yes, you should take Hines props anyway. He may not be acclimated to the playbook yet, but that’s only a matter of time. In the coming weeks, you’ll be able to bet on Hines’ receptions and receiving yards for the upcoming contest. There are few props I’m more confident in taking the over on, even this far out.
This offense has needed a good third down back. A really good one. They found it, and will take full advantage. Naturally, this week may be a wash, but for the home stretch…swing by your favorite sportsbook and let the swing passes earn you money. 🤑
T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings
Somehow, an in-division trade of a high-profile tight end wasn’t the weirdest deal of the deadline.
T.J. Hockenson and his Nordic locks are headed to the Minnesota Vikings. They are currently 6-1, but face injury concerns and the threat of regression due to their “lucky” start to the season 🍀.
Hockenson fills the hole Irv Smith Jr. has left and is enough of an upgrade to help Minnesota make some of their own luck. If Smith is to return come playoff time, few teams would offer a nastier 12 personnel package.
The former first-rounder is a jack-of-all-trades tight end who is an ideal fit for head coach Kevin O’Connell. We’ve seen him explode for huge games through the air, in large part due to legitimate skills after the catch. He’s also made a name for himself as one of the league’s better blockers at tight end. That versatility is big in this offense and makes containing the Vikings that much more difficult.
Minnesota is halfway to clearing their current projected win total of 11.5. With 10 weeks to play, they’ll have to go 6-4 at worst to hit the 12 wins necessary to win such a bet. The pass rush is hitting its stride, and the offense has just improved. They play two really good teams the rest of the way, and have already won three division games. DraftKings is offering -110 odds on them clearing 11.5, compared to -130 at other books. My advice? Take that value and trust their mid-season improvements stave off regression.
BASIC TIPS
This article features two futures bets, each of which allow you to place money on a wager that won’t be completed for at least a few weeks. The two most important things to remember when betting on futures is that nothing is guaranteed and timing is everything. You won’t find anything close to -110 odds on Minnesota to clear 11.5 wins if they come out victorious on Sunday. Down in Miami, capitalizing on their value before the defense sees on-field improvements can help maximize your value. If you’re not going to miss the money in the short-term, few #NFLbets are as rewarding as a successful futures selection.