NFL Futures Best Bets Ahead of Week 2: McCarthy, Campbell Will Lead Bettors to Big Payday

An electric Week 1 of the season has come and gone, and I'm dropping three of my best NFL futures bets to make right now ahead of Week 2.

I break down the latest odds from three separate awards and make my NFL picks surrounding players who either sparkled under the bright lights of prime time or made the most significant leap on their respective oddsboard.

From the Comeback Player of the Year, to the Offensive Rookie of the Year, to the Defensive Rookie of the Year, let's see who you should bet on before it's too late. 

NFL futures bets to make before Week 2

All odds are courtesy of FanDuel, and don't miss our best sportsbooks for NFL futures.

🟣 Comeback Player of the Year prediction: J.J. McCarthy (+1300)

Let's get this out of the way right now: we all thought J.J. McCarthy's NFL career was over before it even got off the ground after the first three quarters of Monday Night Football, which included an ugly pick-6 thrown by the former national champion at Michigan.

After an abysmal 45 minutes of football that saw the Minnesota Vikings' offense score six points off 85 total yards of offense, McCarthy exploded in the fourth quarter, becoming the first player in NFL history to have two 10-plus-yard passing TDs and a 10-plus-yard rushing TD in the final quarter of any game. He's now one of my best NFL futures bets to make ahead of Week 2.

Despite his poise and ability to turn a nightmare into a dream scenario for Vikings fans, did his Comeback Player of the Year odds move? Not quite. In fact, they lengthened from +900 to +1300. I understand his final numbers weren't necessarily MVP-worthy (13-for-20 for 143 yards with three total touchdowns against one interception), but outside of injury-prone Christian McCaffrey, who showed elite usage for the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1, the three other players currently in front of McCarthy did nothing to help their cause. They certainly didn't spearhead a comeback in prime time. 

Dak Prescott (+280) threw for 188 yards and no touchdowns, Aidan Hutchinson (+380) didn't record a tackle, and Trevor Lawrence (+500) was 19-for-31 for 178 yards and a touchdown with an interception against the Carolina Panthers.

That leaves McCarthy, whose +1300 betting odds may be the longest we see all season. It's certainly a bet to make right now before the Vikings' home opener in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons, which got diced for three touchdown passes against Baker Mayfield.

Minnesota is in line for five more prime-time games, too, giving McCarthy a ton of opportunities to make voters fall in love with him after missing his entire first season due to injury. If that's not enough, the historical trends back this play up - quarterbacks have won this award every single season for the last seven years. 

A $10 wager will profit you $130 here - grab these odds before they pass you by.

⛵️ Offensive Rookie of the Year prediction: Emeka Egbuka (+900)

It certainly didn't take long for Emeka Egbuka to acclimate himself to the NFL level after scoring two touchdowns in his debut, including the game-winner with under a minute to play in the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons.

Ultimately, the rookie wideout caught four balls for 67 yards and two scores, shortening his Offensive Rookie of the Year odds from +4000 to +900 overnight.

While Ashton Jeanty (+270) is still the overwhelming favorite, he averaged just two yards per carry in Week 1, finishing with 38 yards on 19 attempts while adding a touchdown from three yards out. The only other competition I see here is Cam Ward, who is going to have a tough time in Tennessee if the first week was any indication. The rookie signal-caller was sacked six times while throwing for 112 yards with zero touchdowns to his name.

Tampa Bay is in line for four more prime-time tilts this season, giving Egbuka ample opportunity to shine in front of America, just like McCarthy. This includes a game against the Houston Texans in Week 2, whose secondary got torched by Puka Nacua to the tune of 10 catches for 130 yards. Look for Egbuka to eat one more time. 

A $10 wager will net you $90 - jump on this NFL futures play before kickoff.

🦅 Defensive Rookie of the Year prediction: Jihaad Campbell (+1100)

Jihaad Campbell's Defensive Rookie of the Year odds also shrank following a prime-time win in Week 1, dropping the linebacker from +1800 to +1100 after a quality performance against the Dallas Cowboys.

Campbell was credited with a key forced fumble, registered three tackles, and didn't allow a reception both times Dak Prescott threw his way. Ultimately, Campbell played all but five snaps.

Not only did he come up clutch when the Eagles needed him most, but he was the highest-graded defender on Thursday Night Football, according to Pro Football Focus. 

Campbell really is that dude and has all of the potential in the world to form one of the best linebacking duos in the NFL alongside Zack Baun. He can shorten his betting odds again in Week 2 following a date with the Kansas City Chiefs. If he can be a problem for Patrick Mahomes, you might just have the best value on the board right now, and he's one of my best NFL futures bets to make right now as a result.

A $10 bet will profit you $110 if this hits - don't waste time and head on over to one of our best sports betting sites to lock this in.

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